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Renting a car in Azerbaijan is the most direct way to see the country beyond Baku. Travellers from the EU, UK, USA, Canada, Australia and India need an ASAN e-Visa — a simple online form, around $24, processed in three business days. From landing at Heydar Aliyev International to driving out towards Gobustan or Gabala, the whole sequence rarely takes more than an hour.
A couple from Manchester last September met our host at arrivals by flight number, signed the paperwork on the bonnet, and were on the road to Gobustan in fifteen minutes. The Avis queue was still waiting for the shuttle.
Prices here are kind, even for the region: economy cars from $25–30 a day, crossovers from $50, premium models from $80. Booking on TakeCars takes a 15–20% online prepayment by card; the balance and the security deposit are usually settled in cash on collection — standard practice for most local partners.
A typical itinerary is two to five days behind the wheel after walking around Baku: the city first, then the keys for the Caspian coast or the mountains. Car hire in Baku is best booked in advance, especially between June and September, when demand for sedans and crossovers picks up sharply.
In high season the better cars are gone five to seven days before pickup. Book in October for November and the same Hyundai Solaris is roughly half its summer price.
Book early and the rest of the trip falls into place.
Where to drive from Baku
Most of what's interesting in Azerbaijan sits within a 200–350 km radius of the capital, and without a car it's reachable either on a packaged tour or not at all. Gobustan, with its rock carvings and mud volcanoes, is 60 km south — half a day at most. Yanar Dag, the famous burning hillside, is 25 km out of town. Looking for a beach? Sea Breeze and Dalga are an hour away on the new motorway.
A Norwegian family last June took the car for four days after their walking-tour in the old city. Gobustan on day one, Gabala overnight, return through Sheki for the halva and the silk shop.
The properly scenic routes start a little further out: Gabala with its cable cars and mountain lakes (220 km), the old Silk Road town of Sheki (330 km), the Shahdag ski resort (200 km) and Quba with its old mosques. The Caspian coast around Lankaran and Astara is reachable by bus, but the rhythm of the trip switches from holiday to logistics the moment you start checking timetables.
There's also a quieter argument for renting. Baku is fairly called the city of winds: in autumn and winter the gusts are strong and constant, and a 1.5 km walk between two points becomes a workout. With a car the city simply works better. For most visitors, renting a car in Baku is less a luxury and more a question of pace.
Most tourists in Azerbaijan start their trip here
Payment, deposit and clear conditions
The 15–20% prepayment on TakeCars is taken by any major credit or debit card — Visa, Mastercard, Maestro all work. The balance and security deposit are paid in cash at handover, in manat, euro or dollars. That keeps things simple at the desk, and the price you see at booking is the price you pay.
Our deposits sit well below the chain prices, and they come back at handover. Nobody is waiting a month on a card-block release the way they do at Hertz or Avis.
The deposit at TakeCars local partners is typically 200–300 AZN, around $120–180. That's four to five times less than the major international chains, which block $500–1,500 on a credit card. Cash deposits come back in full at drop-off, provided there's no damage and no outstanding fines.
Every price on TakeCars is shown in full: the daily rate, insurance, the deposit and how it's paid are all visible before you book. No small print, no surprises at the desk. If your booked car is genuinely unavailable, the partner offers a free upgrade — a standard practice borne out by client reviews.
The price on the website is the final one. If you see $35 a day, the desk will not invent an extra fee or push a mandatory insurance for another $20.
Free cancellation runs up to seven days before pickup — significantly more generous than the 24–48 hours typical of international aggregators.
Hyundai Staria in Azerbaijan
Everything was excellent in terms of organization. The guys worked clearly, without nervousness and without annoyance. The car is also good. Only the price tag, of course, is "wild". When ordering I thought that in general the country is expensive, but no - the rest is within reason
Mitsubishi Pajero in Azerbaijan
The car is in excellent condition! I rented it for 2 days, I didn’t notice any problems with the car: it showed itself very well both on the highway and off-road. It is a pleasure to ride such a car in Azerbaijan. I put 5 out of 5 for the vehicle and recommend it to everyone!
Volkswagen Polo Sedan in Azerbaijan
Very contactable, pleasant host Emil. Always in touch on any issue. The VW Polo is not fresh, but I have no complaints about it.
Toyota Land Cruiser 300 in Azerbaijan
In general, everything was good, there were small technical flaws on the car, like a headlight that does not work, but this is not the main thing, it would be worth pointing out that the car will be replaced by a 2010 LX570, in new dodgers giving the car for a newer model (from the outside and not distinguishable from cars say 2018). It's actually a completely unequal replacement for the LC300. In general, I expected something like this for a price lower than the competition, but you always hope for the best. In general, there are no questions about the process of registration, everything was no worse than in other countries, quite friendly, but from my point of view a little assertive, but it's okay people are southern, all sorts of things happen. But, in general, I would not take this particular car from them anymore, I would rather overpay, but take what I want initially. That's how it is)
Volkswagen Polo Sedan in Azerbaijan
Everything went perfectly. The car was delivered to the airport at the appointed time, the car was clean and filled, everything was shown, told, and the contract was provided. The car was in technically sound condition. Also, at the appointed time, we arrived at the airport for the car. Everything was done quickly and as comfortably as possible for me. I recommend.
Kia Sportage in Azerbaijan
The experience was great No complaints at all, great landlord and flexible
Nissan Sunny in Azerbaijan
Everything was fine.
Chevrolet Spark in Azerbaijan
Very easy, simple procedure for getting the car. The landlord was always in touch and helped with any questions. The deposit was returned instantly after handing over the car. Everything is very clear and simple. I am very satisfied
Chevrolet Spark in Azerbaijan
everything went well, thank you.
Hyundai Staria in Azerbaijan
Instead of Staria we received a Mercedes Vito. The renter was in touch before the rental date and during the rental period. The car was delivered on time, picked up on time. All in all, everything was fine
Hyundai Elantra in Azerbaijan
Everything went great! Very friendly landlord, good quality car. Acceptance and handover went smoothly. Can recommend!
Toyota Prius in Azerbaijan
the car was in good condition, clean. Receipt and return of the car went quickly, no comments.
Chevrolet Aveo in Azerbaijan
Happy with the rental. The car is clean. Picked up and returned at Baku airport. Everything is good, thank you 🤝
Take Cars in Azerbaijan
TakeCars works with more than 400 cars across Azerbaijan, from a Chevrolet Spark at 45 manat a day to a 2023 Hyundai Tucson and business-class sedans. Every partner has a signed contract, and reviews are shown on the page of each car.
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Real photos and reviews on every car
Each listing shows actual photos of the specific vehicle and reviews from clients who rented that exact car — no stock images.
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Free cancellation up to 7 days
If plans change, cancel online without losing money; rebooking and changes are available any time before that window.
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24/7 support across the country
TakeCars and its partners offer assistance in most regions of Azerbaijan, including the mountain routes around Shahdag and Gabala.
Documents and rental conditions
Booking on TakeCars is simple: a passport with the entry stamp, a valid driving licence and a card for the prepayment. Licences from the EU, UK, USA, Canada and Australia are accepted directly. An IDP is recommended for non-Latin script licences but not required for Western markets.
EU, UK and US licences are accepted everywhere. An IDP only matters for scripts our partners can't read — for the typical traveller it doesn't.
Age and driving experience
The standard at most partners is 24+ with at least two years of driving experience. Some economy cars are available from 21–22 with a young-driver surcharge; premium models and crossovers are 25+ only.
Second driver — must be on the contract
A country-specific quirk worth knowing. If a person not listed on the contract is caught at the wheel, the car can be impounded by the police even without any offence — a document check is enough.
Planning to share the wheel with a partner or a friend? Add the second driver at signing. Free with most partners or $3–5 a day, and it saves you from the tow-truck story.
Cross-border travel is almost always forbidden: the Armenian border has been closed since 1993, and insurance does not extend to Iran. Georgia is possible with some partners — confirm before booking.
Insurance: TPL, CDW and Super CDW
Third-party liability (TPL) is included with every rental by law — basic protection for other parties in an accident. Standard CDW is also bundled into the daily rate at TakeCars partners: in case of damage you only cover the excess, usually 200–300 AZN, around $120–180.
Most partners include the standard CDW in the rate. Glass, wheels, rims and underbody aren't covered — these are the typical exclusions in the region.
Why Super CDW is worth it
Super CDW takes the excess to zero and usually adds glass, rims and underbody to the cover. That matters on mountain routes towards Gabala, Sheki, Shahdag and Quba — a punctured tyre or a scuffed rim without Super CDW is paid out of the deposit in full. Cost: 30–45 AZN a day.
A couple from Amsterdam took the basic CDW last April for the Sheki run. Clipped a stone on the Ismayilli road, lost the windscreen. The repair came in at almost the price of the whole rental.
The one rule for any damage
If anything happens — even a scuff on a wall — call the rental company first, then the police on 102. The police draw up an official report; the partner joins remotely or in person.
No police report, no insurance — even a scratch becomes a full repair bill. The rule is the same across the country and there are no exceptions. Driving on after a bump without telling anyone is the most expensive mistake we see. Call straight away; 24/7 support runs across the country.
Driving in Azerbaijan: what to know
Speed limits sit a touch lower than the European norm: 60 km/h in town, 90 km/h on two-lane roads and 110 km/h on motorways. Cameras in Baku and on the main routes are active, and any fines reach the rental partner within an hour.
A guest from Tashkent tried to tip a traffic officer in Yasamal last March. The officer laughed and pointed at the bank terminal across the street.
Alcohol and navigation
The legal blood alcohol limit is around 0.3‰, but rental companies and locals will tell you the same thing: don't drink and drive at all. The penalty starts at 400 AZN with a 6–12-month licence suspension.
For navigation, Waze is the practical choice. Google Maps struggles outside Baku, Apple Maps is worse. Waze wins because locals keep it current — patrols, cameras and potholes marked live.
The Baku 60 limit, an assertive local style, strong winds and Waze instead of Google — four things to know on day one.
Parking and toll roads
Central Baku has paid parking through a mobile app; international cards link without trouble. Outside the centre parking is mostly free. Don't hand the keys to a hotel valet — by local rules that counts as a violation and the car can be towed. Park yourself in the guest spaces.
The motorway network now has toll sections — the main one runs to the northern resorts and costs around $6. Car rental in Baku is most convenient picked up at GYD airport.
Rates in Azerbaijan vary throughout the year depending on the season and the rental length in days.
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How expensive is renting a car in Azerbaijan: average daily rates for a one-week car rental, across all car classes. Delivery across Azerbaijan not included.
Frequently asked questions about renting a car in Azerbaijan
Most Western travellers — EU, UK, USA, Canada, Australia, India — need an ASAN e-Visa. Apply at evisa.gov.az: upload a passport photo, a scan of your passport and trip details, and pay around $24 by card. Standard processing is three business days; an urgent option (around $62) is processed in roughly three hours.
Yes. The 15–20% online prepayment on TakeCars is taken by any Visa, Mastercard or Maestro card. The balance and the security deposit are paid in cash at handover, in manat, euro or dollars. International rental brands typically require a credit card in the driver's name for the full deposit.
At TakeCars local partners the deposit is normally 200–300 AZN, around $120–180, paid in cash. It is returned in full at drop-off if there is no damage and no outstanding fine. International chains take $500–1,500 on a credit card and release the block in 7–30 business days.
A passport with the entry stamp, a valid driving licence held at least 1–2 years and a payment card for the prepayment. EU, UK, US, Canadian and Australian licences are accepted directly. An International Driving Permit is recommended for non-Latin script licences as a backup, not required for Western markets.
Most partners rent from 24 with at least two years of driving experience. Some economy cars are available from 21–22 with a young-driver surcharge. Premium models and most crossovers require 25+. The upper limit is normally around 70.
Yes — strongly. In Azerbaijan, a routine document check is enough for the police to impound the car if the driver is not listed on the contract, even without an accident. Adding a second driver is free with most TakeCars partners or $3–5 a day, and avoids the issue entirely.
With some partners, yes — with a written permission and an extra fee around $50–100, plus an insurance extension to Georgia. Confirm this before booking; not every partner allows it. The main border crossings used by rentals are Red Bridge and Sadakhlo.
No. The Armenian border has been closed since 1993 and the surrounding area still has demining warnings. Insurance on rental cars does not extend to Iran, and partners do not allow this crossing in the contract.
20 km/h in residential zones, 60 km/h in built-up areas, 90 km/h on two-lane rural roads and 110 km/h on motorways. That is a little lower than most of Europe, so visitors often pick up fines simply by habit. Cameras are active, especially in Baku.
Officially around 0.3‰ in the blood, but rental companies and locals will all advise the same thing: do not drink and drive. The fine starts at 400 AZN with a 6–12-month licence suspension. Insurance is voided for any reading above the legal limit.
Call the rental partner first, then the police on 102. Without an official police report the insurance will not respond and the full repair cost comes out of the deposit — for any damage, however minor. Do not move the car until the police arrive. Photograph everything. TakeCars 24/7 support helps at every step.
Waze. Local drivers actively flag patrols, cameras, potholes and detours in real time, which makes it more accurate than Google Maps once you leave Baku. Set it up before driving out of the airport and use it for every route.
Through a municipal mobile app. International cards link to it without issues. Outside the centre and in most other cities parking is usually free or symbolic. Multi-storey car parks near Fountain Square and the Old City are open 24/7 and accept cash and cards.
Petrol 95 is around 1 AZN per litre (about $0.59) and diesel around 0.8 AZN. That is among the cheapest fuel in the region, courtesy of local oil production. City stations take cash and cards; rural and mountain stations are often cash only — fill up before heading into the hills.
Most TakeCars partners offer unlimited mileage — that is the local market standard. Some international brands and long-term contracts cap usage at 200–300 km a day, with overage charged at €0.15–0.30 per kilometre. Check the limit on the specific car page before booking.