Short answer. An international driving permit in Azerbaijan is usually not required by law. Your licence must be printed in Latin letters. Azerbaijan joined the 1968 Vienna Convention in 2002. But most rental desks in Baku still ask for an International Driving Permit. You cannot get one after you land.
Updated 9 August 2026.
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What does the law say?
Azerbaijan joined the 1968 Vienna Convention on 3 July 2002. Under that treaty, one country accepts a licence issued by another. The licence must follow the agreed format.
In practice this means Latin letters and standard categories.
An IDP is not a licence. An IDP is a translation of your licence. The permit works only with the original licence next to it. Lose the original and the IDP is worth nothing.
So there are two separate questions here. People keep mixing them up.
- Will the traffic police accept my licence? Usually yes, if it uses Latin letters.
- Will the rental company give me the keys? Each rental desk sets its own rule, stricter than the law.
When do you need an international driving permit in Azerbaijan?
You need an international driving permit when your licence is not in Latin letters.
| Your licence | Do you need an IDP? |
|---|---|
| Latin letters: UK, EU, USA, India, Pakistan, Turkey, most Gulf states | Not by law for a short visit. Bring one anyway. |
| Cyrillic letters: Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan | Yes. Nobody at the roadside can read it. |
| Arabic, Farsi, Hebrew, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Georgian or Armenian only | Yes. |
| Two languages, with a Latin section (many Gulf licences) | Usually fine. Ask us before you fly. |
Three more cases where an IDP saves your trip.
- You plan to drive out of Baku. Police in the regions see fewer foreign licences. A familiar document makes the stop shorter.
- You have an accident. The insurance papers are filled in by people who must read your licence.
- You have not chosen a rental company yet. Some desks in Baku refuse without an IDP.
Where do you get an IDP?
You get an IDP in your own country, always before you fly.
Only your own country can issue it. Usually this is an automobile club or a licensing office. No office in Azerbaijan can issue one. No website can either.
Some sites sell an “international driving licence” as a PDF file. A PDF international driving licence is fake. Police will not accept a PDF. Showing a fake is worse than showing nothing.
In most countries an IDP costs 15 to 30 USD. An IDP takes a day or two to issue. The permit is valid for one year.
What do you need to rent a car in Baku?
To rent a car in Baku you need four documents. The order below is the one that causes trouble.
- Your national driving licence. The original card. A photo on your phone is not a document.
- Your passport. The same one you entered the country on.
- An IDP, if your licence is not in Latin letters.
- Proof of legal entry. An e-visa, an entry stamp or a residence permit.
What we ask for at BookingCarBaku
You must be 19 years old or older. You must have held your licence for one year.
We ask for your passport and your original licence. If your licence is not in Latin letters, bring an IDP.
We bring the car to Heydar Aliyev airport (GYD). We also deliver anywhere in Baku. Full conditions are on our rental terms page.
What happens if you are stopped without the right papers?
Driving without a valid licence is an offence in Azerbaijan. The car can be held.
For a tourist the usual result is a long stop at the roadside. You lose a day, not more. A lost day is still a day of your holiday.
Two other rules catch visitors more often than paperwork does.
- The blood alcohol limit is 0.00. Not low. Zero. One beer at lunch is an offence.
- Radar detectors are illegal. Do not bring one. Do not install an app that works like one.
How long can you drive on your own licence?
You may drive 30 days from the day you enter Azerbaijan. Thirty days is the rule for a visiting tourist.
An international driving permit removes the 30-day limit. The permit has no cut-off date.
Most holidays are shorter than a month, so the limit rarely bites. The 30-day limit matters if you stay for a season.
| Your stay | What you need |
|---|---|
| Up to 30 days | Your national licence is enough |
| Longer than 30 days | Carry an international permit as well |
Get the permit at home. No office in Baku issues one for a foreign licence.
So an international driving permit in Azerbaijan is a backup, not a barrier.
What does this mean when you book with us?
Booking with us, your national licence covers a stay of up to 30 days.
- We accept your national licence for a stay of up to 30 days.
- Bring an international permit if you are here longer.
- Deposit 200 to 300 USD, in cash or blocked on a card.
- Minimum rental 2 days, with no mileage limit.
The country list of the 1968 Vienna Convention is public. The list sits on the United Nations treaty register.
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
Can I get an International Driving Permit after I arrive in Baku?
No, an International Driving Permit cannot be issued after you arrive. Only the country that issued your licence can issue one. Get the permit before you travel.
My licence is a plastic card in English. Is that enough?
For a short visit to Azerbaijan, usually yes. Most visitors drive on it. Bring an IDP if you leave Baku.
Is a digital licence on my phone accepted?
A digital licence on a phone is not accepted in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani police need the physical card.
How long can I drive on my home licence?
The treaty covers short visits to Azerbaijan. Residents follow different rules. Ask the authorities if you stay long.
Do I need an IDP if I hire a car with a driver?
No IDP is needed when you hire a car with a driver. In Baku you only need your passport. See our cars with a driver.
A friend will also drive. Do they need documents too?
Yes, a second driver needs the same set of documents. In Azerbaijan the second driver must be named in the contract. A driver outside the contract has no insurance.
Still not sure what applies to your country? Send us a photo of your licence on WhatsApp. We will tell you before you book. Contact us here, or look at our economy cars first.
