Travel alerts & warnings
Iran driving guide.
Driving in Iran offers access to mountain villages, ancient sites and desert landscapes, but city traffic is assertive and lane discipline can be unpredictable. Check your government's current travel advice before planning a road trip, and avoid night driving because of poor lighting, unexpected obstacles and heavy trucks.
- Advisory
- Do not travel
- Drives on
- Right
- Best season
- April to May…
- Permit honored
- Yes
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Level 4: Do Not Travel
Do not travelto Iran due to the risk of terrorism, unrest, kidnapping, arbitrary arrest of U.S. citizens, and wrongful detention. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
- Do not travel to Iran for any reason. U.S. citizens in Iran should leave immediately.
- There is no U.S. Embassy in Iran. Review our information on Travel to High-Risk Areas.
- Iranian-supported Houthis have engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure resulting in civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions. The hostilities have the potential to escalate rapidly beyond that immediate area. Do Not Travel to Iran for any reason.
- U.S. citizens in Iran face serious dangers including terrorism, unrest, kidnapping, arbitrary arrest, and wrongful detention. Some U.S. nationals have been held for years on false charges, subjected to torture, and even sentenced to death.
- No U.S. embassy in Iran
- The U.S. government does not have diplomatic or consular relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Swiss government, acting through its Embassy in Tehran, serves as the protecting power for United States interests in Iran.
Driving there
Your permit in Iran
- Iran honors the International Driving Permit. The permit is a translation of your license into ten languages — it is not a license on its own.
- Carry your valid U.S. driver's license with the permit at all times. The permit is valid for one year and only while your U.S. license is valid.
- Not party to the 1949 convention; the International Driving Permit is honored.
- Rental companies and local police can be stricter than national law. Confirm the requirement with your rental company before you travel.
Advisory information is published by the U.S. Department of State and reproduced here for convenience. It can change at any time — always check the official advisory before you travel. USIDA does not issue travel advisories.
Before you drive
Top travel tips for Iran
Road rules and local traffic
Wear seat belts, do not use a handheld phone while driving, and never drink alcohol before driving; alcohol is prohibited in Iran. Approach junctions defensively, watch for pedestrians and motorcycles, and avoid photographing military facilities or checkpoints.
Tolls and payment
Many freeways use electronic toll collection linked to the vehicle's registration. Ask your rental company how tolls are recorded and settled, and carry local cash for routes with staffed booths. Foreign-issued bank cards generally do not work; confirm whether quoted amounts are in rials or tomans, with one toman equal to ten rials.
Fuel and smart cards
Petrol stations use a fuel smart-card system. Confirm that your rental includes a working card and ask about its allowance; if necessary, ask the attendant whether a station card is available. Carry local cash and refuel before remote mountain or desert stretches.
Speed limits and enforcement
Limits vary by road and vehicle class: expect roughly 50 km/h on many urban streets, 80–110 km/h on interurban roads and up to 120 km/h on some freeways. Posted signs take priority, and lower limits may apply at night or on particular sections. Speed cameras and roadside police checks are common.
Rentals, documents and police checks
Before paying, obtain confirmation that the rental company and insurer accept your nationality, home licence and specific IDP format; an IDP alone is not a driving licence. Carry your passport, valid entry documentation, original licence, accepted IDP, rental agreement and insurance papers. Stop calmly at checkpoints and follow instructions; some nationalities also face itinerary or guide requirements.
Worth the drive
Places to see in Iran
Persepolis
Fars Province · Approximately 1–1.25 hours from central Shiraz, one way.
Explore the monumental terraces, gateways and carved reliefs of the ancient Achaemenid capital.
Abyaneh
Isfahan Province · Approximately 1.25–1.5 hours from Kashan, one way.
A red-earth mountain village with steep lanes and traditional architecture; park outside the historic core and explore on foot.
Masuleh
Gilan Province · Approximately 1.5–2 hours from Rasht, one way.
A terraced mountain village where rooftops serve as paths, reached through lush Caspian foothills; expect fog and rain.
Kandovan
East Azerbaijan Province · Approximately 1–1.5 hours from Tabriz, one way.
An inhabited village of cone-shaped volcanic rock homes, with scenic mountain approaches and walking routes.
Bisotun
Kermanshah Province · Approximately 35–45 minutes from Kermanshah, one way.
See Darius I's monumental rock inscription and relief beneath a dramatic limestone escarpment.
Pasargadae
Fars Province · Approximately 1.75–2.25 hours from Shiraz, one way.
Visit the tomb of Cyrus the Great and the remains of an early Achaemenid royal city on an expansive plain.
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