Destinations / Lebanon
Driving in Lebanon as a visitor
Usually yes. Lebanon expects visiting drivers to carry an International Driving Permit alongside their national licence, and rental desks ask for one. It matters most when your licence is not printed in the Latin alphabet.
Standard delivery included. Need it sooner? Express lands by for $25 more.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Lebanon expects
| Permit needed | Expected |
|---|---|
| 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 | Expected. Hand it over with the licence, never instead of it. |
| 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?
Usually yes. Lebanon expects visiting drivers to carry an International Driving Permit alongside their national licence, and rental desks ask for one. It matters most when your licence is not printed in the Latin alphabet.
Which IDP format does Lebanon accept?
Lebanon recognises the 1949 Geneva format. Your permit is prepared in that format.
Will a rental desk in Lebanon ask for one?
Beirut desks request an IDP for non-Latin-script licences.
How fast can you get one?
Express orders are emailed within 5 minutes. The exact delivery moment is quoted before you pay and the order is refundable for 30 days.