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Country driving guide · 2026

Driving in Azerbaijan

Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into Azerbaijan: 10 legal requirements + 6 other things worth knowing.

10

Required

2

Recommended

4

Good to know

Tick before you go

Pre-departure checklist for Azerbaijan

10 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.

  • 1968 IDP required alongside UK/EU licence

    Azerbaijan recognises the 1968 Vienna Convention IDP; carry it with your home licence, passport and visa (e-visa available via evisa.gov.az for most UK/EU nationals).

  • Local third-party insurance compulsory at border

    Green Card is NOT valid in Azerbaijan; buy compulsory MTPL insurance (icbar.az) at the border crossing, typically 50-100 AZN (25-50 EUR) for short stays.

  • V5C and notarised owner permission for own car

    Bring the V5C logbook; if the car is not registered in your name you need a notarised letter of authorisation from the owner, translated into Azerbaijani or Russian.

  • Temporary vehicle import declaration

    Customs issue a temporary import permit (up to 1 year) at the border free of charge; you must exit with the same vehicle or pay heavy duties.

  • Drive on the right, overtake on the left

    Right-hand traffic; right-hand-drive vehicles are legal to drive but discouraged and may be refused entry at some land borders.

  • Speed limits 110 / 90 / 60 km/h

    Motorway 110 km/h, rural roads 90 km/h, urban areas 60 km/h (often 40 km/h in residential zones); fixed and mobile speed cameras are widespread, especially on the Baku-Quba and Baku-Ganja highways.

  • Zero-tolerance alcohol limit (0.00 g/L)

    Any detectable alcohol in the blood is illegal; penalties include heavy fines, licence confiscation and potential detention.

  • Dipped headlights mandatory outside cities

    Dipped headlights required at all times on rural roads and motorways year-round; seatbelts compulsory front and rear, no phone use without hands-free.

  • Warning triangle and first aid kit required

    Carry a warning triangle, first aid kit and fire extinguisher in the vehicle at all times; hi-vis vest is recommended but not legally mandated.

  • Cash declaration over 10,000 USD equivalent

    Declare cash above 10,000 USD (or equivalent) on entry; failure to declare can result in confiscation. No tipping expected at fuel stations.

Documents

1968 IDP required alongside UK/EU licence

Required

Azerbaijan recognises the 1968 Vienna Convention IDP; carry it with your home licence, passport and visa (e-visa available via evisa.gov.az for most UK/EU nationals).

Local third-party insurance compulsory at border

Required

Green Card is NOT valid in Azerbaijan; buy compulsory MTPL insurance (icbar.az) at the border crossing, typically 50-100 AZN (25-50 EUR) for short stays.

V5C and notarised owner permission for own car

Required

Bring the V5C logbook; if the car is not registered in your name you need a notarised letter of authorisation from the owner, translated into Azerbaijani or Russian.

Temporary vehicle import declaration

Required

Customs issue a temporary import permit (up to 1 year) at the border free of charge; you must exit with the same vehicle or pay heavy duties.

Driving rules

Drive on the right, overtake on the left

Required

Right-hand traffic; right-hand-drive vehicles are legal to drive but discouraged and may be refused entry at some land borders.

Speed limits 110 / 90 / 60 km/h

Required

Motorway 110 km/h, rural roads 90 km/h, urban areas 60 km/h (often 40 km/h in residential zones); fixed and mobile speed cameras are widespread, especially on the Baku-Quba and Baku-Ganja highways.

Zero-tolerance alcohol limit (0.00 g/L)

Required

Any detectable alcohol in the blood is illegal; penalties include heavy fines, licence confiscation and potential detention.

Dipped headlights mandatory outside cities

Required

Dipped headlights required at all times on rural roads and motorways year-round; seatbelts compulsory front and rear, no phone use without hands-free.

Police checkpoints and on-the-spot fines

Recommended

Traffic police (YPX) conduct frequent stops; fines are issued via official receipt or the e-cign.az portal: never pay cash directly to an officer without paperwork.

Tolls

No vignette or motorway tolls

Good to know

Azerbaijan has no nationwide vignette or toll-road system; motorways and main highways are free to use.

Required equipment

Warning triangle and first aid kit required

Required

Carry a warning triangle, first aid kit and fire extinguisher in the vehicle at all times; hi-vis vest is recommended but not legally mandated.

Winter tyres advised Nov-Mar in mountains

Recommended

Winter tyres or chains strongly recommended Nov-Mar for the Greater Caucasus routes (Quba, Qusar, Shahdag); mountain passes such as Murovdag can close after heavy snow.

Emissions / low-emission zones

No low-emission zones

Good to know

Baku and other cities have no LEZ stickers or emission-based restrictions, though older diesels may face informal scrutiny at city checkpoints.

Money

Currency AZN, fuel approx 0.55 EUR/litre

Good to know

Currency is the Azerbaijani manat (AZN); petrol AI-92 around 1.00 AZN/L (~0.55 EUR), diesel similar; fuel stations widely accept cards in cities but cash needed rurally.

Cash declaration over 10,000 USD equivalent

Required

Declare cash above 10,000 USD (or equivalent) on entry; failure to declare can result in confiscation. No tipping expected at fuel stations.

Environment

Nagorno-Karabakh and border zones restricted

Good to know

FCDO advises against travel to areas near the Armenian border and former contact line; do not attempt to enter Armenia directly from Azerbaijan: the border is closed.

FCDO travel advice

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Drive on the right, overtake on the left

Required

Right-hand traffic; right-hand-drive vehicles are legal to drive but discouraged and may be refused entry at some land borders.

Speed limits 110 / 90 / 60 km/h

Required

Motorway 110 km/h, rural roads 90 km/h, urban areas 60 km/h (often 40 km/h in residential zones); fixed and mobile speed cameras are widespread, especially on the Baku-Quba and Baku-Ganja highways.

Zero-tolerance alcohol limit (0.00 g/L)

Required

Any detectable alcohol in the blood is illegal; penalties include heavy fines, licence confiscation and potential detention.

Dipped headlights mandatory outside cities

Required

Dipped headlights required at all times on rural roads and motorways year-round; seatbelts compulsory front and rear, no phone use without hands-free.