Renting a Car in Oman: All You Need To Know
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- By: Peter Orsel
Oman is the perfect country for a road trip. Public transport does not reach most of the forts, wadis, and mountain villages. Besides that, the country is beautiful enough that you want to decide yourself where to stop and for how long. Here is everything I learned about renting a car in Oman.
And there’s more to share than you might think, as Oman has interesting rules when it comes to traffic violations. I’m not here to make you scared, I’m here to get you prepared.
For the best routes and the best locations, read more in the best photography spots in Oman and the 10-day Oman itinerary.
In This Post
How to book a rental car in Oman
It’s obviously best to book your car before you arrive in Oman. This way your car will be ready for you as soon as you arrive. I booked through Discovercars, with Dollar as the actual supplier. One tip that saved me time on both ends of the trip: pick an option with pickup inside the terminal itself, instead of one that requires a shuttle to an off-airport lot. It is the fastest way through on arrival, and just as fast when you drop the car off before your flight. Check prices yourself through the tool below.
What Documents You Need For Renting a Car in Oman?
A regular EU driving license was enough for me to rent the car, but to prevent any potential troubles, I always recommend to arrange an International Driving Permit beforehand. Police can be stricter than the rental agencies when your license is not written in English, so make sure you have a valid international driving license when you visit Oman.
Insurance
My insurance was covered through my American Express credit card, which meant I could skip the rental company’s own coverage entirely. However, it’s important to check the coverage of your insurance. Some won’t cover driving in off-road conditions. Make sure you are fully covered, as the costs can be high when you get stuck in the desert or the mountains.
Age Requirements
The minimum age to drive in Oman is 18. For rentals, most companies allow it from 21, but you might pay a young-driver surcharge if you are under 25. Always confirm the exact age policy with your insurer or rental company before booking, since this varies by provider.
Inspect the Car Before You Drive Off
As soon as you found your car, make sure you inspect the vehicle properly. Walk around the car and film every side with your phone, including the roof and underneath the bumper, before you leave the lot. Point out any existing damage to the staff and get it noted on the contract if it’s not mentioned yet. This takes five minutes and is the only protection you actually have against being charged for damage that was already there when you picked it up.
This is especially important in Oman, as you will encounter loose rocks and gravel roads that can easily cause damage to your car.
Cost of renting a car in Oman
Prices vary a lot by car type and season. As a rough guide: a small sedan costs around 250 USD a week, a mid-size SUV costs around 60 USD a day, and a proper 4×4 like a Toyota Land Cruiser can cost 600 to 900 USD a week. Book early if you are traveling in peak season, October through March, since availability tightens up fast.
During my trip in January I paid $275 USD for 10 days.
Almost every rental company in Oman requires a credit card in the driver’s name to book at these prices. A debit card is usually not accepted, even if it works fine elsewhere. If you do not have a credit card, sort this out before you fly rather than at the counter.
Do you need a 4x4 in Oman?
It’s not necessary to drive a 4×4 in Oman. I drove a sedan, and the reason was simple: it was cheaper, I was traveling solo, and I was not planning to drive up to Jebel Akhdar, which requires a 4×4 and has a police checkpoint at the base that turns sedans away. For my night in the desert, I arranged pickup through the camp itself instead of driving my own car into the dunes.
If your route does include Jebel Akhdar, or you want the flexibility to go off-road wherever the road takes you, book a 4×4 from the start.
Rent a 4x4 With a Rooftop Tent
There’s one scenario where I would actually really recommend a 4×4: you can rent a 4×4 with a rooftop tent and full camping gear from a variety of operators in Muscat. You won’t find these on the bigger car rental websites, but a great option could be Active Overlander. Expect to pay around $170 USD a day for a 4×4 including your camping gear, perfect for 2 persons.
Wild camping is free and allowed almost anywhere in Oman, as long as you are not disturbing anyone, which means your rental is close to the only accommodation cost on a budget or adventure-style trip.
How to prepare for driving in the desert or the mountains in Oman?
There are a couple of things to prepare before you head to the offroad sections of your trip. If you want to drive into the desert or up to Jebel Akhdar, you need a 4×4. If you only plan on visiting Jebel Shams, a sedan is sufficient.
Download Offline Maps
Cell coverage drops out completely in parts of the desert and the mountains. Google Maps lets you download an actual offline area before you leave Muscat, which keeps working with no signal at all. I also recommend downloading maps at Maps.Me, as it will show you all the hiking trails in the mountains.
Deflate Your Tyres
Before you leave the asphalt, you want to deflate your tyres. With lower pressure you have more grip and less risk of ending up stuck in loose sand. You can do this at any petrol station. Ask staff to help you, since they will have experience with this. As soon as you’re back, make sure you re-inflate your tyres to normal pressure again.
Clean Your Car After You Get Back
A day in the desert or the mountains leaves the car covered in dust and sand. Wash it before you get back on the highway. Driving a visibly dirty car is an actual traffic violation in Oman, more on that further down.
Fuel costs and extras in Oman
Oman is an oil state, and it shows at the pump: the price of fuel is approximately 0.24 OMR per liter ($0.62 USD), which equals about $2.35 USD per US gallon for regular gasoline. This makes petrol a much smaller expense on your trip than it would be in most western countries.
Cleaning the car is very cheap as well. You can clean your car at most bigger petrol stations, and expect to pay around 2.5 OMR (about $6.50 USD) for a quick inside and outside clean. This usually takes around 30 minutes to an hour, and it’s more than enough since the dry sand comes off quite easily.
Honking for service at restaurants
One habit I did not expect: some restaurants work like a drive-through, except there is no window and no lane. You park, honk, and someone comes out to take your order.
The first time you try this, it helps to watch how a local does it first, since not every place does, and you do not want to end up honking in a parking lot where nobody comes out.
Oman's traffic laws: Follow the rules
Oman has a number of strict traffic laws, and these are the things that stood out to me most while driving here. The first thing you notice is the sheer number of speed cameras, especially on the main highways between cities. I have not seen this density anywhere else I have driven. I also learned that the rules can be stricter than you might expect. This is not meant to scare you, it is meant to prepare you.
The traffic law behind this is Article 50 of Oman’s Traffic Act, and courts apply it. Reckless driving or excessive speeding can carry a prison sentence, reported by Omani courts as ranging from around ten days up to a year depending on severity, on top of a fine between 100 and 500 OMR. This is not a rare or symbolic penalty. Omani courts have handed out exactly this kind of sentence to drivers caught on camera.
A few other fines worth knowing:
- Speeding starts at 10 OMR for going up to 20 km/h over the limit, and rises from there with added penalty points
- Driving with a dirty vehicle is an actual traffic violation with a fine attached
- Using your phone while driving carries a 25 OMR fine
- Not wearing a seatbelt is 15 OMR, for both driver and passengers
Crossing into the UAE with your rental car
It is possible to take your Oman rental car into the UAE towards Dubai or Abu Dhabi, but not every company allows it, and the ones that do charge extra for it.
I have not done this myself, so I cannot speak to the process firsthand. A simpler option, if a Dubai stop is part of your trip, is a private transfer by car or minivan, or the public bus between the two countries. More on that in my travel guide.
Other things to know about renting a car in Oman
Driving Side and Speed Limits
Oman drives on the right, same as most European countries and the USA. Speed limits are 120 km/h on highways, 90 km/h on open roads outside cities, and between 40 and 80 km/h in urban areas depending on the size of the town.
Navigation: Google Maps vs Waze
Google Maps works well on the main highways but I had some struggles with retrieving real time information while navigating with Google Maps. Waze would be the better alternative. Use Waze when you have mobile network, and change to Google Maps once you need an offline map.
Monsoon Season and Flash Flooding
If you are driving between June and early September, keep an eye on the weather. Flash floods happen fast in Oman, especially in wadis and low-lying roads, and you will see signs marking the start and end of a flood-prone stretch. Do not cross a flooded section, even a shallow-looking one, and wait it out instead.
If You Are in an Accident
Call 9999, the local police and emergency number. For a minor accident, you may not need to call at all, but check with your rental company whether there is a Minor Road Traffic Accident form in the car, since Oman has a specific process for these.
Frequently Asked Questions about renting a car in Oman
Do I need an International Driving Permit to rent a car in Oman?
Not if you hold an EU license, at least not in my case. Requirements can vary by nationality, so confirm with your specific rental company before booking. I usually recommend to bring an International Driving Permit, just to be safe.
Is it safe to drive yourself around Oman?
Yes. Roads are well maintained and mostly quiet outside Muscat. The main things to watch for are speed cameras, wandering goats and camels on rural roads, and rougher terrain if you head into the mountains or desert without a 4×4. Locals are incredibly friendly and always in for a little chat. I haven’t felt unsafe at any time.
Can I wild camp in Oman?
Yes, wild camping is free and allowed almost anywhere, as long as you are not disturbing anyone. A 4×4 with a rooftop tent is the easiest way to take advantage of this.
What happens if I get a speeding ticket in Oman?
Minor speeding starts at a 10 OMR fine with added penalty points. Reckless or excessive speeding falls under Article 50 of the Traffic Act and can carry both a fine and a prison sentence, so treat it as a serious offense.
Other articles about Oman
Planning the rest of your trip? These cover all the parts this guide does not.
- All You Need to Know Before Visiting Oman: visa, budget, and the practical information you need before your trip.
- The Best Photography Spots of Oman: where to shoot, the best light, and the gear for each spot.
- The Best 10-Day Itinerary for Oman: the full route, night by night, with drive times and where to sleep. Stay tuned, this article will be available soon.
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About Me
Peter Orsel is a Dutch travel photographer based in Bali, specialized in drone and landscape photography. He has visited over 40 countries and writes detailed, no-nonsense guides based on firsthand experience.