Driving in Iran: Regulations and Restrictions
Licences, vehicle paperwork and practical road rules
If you plan to drive in Iran, check three things before you book: which driving documents apply to you, what your vehicle or rental insurance covers, and whether your route needs a customs guarantee for a foreign-registered car.
Contents
Is it better to drive a car while traveling to Iran?
A car gives you more control over stops and departure times. In a large city, a taxi or public transport avoids the need to find parking and navigate unfamiliar junctions.
For a longer trip, compare self-drive with a hired driver and budget time for the distances between stops. Plan where to refuel and where to end each day before setting off.
Driving with your own car in Iran
Bringing a foreign-registered car involves temporary import paperwork separate from your own immigration documents. Before departure, ask the customs office at your intended crossing about the guarantee, registration, insurance and re-export deadline for that vehicle.
The FIA’s May 2024 notice describes temporary entry on original plates with Latin letters and numerals, backed by a Carnet de Passages en Douane or another accepted guarantee. A carnet covers the vehicle for customs purposes. Ask your issuing automobile club and the border customs office which guarantee they can accept.
A carnet does not include vehicle insurance, and its validity period does not set the vehicle’s permitted stay in a country. The issuing club also matters: ADAC’s notice, checked on 9 November 2026, says it cannot issue carnets valid for Iran and excludes Iran for the document’s entire validity. If you are applying through another club, ask that issuer whether its document covers Iran before paying for it.
Confirm your personal entry requirements with the Iranian consulate for the land crossing you plan to use. Vehicle paperwork does not grant entry to the driver or passengers.
Renting a car in Iran
Before reserving a car, ask the rental company which licence documents it accepts from visitors. Request a written quote showing the deposit, insurance excess, mileage limits and any restrictions on roads or regions.
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Ask how payment and deposits are handled and whether you can add a second driver. Keep a copy of the rental agreement and the roadside assistance number.
At pickup, record existing damage and check the tires, lights and spare. Ask what to do if the car breaks down outside the city where you rented it.
On the road: repairing and fueling your car
For a breakdown, use the assistance number on your rental agreement. Ask the company before arranging repairs yourself, so you know what its policy covers.
Plan refueling before long rural stretches. Ask for the correct fuel for your vehicle and have a payment method that the station accepts.
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For a rental, ask the provider how the vehicle’s fuel card is handled and what to do if a station requires one. Carry local currency or an accepted local payment method.
What does it look like to drive in Iran?
In unfamiliar traffic, allow extra following distance and slow down before turns, merges and pedestrian crossings.
Follow priority rules and signs. Look for motorcycles and pedestrians before changing lanes or turning, even when you have priority.
What are roads like in Iran?
Speed signs use kilometers per hour. Limits vary by road, vehicle and conditions. Use the posted limit rather than a single number for every highway.
Use seat belts, keep the phone out of your hands and pull over before changing navigation settings. Download your route in advance if reception may be patchy.
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The speed limits
Watch for lower limits through towns, at roadworks and on approaches to junctions. Give yourself room to slow down safely when a limit changes.
Drive on the right. Overtake only where markings, signs and visibility allow.
Never drive after drinking alcohol or taking anything that impairs your ability to drive.
In the event of an accident
After a crash, stop and protect people from traffic. If anyone is injured or the road is blocked, contact emergency services and follow police instructions. For a rental car, call the rental company and ask what paperwork it needs before arranging repairs.
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Ask the rental company how to handle tolls and how to settle them before returning the vehicle.
If you receive a citation in a rental car, notify the rental company and use the payment instructions on the notice.
Driving licence in Iran
Article 35 of Iran’s road traffic regulations allows holders of a valid foreign licence to drive for up to six months after entry. It requires a valid translation for licences issued by countries outside the 1968 Vienna Convention. Iran’s traffic police reiterated the six-month period in October 2026. Carry the original licence, and ask the Iranian consulate whether you need a translation or an International Driving Permit for your licence. A rental company may also impose its own document requirements.
