Documents for Car Rental in Baku: What You Need to Bring

In short. To rent a car at Karavan Rent A Car in Baku you need two documents: a passport and a driving licence. Azerbaijan is a party to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, so national licences from member countries with details in Latin script are accepted without an International Driving Permit. Turkish citizens can use a biometric ID card instead of a passport. You can send photos of your documents via WhatsApp in advance — then pick-up takes 10–15 minutes.

The most common question before a trip to Azerbaijan isn’t about the car but about paperwork. Do I need an international licence? Will my licence be accepted? What if my licence was issued in a different country from my passport? The good news: in most cases it’s simpler than it seems.

Documents: the short list

Document	Who needs it	What matters
Passport	every driver	Turkish citizens can use a biometric ID card
Driving licence	every driver	details must be readable in Latin script
International Driving Permit	not everyone	only if your licence has no Latin script or was issued by a country outside the Vienna Convention
Payment method	the renter	Visa, Mastercard, MIR card or cash manats

What Documents Do You Need to Rent a Car in Baku — Karavan

Do you need an International Driving Permit

Azerbaijan joined the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic in 2002. This means national licences from countries that are parties to the convention are recognised here without an International Driving Permit, as long as the driver’s name and details can be read in Latin script.

In practice, this settles the question for most guests:

Russian licences are accepted — the card has a block with details in Latin script;
Turkish licences are accepted — the Turkish alphabet is Latin;
Israeli licences are accepted without an International Driving Permit.

If your licence was issued by a country that isn’t a party to the Vienna Convention, or has no details in Latin script, get an International Driving Permit or check with a manager in advance whether your document will be accepted.

Driver requirements

Besides documents, age and experience matter. Standard terms are ages 21 to 65 with at least one year’s experience. Drivers over 65 are approved individually. More in our article on car rental from age 21.

How to arrange documents in advance

Send photos of your passport and licence to a manager on WhatsApp or Telegram when booking.
The manager checks the documents and tells you right away if anything is missing.
Make a 20% prepayment and receive a voucher with the total.
When you collect the car, show the originals and sign the contract — it takes 10–15 minutes.

That way you sort out any details at home, not at the rental desk after a flight.

If more than one person will drive

Every driver is listed in the contract, and each needs a passport and licence. All listed drivers are insured. Important: if someone not listed in the contract drives, the insurance doesn’t apply — more in our article on car rental with full insurance.

Trips to Karabakh

To drive a rental car to Karabakh you need a separate permit, issued through the yolumuzqarabaga.az portal. A manager will explain how to get it.

What you don’t need

A credit card — you can pay by debit card or in cash; more in our article on car rental without a credit card.
An International Driving Permit — if your licence was issued by a Vienna Convention country and is readable in Latin script.
A passport, for Turkish citizens — an ID card is enough.

FAQ

What documents do I need to rent a car in Baku?

A passport and a driving licence. Turkish citizens can use a biometric ID card instead of a passport.

Do I need an International Driving Permit?

No, if your licence was issued by a Vienna Convention country and its details are readable in Latin script. Otherwise, check with a manager.

Are Russian licences accepted?

Yes, Russian licences have a block with details in Latin script.

Can I rent a car with an ID card?

Yes, Turkish citizens only need a biometric ID card — no passport required.

Do I need a credit card?

No, you can pay by Visa, Mastercard or MIR debit card, or in cash manats.

How long does pick-up take?

10–15 minutes if you’ve sent your documents in advance.

Can I drive a rental car to Georgia or Turkey?

No, rental cars do not cross Azerbaijan’s state border.

Conclusion

Renting a car in Baku doesn’t require a stack of paperwork: a passport and a licence are enough for most guests. Send photos of your documents to a Karavan Rent A Car in Baku manager on WhatsApp or Telegram at +994-55-455-22-45 — they’ll check them in advance and confirm your booking.

All rental terms in one place — in our guide to car rental requirements in Baku.