How to drive in Iran?

One of the frequent questions many tourists ask us is about the regulations of driving in another country.

That’s why, in this article, Iranviva Group aims to acquaint you with these rules in Iran to plan your trip to Iran more easily.

Driving rules in Iran are the same whether you use your personal car in Iran or any other cars.

Before traveling to Iran and visiting the beauties of this country, you’d better be aware of these rules.

Tourists who travel to Iran can have the permission to drive in Iran in one of the following ways:

First Way: International Driving Permit (IDP)

Given that international driving permit is acceptable in Iran, people who are going to travel to Iran can get an international driving permit (usually valid for one or three years), and drive in Iran.

It should be noted that the international driving permit must be obtained from your country of origin.

The difference between the one-year and three-year driving permits is in the host countries. The countries, which are the Contracting Parties to 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, accept the one-year IDPs, and those which are the Contracting Parties of 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals accept the three-year IDPs. Of course you do not need to worry about traveling to Iran because both one-year and three-year IDPs are valid in Iran.

Below is the list of countries in each group:

Keep reading to know everything you need in order to have a trip with peace of mind to the country of Iran and travel with ease.

Second Way: A Valid Foreign Driver’s License

Tourists who hold a valid license from other countries (whether Iranians or foreign visitors) can drive in Iran up to six months after arriving in this country.

In case you don’t have an international driving permit, we suggest you make sure of the validity of your driver’s license in Iran before traveling with your car.

Third Way: Iranian Driver’s License

It should be noted that if tourists intend to stay in Iran more than six months, they should hold an Iranian driver’s license. Below are the two ways of getting an Iranian driver’s license:

Getting Iranian Driver’s License

This is a good option for those tourists and foreigners whose driving license is not valid or whose home country is not a member of the International Convention of Roads

Documents required for foreigners in Iran getting a driver’s license is similar to those for Iranians (the only difference is in having valid documents for proof of residency in Iran instead of Iranian Id cards). These documents include:

• A confirmation letter from a letter from the Immigration & Passport Police of NAJA, or a letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for political people;
• The translation of the passport (the translation must be approved by the respective embassy or Technical Department of Justice);
• A copy of passport (first page and visa page);
• Being introduced to the driving schools
• Passing theory and practical tests in Driver Services Department.

Driver’s License Conversion

The citizens of the countries which are parties to the 1949 Geneva or 1968 Vienna International Conventions on road signs can convert their driver’s license to an Iranian one.

It should be noted that this method is suitable for those foreign nationals who intend to stay in Iran for more than six months.

Documents required for converting a foreign driving license to an Iranian one:

• A letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for political people, or a letter from the Immigration & Passport Police of NAJA for other people;
• The official translation of the valid driving license confirmed by Technical Department of Justice; political people can do it through the embassy;
• A copy of the foreign driving license confirmed by the embassy of the country that has issued the license and also by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
• A copy of passport (first page and visa page);
• A copy of the political identity card (for politicians);
• A copy of work book (if you have);
• Going to the Driver Services Department;
• Physical and mental health certificate;