Short answer. You can rent a car in Baku with a Turkish licence and nothing else. Turkey joined the 1968 Vienna Convention on 22 January 2013. Your licence is in Latin letters and Azerbaijan reads it. No international permit is needed by law.
Updated 9 August 2026.
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Why can you rent a car in Baku with a Turkish licence?
Azerbaijan joined the 1968 Vienna Convention in 2002. Turkey joined in 2013.
Both countries sit inside the same treaty. A licence from one is valid in the other.
The second reason is simpler. Turkish licences are printed in Latin letters.
An officer here reads your name without a translation. Readability is what the treaty is really about.
| Licence type | Accepted | Note |
|---|---|---|
| New card, issued 2016 or later | Yes | EU format, categories on the back |
| Older pink card | Yes | Check the expiry date, many were renewed |
| Paper licence from the 1990s | Ask first | Rare now, some desks refuse it |
How long can you drive on it?
You can drive on a Turkish licence for thirty days from entry to Azerbaijan.
Thirty days covers a holiday. The limit does not cover a season of work.
An international permit removes the limit. Get it from a Turkish motoring club before you fly.
What do you bring to the counter?
- Your Turkish licence, the original card
- Your passport or ID card, whichever you entered on
- Proof of entry: the stamp or your e-visa
Turkish citizens enter Azerbaijan without a visa for short stays.
You can also enter on a national ID card rather than a passport.
Bring whichever document carries your entry record. The contract is written from it.
Does anyone speak Turkish?
Yes, our Baku staff speak Turkish every day. Turkish is one of four working languages here.
The contract is explained in Turkish before you sign anything.
The language matters more than it sounds. Most arguments about rentals start with a term nobody translated.
How does driving here compare to Turkey?
Driving here is close to Turkey, with three real differences. Alcohol, town speed and tolls.
| Rule | Turkey | Azerbaijan |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol limit | 0.50 | 0.00 |
| Town speed limit | 50 | 60 |
| Open road | 90 | 90 |
| Toll roads | Many, HGS sticker | One, the M1 |
The alcohol limit is the one that catches people. Zero means zero here.
One glass of raki at dinner is enough to lose the licence. Do not risk it.
Cameras are everywhere in Baku. Cameras read the plate and post the fine later.
More detail sits in our guide to speed limits and fines.
Can you bring your own car from Turkey?
Yes, you can bring your own car from Turkey, but the route is long. Turkey borders Azerbaijan only at Nakhchivan.
To reach Baku by road you drive through Georgia. The drive is roughly 1,500 km from Istanbul.
Most Turkish visitors fly and rent here. Baku is under three hours in the air.
Renting also avoids the paperwork of taking a foreign car across two borders.
Where do Turkish visitors usually drive?
Turkish visitors usually drive to Gabala and Sheki, Gobustan, and Quba and Khinalig. Three routes come up again and again.
- Gabala and Sheki for the mountains and the Silk Road towns
- Gobustan for the rock art and the mud volcanoes
- Quba and Khinalig for the high villages
All three work as day trips. None needs a four-wheel drive in summer.
Start with our Baku to Sheki road guide.
Costs are set out in our fuel price guide.
What do we ask a Turkish 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 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
Do I need an international permit as a Turkish citizen?
Not for a stay in Azerbaijan under 30 days. Your national card is enough by law.
Can I enter Azerbaijan on my ID card?
Yes, you can enter Azerbaijan on a Turkish ID card for short visits. Bring the same document to the rental counter.
Is my old pink licence still valid?
An old pink licence is valid if the expiry date has not passed. Baku desks check it.
What is the alcohol limit?
The alcohol limit is zero. Azerbaijan allows no alcohol in the blood at all when driving.
Will my Turkish insurance cover me here?
No, Turkish insurance does not cover you here. The rental car carries Azerbaijani ICBARI cover, and full damage cover is optional.
Can I take the car to Georgia on the way home?
No, you cannot take the car to Georgia. Current rules do not allow rented cars out of Azerbaijan.
Flying in soon? Message us with your dates. We answer in Turkish on WhatsApp.
