Destinations / Lebanon
Driving in Lebanon as a visitor
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Lebanon drives on the right with assertive Beirut traffic; tourists should carry an IDP with their national licence.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Lebanon expects
| Driving document | Depends on licence issuer, script and rental policy |
|---|---|
| Convention format | 1949 Geneva |
| Valid for | 1 year |
| Drives on the | Right |
| Emergency number | 112 or 999 |
| Top speed limit | 100 km/h highways |
What the rental desk will ask you for
| Your own licence | The original card. A photo of it, or a photocopy, gets turned away. |
|---|---|
| Licence translation | Check the desk policy for your issuing country and licence script. A translation accompanies the licence and never replaces an official permit. |
| Booklet format they know | 1949 Geneva |
| Minimum age | 18. Under 25 usually pays a young-driver surcharge. |
| Deposit | A credit card in the driver's name. The hold is taken in LBP. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| Seatbelts | Seatbelts mandatory. |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | 0.05% alcohol limit. |
| Local practice | Drive defensively in dense city traffic. |
On the road in Lebanon
At the pump
Stations sell 95 and 98 octane petrol plus diesel (mazout) and are attendant-served; they are plentiful on main routes but sparse in remote mountains, and after years of shortages it is wise to keep the tank full and carry cash as prices fluctuate.
After a crash
Dial 112 for police and 140 for the Lebanese Red Cross ambulance; stop at the scene, do not leave, and wait for the Internal Security Forces to file a report, which insurers and the rental company will require for any claim.
Sources: internationaldriversassociation.com · stateofmind13.com · tyremap.com · lebanoninfocenter.eu.org
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Lebanon?
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Lebanon drives on the right with assertive Beirut traffic; tourists should carry an IDP with their national licence.
Which translation format is used for Lebanon?
Lebanon uses the 1949 Geneva convention format. A Vialy translation is prepared in that format but is not a government-issued permit.
Will a rental desk in Lebanon ask for a translation?
Beirut desks request an IDP for non-Latin-script licences.
How fast can Vialy prepare one for Lebanon?
The exact delivery moment is quoted before you pay, 30 minutes as standard and 5 with Express.
Also in Middle East
Driving on to another country on the same trip? Each page states what that destination expects.