International Driving Permit for Oman: licences by country, car hire and road rules
By Lars Janssen · Co-Founder & CEO ·
Updated
Yes, you can drive in Oman on your own licence as a visitor: the Royal Oman Police allow tourists to drive on a valid licence from their home country for up to three months after arrival. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is not a legal requirement, but some rental companies ask for one, particularly for licences issued outside the EU, so UK and US drivers should bring one to be safe.
We travel to Oman regularly and plan private self-drive tours with a trusted local partner. This guide covers the rules by country, where to get an IDP, what car hire companies ask for and the road rules.
Can you drive in Oman with a UK, US or EU licence?
Yes. Under the Royal Oman Police rules for visitors, in force since May 2023 and confirmed again in November 2024, a valid licence from your home country lets you drive for tourism or transit for up to three months from the day you enter Oman. What differs by country is your own government's advice and what rental companies ask for (as of October 2026):
| Your licence | Can you drive in Oman? | Do you need an IDP? | Where to get one |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK photocard | Yes, for a rental car in your first six weeks, says the UK government | Not by law, but some rental companies ask for one | PayPoint shops in the UK, £5.50 |
| UK paper licence | Yes, but you may need to switch to a photocard or carry an IDP as well | Possibly: the UK government names the 1949 type | PayPoint shops, £5.50 |
| US licence | Yes, for up to three months | Strongly advised: some rental companies require one for non-EU licences | AAA or AATA, the only issuers authorised by the State Department |
| EU licence (card format) | Yes, for up to three months | Recommended: some rental companies require one if your licence is not in English | Your national issuer, such as the ANWB (Netherlands) or the Führerscheinstelle (Germany) |
| Other licences | Yes, for up to three months | Strongly advised: some rental companies require one for licences from South Asia or not in English | Your national licensing authority or motoring club, such as CAA in Canada |
On a holiday of one to three weeks, the gap between six weeks and three months makes no difference. More importantly, an IDP is only issued in your home country, so you cannot get one once you are in Oman. Arrange it before you travel.
When an International Driving Permit is worth having
An IDP is worth having above all at the rental desk, where some companies require one. It is a translation of your licence in a standard international format and is only valid together with your national licence, so always carry both. It helps:
- At the rental desk. Some companies require it for any licence from outside the EU, others accept your licence together with the passport page showing your visa or entry stamp. The rental terms decide, not the law.
- At police checks. Traffic enforcement is strict, and the permit shows your entitlement to drive in a format every officer recognises.
- If your licence is not in English or Arabic. The permit spares you a discussion about what your licence says.
- With an old UK paper licence. The UK government names the 1949 IDP for paper licence holders.
Which IDP type, and how long is it valid?
IDPs are named after the road traffic conventions of 1926, 1949 and 1968. A 1949 permit is valid for one year, a 1968 permit for up to three years, and neither lasts longer than your own licence or can be renewed. For Oman, the UK government mentions the 1949 type for holders of a paper licence, and that is also the type AAA and AATA issue in the US. German authorities issue the 1968 type for 15 to 20 euros, and the Dutch ANWB sells both (€18.95 or €24.95 as of October 2026) and recommends the 1968 type for Oman.
Renting a car in Oman: age, card and insurance
To hire a car you need a licence held for at least a year, your passport and a credit card in the main driver's name, and you must meet the company's minimum age. Terms at the big chains at Muscat airport, as of October 2026:
- Age. A minimum of 21 to 25, depending on the company and car class. Under 25 you usually pay a surcharge, and some companies will not rent you an SUV or 4x4.
- Deposit. Around 150 rials, sometimes plus the estimated rental cost, blocked on your credit card. Prepaid cards are refused, and most chains refuse debit cards too.
- Excess. Roughly 100 to 500 rials per incident with the standard collision damage waiver, highest for large SUVs and 4x4s (the rial is pegged at US$2.60). Extra cover brings it down, sometimes to zero.
- Exclusions. Tyres and glass are often covered only if you buy extra cover, underbody damage is often excluded, and so is damage from driving on sand, beaches, wadis, flooded roads or tracks the contract does not allow.
- Police report. Claims are usually only processed with a Royal Oman Police report. After a minor accident you may not need to call the police, but you must fill in a minor accident form, and rental companies are responsible for keeping one in the car, says the UK government's travel advice for Oman.
- Crossing into the UAE. Only with written permission from the rental company and for a fee, and some companies do not allow it at all.
- Running costs. Fuel prices have been capped since October 2021: in October 2026 a litre of Super 91 costs 0.229 rials (about 60 US cents) and Super 95 0.239 rials. There are no toll roads for cars. Traffic fines are charged to your deposit or card.
Road rules in Oman
You drive on the right in Oman, the limit on motorways is usually 120 km/h, and any alcohol in your blood is an offence. Enforcement is strict. The main rules, as of October 2026:
| Rule | What applies in Oman |
|---|---|
| Side of the road | Drive on the right, overtake on the left |
| Speed limits | 120 km/h on most motorways, usually 80 to 100 km/h on other roads, 40 to 80 km/h in built-up areas. Signs take precedence |
| Alcohol | Zero tolerance: any alcohol can mean a fine and possible prison |
| Seatbelts | Compulsory for all passengers, front and rear |
| Children | Aged 3 and under in a child car seat |
| Mobile phones | Using a phone while driving is illegal |
| Accidents | If anyone is hurt or the damage is serious, stay with the car and call the police on 9999 |
| Behaviour | Swearing and rude gestures are offences, including from behind the wheel |
Speed cameras and fines
Speed cameras cover most main roads, and since 2026 AI cameras on major highways and at junctions in Muscat also catch drivers without a seatbelt or with a phone in their hand. Keep to the posted limit and do not count on a margin above it. Fines for minor offences run to tens of rials, and the UK government warns that traffic offences can bring fines of up to 3,000 rials or up to three years in prison. Foreign nationals must pay all traffic fines before leaving Oman.
Driving after dark
Avoid driving outside towns at night. The UK government warns that driving can be dangerous outside Muscat and that there is a risk of hitting camels and goats wandering onto the road. They are a common sight in the interior and in Dhofar around Salalah, and outside villages the roads are often unlit. In Muscat the sun sets between about 5.20pm and 6.20pm from October to March, so plan long drives to arrive in daylight.
When you need a 4x4 in Oman
A normal car is fine for Muscat, the coast road to Sur, Nizwa and the main road to Salalah, but a 4x4 is compulsory for Jebel Akhdar and strongly recommended for Jebel Shams.
- Jebel Akhdar. A Royal Oman Police checkpoint at the foot of the mountain road near Birkat Al Mouz turns back anything without four-wheel drive (as of October 2026). An SUV without 4WD does not count, so ask the rental company specifically for a 4x4.
- Jebel Shams. No checkpoint, but the last stretch to the plateau is unpaved: a bumpy gravel track that is steep in places (as of October 2026). It is not advisable in a normal car, and underbody damage on unpaved roads is often not covered.
- Wahiba Sands. Do not drive a rental car into the dunes. You park at the edge of the desert near Bidiyah or Al Wasil, where most desert camps collect you in their own 4x4.
- Wadis. Dry riverbeds can flood within minutes after heavy rain. The UK government advises avoiding wadis when heavy rain is expected and for at least one day afterwards.
Distances are manageable: Muscat to Nizwa takes about 1.5 hours, but Salalah is about 1,000 km away, 10 to 12 hours by car or 1.5 hours by air.
How this fits into our tours
On our self-drive tour of Oman we arrange the car: an insured 4x4 from a reliable rental company, ready when your tour starts, with the cover, excess and deposit set out in your proposal beforehand. You get a day-by-day programme with routes and driving times, all accommodation is booked, and we and our local partner are reachable by WhatsApp and phone throughout.
Every sample itinerary works as a self-drive tour. Prices per person based on two sharing, with comfort accommodation and excluding international flights (as of October 2026):
- 7-day Oman tour: from €999
- 10-day Oman tour: from €1,449
- 14-day Oman tour: from €2,099, with a flight to Salalah
- 18-day Grand Oman Journey: from €2,799, overland along the coast to Salalah
Fuel and personal expenses are at your own cost. If you would rather look than steer, travel with an Omani driver-guide instead. For a sample route day by day, see our 14-day Oman itinerary.
Not sure whether to drive yourself? Share your dates on our tailor-made Oman tour page and we will suggest a route.
