A hire car is a great way to see Azerbaijan at its own pace — the Absheron fire sights of Yanar Dağ and the Ateshgah temple, the rock art and mud volcanoes of Gobustan, and the green mountains around Gabala and Sheki. If you are used to driving at home, the basics transfer easily: Azerbaijan drives on the right. But a few local realities are worth knowing before you set off from Baku.
The basics
Cars are left-hand drive and you keep to the right, so junctions and overtaking feel natural for most European and North American drivers. Distances and speed limits are in kilometres. Road signs use the Latin alphabet (Azerbaijani), usually with English on main routes. Seatbelts are compulsory, the drink-drive limit is effectively zero and strictly enforced, and speed cameras are common on the highways around Baku.
Roads and driving conditions
- Motorways out of Baku (towards Ganja, the Russian border and the airport itself) are modern and well-surfaced, with tolls on some newer sections.
- Baku city traffic is heavy and fast, with confident lane-changing and liberal use of the horn — take it steady until you find the rhythm.
- Mountain roads to Gabala, Sheki and the north are winding and slower than the map suggests; allow extra time and use low gears on long descents.
- Winter brings snow and ice in the Greater Caucasus, so check conditions and consider winter tyres from November to March if you head to the mountains.
Documents, fuel and police
| Point | What to know |
|---|---|
| Licence | An International Driving Permit alongside your national licence is recommended and often required |
| Papers | Keep your passport, licence, IDP and rental documents in the car; traffic police (DYP) patrol the highways |
| Fuel | Petrol and diesel are cheap and widely available near towns, sparser in remote areas — fill up before long stretches |
| Tolls | Some newer motorway sections are tolled; keep small change or check the payment method |
Parking and cities
In central Baku, use marked bays and paid zones, and don’t leave valuables on show. Traffic and parking are tight around the Old City, Fountains Square and the Boulevard, so many visitors leave the car for city days and use it for trips out to Gobustan, Absheron and the mountains. If police wave you down at a checkpoint, slow down, be polite and have your papers ready.
Practical tips
- Photograph the hire car at handover and check the insurance excess and fuel policy.
- Download offline maps — signal drops in the mountains and outside the main routes.
- Fill up in towns before heading to Gabala, Sheki or the far regions.
- The unified emergency number is 112 in Azerbaijan for police, ambulance and fire.
- Rules and conditions change — confirm current details, especially in winter, before you set off.
Not sure whether to drive or take a transfer? Compare the options in our transport guide, or read up on Bolt and Uber in Baku for city trips without a car.
