Short answer. You can rent a car in Baku with an Australian licence. Bring an international permit as well. Australia and New Zealand sit in the 1949 Geneva Convention. Azerbaijan uses the 1968 one. The permit closes that gap. Get it at home.
Updated 9 August 2026.
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Can you rent a car in Baku with an Australian licence?
Yes, with an international permit alongside your Australian licence. Two road traffic treaties exist, and countries do not always share one.
| Country | Treaty | Joined |
|---|---|---|
| Azerbaijan | Vienna 1968 | 2002 |
| Australia | Geneva 1949 | 1954 |
| New Zealand | Geneva 1949 | 1958 |
Azerbaijan sits in one, you sit in the other. The mismatch is the gap.
The international permit closes the gap. The permit is issued under the 1949 treaty and read here.
The same gap applies to American and Canadian drivers. The rule is not about English-speaking countries.
Where do you get one?
You get the permit at home, before you fly. No office in Baku issues a permit for a foreign licence.
| Country | Who issues it | Valid for |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | State motoring clubs: NRMA, RACV, RACQ and others | 12 months |
| New Zealand | The AA | 12 months |
The permit takes a day or two. The cost is about the same as a taxi to the airport.
Do not buy one from a website that promises an instant PDF. Website PDFs are not treaty documents.
Does the permit replace your licence?
No, the permit does not replace your licence. The pairing catches people out in Azerbaijan.
The permit is a translation booklet. The booklet works only next to the original card.
Leave the licence in the hotel safe and the permit is worth nothing.
Carry both, together, every time you drive.
How long can you drive on it?
A foreign licence covers 30 days from entry to Azerbaijan. The permit removes that limit.
Australians and New Zealanders often travel long. If you are here for two months, the permit matters twice.
What changes from driving at home?
Azerbaijan drives on the right, unlike home, and the alcohol limit is zero. The biggest change is obvious but worth saying plainly.
- Azerbaijan drives on the right. Left-hand drive cars, right-hand traffic.
- The alcohol limit is zero. Not 0.05. Zero.
- Roundabouts run anticlockwise, the opposite of home.
| Rule | Australia and NZ | Azerbaijan |
|---|---|---|
| Side of the road | Left | Right |
| Alcohol limit | 0.05 | 0.00 |
| Town speed limit | 50 | 60 |
| Open road | 100 to 110 | 90 |
Take an automatic. Every car in our fleet is one.
Spend the first ten minutes on quiet streets. Turning right is the move that feels wrong.
Our guide to driving in Baku covers the rest.
Is Azerbaijan worth driving at all?
Yes, Azerbaijan is worth driving. The distances suit a long-haul traveller.
- Gobustan, 65 km, rock art and mud volcanoes
- Sheki, 300 km, the Khan’s Palace
- Quba and Khinalig, the high north
The whole country is smaller than Tasmania. You can circle it in a week.
Our cars have no mileage limit.
Distances and fuel sums sit in our fuel price guide.
What do you bring to the counter?
- Your licence, the original card
- Your international driving permit
- Your passport with the visa or entry stamp
Australians and New Zealanders need an Azerbaijani e-visa. Apply online before you fly.
What do we ask an Australian or New Zealand driver for?
- Your national licence and an international permit, together.
- Passport with the e-visa you entered on.
- Every car in the fleet is automatic.
- 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 1949 treaty has its own country list 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
Do I really need an international permit?
Yes, you really need an international permit. Australia and New Zealand are in the 1949 treaty, Azerbaijan is in the 1968 one.
Can I get the permit after I land?
No, you cannot get the permit after you land. The permit is issued at home only, never in Azerbaijan. Sort it before you fly.
Are the cars automatic?
Yes, our whole Baku fleet. Nobody learns a manual on the wrong side here.
Which side of the road do they drive on?
Azerbaijan drives on the right side of the road. Take it slowly for the first hour.
Do I need a visa?
Yes, an Azerbaijani e-visa. Apply online a few days before you travel.
Is my home insurance any use here?
No, home insurance is no use here. The car carries Azerbaijani ICBARI cover, and full damage cover is optional.
Long trip through the Caucasus? Message us with your dates and we will hold a car.
