Beirut - Post Report Question and Answers
What kind of car do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car do you advise not to bring?
See above, personal vehicles are not permitted and movement is restricted. - Oct 2020
No cars allowed. - May 2019
Lebanese roads are not always well maintained and driving is quite chaotic. Having parts replaced is not a problem. - Feb 2015
no self drive allowed here. - Nov 2014
Most of us are not allowed to self drive. - Apr 2014
American diplomats cannot have their personal cars. Others drive the full range. Some prefer a rugged SUV, others a beat-up sedan because of the high likelihood of a low-speed fender bender. - Sep 2010
Traffic is bad in Lebanon, so I would recommend a small vehicle. Lebanese favor the biggest, flashiest car they can find. Embassy employees can't bring cars and are instead ferried around in armored vehicles. - Jul 2010
Embassy personnel may not bring automobiles. - Jun 2009
USG employees are not allowed to bring vehicles. I don't know about carjackings, but I hear of people's travel to certain areas being questioned by militia. Give them the right answers and you can move along. If not, you'll be sent back the way you came. - Jun 2008
We are not allowed to drive here because it is too much of a liability. But any type of car is suitable, the smaller the better for the traffic is terrible here and parking is usually a problem. There are various makes and models of cars so finding parts or a mechanic shouldn't be a problem. - Mar 2008
