Short answer. The road signs in Azerbaijan follow the 1968 Vienna Convention. If you have driven in Europe, they will look familiar. Speeds are in kilometres per hour. The words are in Azerbaijani, and a few of them are worth learning.
On this page
Are the road signs in Azerbaijan the same as in Europe?
Yes, the signs match European ones in shape and colour. The country joined the 1968 treaty in 2002.
Round red-bordered signs forbid. Blue round signs instruct. Triangles warn.
Motorway signs are green. Ordinary road signs are blue.
Distances and speeds are always metric. Nothing is in miles.
Which words should you learn?
Learn qadağandır for forbidden, yavaş for slow and ödənişli yol for toll road.
| Azerbaijani | English |
|---|---|
| Dayanmaq qadağandır | No stopping |
| Park etmək qadağandır | No parking |
| Yol təmiri | Road works |
| Ödənişli yol | Toll road |
| Təhlükəli döngə | Dangerous bend |
| Yavaş | Slow |
Qadağandır means forbidden. If you see it, the sign is telling you not to.
What is different from home?
- Place names appear in Latin letters, so you can read them.
- Some signs are only in Azerbaijani. Tourist routes add English.
- Camera warnings exist but do not mark every camera.
- Lane markings fade on older city roads and are treated loosely.
The last point matters more than the signs themselves in Baku.
What do the speed signs mean in practice?
| Where | Default limit |
|---|---|
| Residential and yard zones | 20 km/h |
| Towns and cities | 60 km/h |
| Outside built-up areas | 90 km/h |
| Motorways | 110 km/h |
In Azerbaijan a town name sign starts the 60 limit. The crossed-out name ends it.
The rule catches out visitors more than any posted number.
Full fine bands are in our speed and fines guide.
What about parking signs?
Parking signs use a white P on blue for a paid zone in Baku.
Payment is by app, not by meter and not to a person.
A red cross through the P means no parking at all.
Our parking guide explains the app and the zones.
Are the signs well maintained?
Signs are well maintained on Azerbaijani highways. Highway signs are new, clean and lit at junctions.
In villages, some are faded or turned by the wind.
Roadworks signs occasionally stay up after the work has finished.
Treat a warning triangle as real until you can see it is not.
Do you need to read Azerbaijani to drive here?
No, you do not need to read Azerbaijani. The shapes carry the meaning and place names use Latin letters.
A satnav in English covers the rest of it.
Download the map before you leave the city, because signal drops in the hills.
Our city driving guide covers the habits that signs do not.
One more sign to know. A blue circle with a white arrow means the way is compulsory.
You see them at junctions where a turn is not allowed.
Ignoring one puts you into oncoming traffic on a divided road.
One habit helps more than learning words. Read the sign, then look at the road.
Local drivers treat a faded lane line as a suggestion.
The sign may be right and the traffic may still ignore it.
Drive to what you see, not to what is painted.
What do we explain at handover?
At handover we explain the deposit, the fuel rule and how camera fines reach us.
- Deposit 200 to 300 USD (340–510 AZN), 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.
- Compulsory insurance is in the price. Full cover with a 300 to 500 EUR excess is optional.
- Delivery to your hotel for 10 USD (17 AZN), to the airport for 15 USD (25.5 AZN).
- A satnav in English for 3 to 5 USD (5.1–8.5 AZN) a day.
The traffic police publish the current rules on dyp.gov.az.
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
Are road signs in Azerbaijan in English?
Signs here are not in English. Place names use Latin letters and word signs are Azerbaijani only.
Are the signs the same as European ones?
Yes, the signs are the same in shape and colour. Azerbaijan follows the 1968 Vienna Convention.
Are speeds in kilometres?
Yes, speeds are always in kilometres. Nothing on an Azerbaijani road is measured in miles.
What does qadağandır mean?
Qadağandır is Azerbaijani for forbidden. The word appears on no stopping and no parking signs.
Where does the 60 limit start?
In Azerbaijan at the town name sign, ending at the crossed-out name.
Are speed cameras signposted?
Some speed cameras are signposted. Do not rely on a warning sign before every camera.
First time driving here? Message us and we will run through it at handover.
