Short answer. The documents to rent a car in Baku are the same for almost everyone. You need your original licence, your passport and proof of legal entry. An international permit is needed only if your licence is not in Latin letters. Two treaties decide this, and this page shows which one covers you.
Updated 9 August 2026.
On this page
Why are there two treaties?
Two treaties exist because countries agreed twice on recognising driving licences. Once in Geneva in 1949, and again in Vienna in 1968.
Azerbaijan signed the Vienna one, on 3 July 2002. Most of the world signed it too.
A few large countries did not. The United States, Canada and India stayed with the 1949 treaty.
The split sounds serious. In practice one question settles it. Is your licence readable in Latin letters?
The table by country
The table by country below shows which licences need a permit. Russia, Turkey, the UK and the EU need none. India, the USA, Canada, Iran and China do.
| Country | Treaty | Licence script | IDP needed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Russia | Vienna, 1974 | Latin line since 2011 | No, on modern cards |
| Turkey | Vienna, 2013 | Latin | No |
| Pakistan | Vienna, 1986 | Latin, in English | No |
| United Arab Emirates | Vienna, 2007 | Arabic and English | No |
| Saudi Arabia | Vienna, 2016 | Arabic and English | No |
| United Kingdom | Vienna, 2018 | Latin | No |
| EU countries | Vienna, various years | Latin | No |
| India | Geneva, 1949 | Latin, in English | Advised |
| USA and Canada | Geneva, 1949 | Latin | Strongly advised |
| Iran | — | Farsi | Yes |
| Georgia and Armenia | Vienna | Often local script | Yes, if no Latin line |
| China, Japan, Korea | Varies | Local script | Yes |
Not on the list? Look at your own card. A Latin line means Azerbaijani police will almost certainly accept it.
Which documents to rent a car in Baku does every desk ask for?
Every desk asks for your national licence, your passport and proof of legal entry.
- Your national licence. The original card. A phone photo is not a document.
- Your passport. The same one you entered on.
- Proof of legal entry. An e-visa, an entry stamp or a residence permit.
- An IDP, if your licence is not in Latin letters.
You must be 19 or over with us. You must have held your licence for one year.
International chains usually start at 23 or 25 and add a young driver fee.
What is an IDP, exactly?
An IDP is not a licence. An IDP is a translation into several languages.
An IDP only works with your original card next to it. Alone the booklet is worth nothing.
Only your own country can issue one. An IDP costs 15 to 30 USD in most places and lasts a year.
Sites selling a PDF “international driving licence” sell fakes. Showing one to police is worse than showing nothing. Our guide to the IDP in Azerbaijan has more detail.
What if two of you want to drive?
Two drivers bring the same set of documents. Both must be named in the contract.
A driver who is not in the contract has no insurance. The rule holds everywhere in Azerbaijan.
Tell us at booking, not at handover. Adding a name takes one line.
Which car do most visitors take?
| Trip | Car | From |
|---|---|---|
| City only | Economy sedan | 25 USD per day |
| City plus day trips | Crossover | 48 USD per day |
| Mountains or winter | SUV | 65 USD per day |
| Six or more people | Minivan | 80 USD per day |
Browse economy cars or SUVs from our Baku fleet. Our conditions are on the terms page.
What if your licence is not in Latin letters?
Non-Latin script is the single question that decides most cases at the counter.
Cyrillic, Arabic, Hindi or Chinese script is hard to read here. A police officer will struggle.
The law may still accept it. The rental desk is a separate matter.
An international permit solves both at once. The permit is a translation booklet, not a licence.
The booklet only works next to the original. On its own the booklet is worth nothing.
You get it at home, usually from a motoring club, in a day or two.
No office in Baku issues one for a foreign licence. Sort it before you fly.
What if you hold two licences?
Some drivers arrive in Baku with a home licence and a residence-country one.
Bring the one that matches your passport. Matching names keeps the contract simple.
If the names differ, bring the papers that link them. A marriage certificate counts.
What do we ask every driver for?
- Your national licence works for the first 30 days after you enter.
- An international permit removes that 30-day limit.
- Passport and licence are the only documents we need from you.
- Deposit 200 to 300 USD, in cash or blocked on a card.
- Minimum rental 2 days, with no mileage limit.
The list of countries in the 1968 road traffic treaty is public. The register sits with the United Nations.
We have rented cars in Baku since 2023 and run 105 cars today. The office is open 24/7 and the phone answers at night.
BookingCarBaku staff speak Azerbaijani, Russian, English and Turkish.
Common questions
My country is not in the table. What now?
Send our Baku office a photo of your licence on WhatsApp. We answer before you book.
Can I get an IDP after arriving in Baku?
No, you cannot get an IDP after arriving in Baku. Only the country that issued your licence can issue one.
Is a digital licence on my phone accepted?
No, a digital licence on your phone is not accepted. Azerbaijani police need the physical card.
Does my visa type change what I can rent?
No, your visa type does not change what you can rent. You only need to be in Azerbaijan legally.
What if my licence expires during the trip?
Renew your licence before you fly. No Baku company rents on an expired card.
Do you check driving history or penalty points?
Our Baku office asks for one year of driving experience. Foreign point records are not requested.
Send us a photo of your licence and your dates. We will confirm everything in one message. Contact us here.
