Short answer. You can rent a car in Baku with a Georgian licence and nothing else. Georgia joined the 1968 Vienna Convention in 1993. The card carries Latin letters. No international permit is needed by law.
Updated 9 August 2026.
On this page
- Can you rent a car with a Georgian licence?
- How long can you drive on it?
- Can you drive your own car across instead?
- So why rent here at all?
- Can you take our car back to Georgia?
- What is different from driving in Georgia?
- Where is worth driving from Baku?
- What do you bring to the counter?
- What do we ask a Georgian driver for?
Can you rent a car in Baku with a Georgian licence?
Georgia acceded to the 1968 Vienna Convention on 23 July 1993. Azerbaijan joined in 2002.
Two neighbours inside the same treaty. The licence works on both sides of the border.
Current Georgian cards also print your name in Latin letters.
An officer here reads it without a translation. Latin letters remove the second common problem.
How long can you drive on it?
You can drive on a Georgian licence for thirty days from the crossing. Thirty days covers a normal visit.
Living or working here longer? Carry an international permit as well.
Can you drive your own car across instead?
Yes, you can drive your own car across instead. A Georgian car may enter Azerbaijan with the right papers.
| Crossing | Georgian side | Leads to |
|---|---|---|
| Red Bridge | Near Rustavi | Gazakh, then the Baku road |
| Lagodekhi | Kakheti | Balakan, Sheki and the north-west |
Tbilisi to Baku is roughly 550 km. Allow eight to nine hours with the border.
You need the registration papers and insurance valid in Azerbaijan.
Border insurance is sold at the crossing. Carry cash for it.
So why rent here at all?
Rent here if you flew in or crossed by bus. Renting also keeps kilometres off your own car.
- You flew in. Baku is an hour from Tbilisi by air.
- You do not want the kilometres on your own car.
- You crossed by bus or train and want a car for the week.
Our cars carry Azerbaijani plates and Azerbaijani insurance. Nothing to arrange at a border.
Can you take our car back to Georgia?
No, you cannot take our car back to Georgia. Current rules do not allow rented cars out of Azerbaijan.
The rule applies to every rental company here, not only to us.
Plan a return leg by train, bus or plane. Our guide on taking a rental car to Georgia has the prices.
What is different from driving in Georgia?
The alcohol limit is 0.00 here against 0.30 in Georgia. Fuel is cheaper on this side.
| Rule | Georgia | Azerbaijan |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol limit | 0.30 | 0.00 |
| Town speed limit | 60 | 60 |
| Open road | 90 to 110 | 90 |
| Fuel, 92 petrol | Higher | 1.10 AZN a litre |
The alcohol limit is the one that changes. Zero here means zero.
Fuel is cheaper on this side. The price gap surprises most Georgian drivers.
Camera coverage around Baku is heavier than on Georgian roads.
Where is worth driving from Baku?
Sheki, Gabala and Gobustan are worth driving to from Baku. The north-west feels closest to home and is the shortest run.
- Sheki, 300 km, the Khan’s Palace and old caravanserais
- Gabala, 220 km, mountains and a cable car
- Gobustan, 65 km south, rock art and mud volcanoes
Our cars have no mileage limit, so a long day costs you only fuel.
Fuel sums sit in our fuel price guide.
What do you bring to the counter?
- Your Georgian licence, the original card
- Your passport or ID with the entry record
The Baku deposit is 200 to 300 USD, in cash or blocked on a card.
Minimum rental is two days. Cash deposits come back on the spot.
What do we ask a Georgian driver for?
- Your national licence covers 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, depending on the car. Cash or a card block.
- No mileage limit anywhere inside Azerbaijan.
- Minimum rental 2 days.
- Fuel comes back at the level you got it.
- The car stays in Azerbaijan. Border rules do not allow otherwise.
The country list of 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
Is a Georgian licence valid in Azerbaijan?
Yes, a Georgian licence is valid in Azerbaijan. Georgia joined the 1968 Vienna Convention in 1993 and Azerbaijan in 2002.
Do I need an international permit?
No, not for a stay in Azerbaijan under 30 days. Current Georgian cards use Latin letters.
Can I bring my own car from Georgia?
Yes, you can bring your own car from Georgia. Bring registration papers and insurance valid in Azerbaijan, sold at the crossing.
Can I drive your car back to Tbilisi?
No, you cannot drive our car back to Tbilisi. Current rules do not allow rented cars out of Azerbaijan.
How long is the drive from Tbilisi?
About 550 km from Tbilisi to Baku, eight to nine hours including the border.
Is fuel cheaper here?
Yes, fuel is cheaper here. AI-92 costs 1.10 AZN a litre in Azerbaijan.
Crossing over for a week? Message us with your dates and we will have the car ready.
