Car Registration In Azerbaijan: A Step-By-Step Guide

If you're planning to drive in Azerbaijan, it's important to know that the country has unique rules and requirements for registering a vehicle. The process involves several steps and necessary documents, and understanding these is crucial to ensure you're legally permitted to drive in the country. From registering with the State Traffic Police Department to obtaining the correct license plates, registering a car in Azerbaijan requires careful attention to detail.

Registering an imported vehicle

Customs Clearance:

Firstly, you must complete customs clearance for your vehicle. This process is overseen by the Customs Department of Motor Transport of the State Customs Committee. The requirements and fees depend on whether you are importing your vehicle on a temporary or permanent basis.

• Temporary Import: If you are bringing your vehicle into Azerbaijan temporarily (for less than two years), you are exempt from import duty and tax. However, you will be charged a fee ranging from 0.18% to 0.30% of the vehicle's invoice value by customs. Additionally, you will need to pay a deposit, which will be refunded when you leave the country, provided your vehicle passes the customs inspection.
• Permanent Import: For vehicles imported on a permanent basis, you must pay the full customs duties and taxes, including the customs fee, VAT (currently at 18%), and road taxes.

Please note that right-hand drive vehicles and those that do not meet the Euro 3 emissions standard cannot be imported into Azerbaijan.

Register with the State Traffic Police Department:

Within the first ten days of completing customs clearance, you must register your vehicle with the State Traffic Police Department. You can make an appointment for registration at their office:

State Traffic Police Department

4 Khirdalan-Binagadi Highway, Baku

Tel: (012) 590 81 25 / (012) 590 81 35

Fax: (012) 498 02 17

Email: [email protected]

During the registration process, you will need to provide certain documents and pay the necessary fees.

Required Documents:

• Passport: Your passport must be translated into Azerbaijani and notarized.
• Residence Registration or ID Card: You need to provide proof of residence in Azerbaijan.
• Driving License: A valid international driving license is required.
• Vehicle Service Records: Ensure you have the service records for your vehicle.
• Proof of Ownership: You will need the vehicle certificate and title to confirm ownership.
• Confirmation of Payment: Bring confirmation of payment for the vehicle.

Fees and License Plates:

During the registration process, you will need to pay the technical check-up fee and license plate fees. Once your vehicle is registered, you will receive special license plates for imported vehicles. These plates have a yellow background and consist of the letter "H" followed by three digits, a space, and then three more digits.

Additional Information:

It is important to note that both the buyer and seller of the vehicle must be present during the registration process. Additionally, if you are a foreigner living in Azerbaijan, your license plates will be different from those issued to local residents.

Required documents

To register a car in Azerbaijan, you will need to present the following documents:

• Passport: This should be translated into Azerbaijani and notarized.
• Proof of Residence: This is required to show that you are a resident of Azerbaijan.
• Driver's License: A valid international driver's license is adequate.
• Vehicle Service Records: You will need to provide proof of the vehicle's service history.
• Vehicle Ownership Certificate and Title: These documents confirm your ownership of the vehicle.

It is important to note that the registration process should be completed within 10 days of changing your legal residence and within 10 days of passing the customs process. The country operates on a single-window principle, which means that the import process and registration process can be done simultaneously. Once the registration is complete, you will be issued special license plates for imported vehicles, which have a yellow background and the letter "H" followed by the license number.

License plates

Azerbaijan also has different number plates for employees of diplomatic missions and technical personnel, as well as for vehicles registered at the legal addresses of joint ventures.

Customs fees

The fees you will need to pay to import your car to Azerbaijan will depend on whether you are importing your vehicle on a temporary or permanent basis.

Temporary Basis (Less than Two Years)

If you are importing your car on a temporary basis, you will be exempt from import duty and tax. However, you will need to pay a fee of between 0.18% and 0.30% of the vehicle's invoice value to customs. You will also need to pay a deposit, which will be refunded after customs has inspected the car on its departure from the country.

Permanent Basis

If you are importing your car on a permanent basis, you will need to pay customs duties and taxes in full. This includes the customs fee, VAT (currently at 18%), and road taxes. Customs duties on cars imported to Azerbaijan range from 5% to 20%, depending on the vehicle's value.

Additional Costs

In addition to the customs fees, you will also need to pay for a technical check-up and license plate fees when registering your vehicle.

Required Documents

When importing a vehicle to Azerbaijan, you will need to submit the following documents:

• Original vehicle title
• Bill of sale or commercial invoice
• Certificate of conformity (if applicable)
• Import permit from the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan
• Proof of ownership
• Certificate of origin
• Insurance documents
• Customs declaration form

Where to register

To register a vehicle in Azerbaijan, you must go to the State Traffic Police Department within the first ten days of completing customs clearance. The address is 4 Khirdalan-Binagadi Highway, Baku. The telephone numbers are (012) 590 81 25 or (012) 590 81 35, and the fax number is (012) 498 02 17.

Azerbaijan operates on a Single Window Principle, meaning the import process and the registration process are done simultaneously. A completed customs declaration form is necessary for a vehicle that will be used on either a temporary or permanent basis.

You can make an appointment to register your vehicle or walk in. When registering, you will need the following documents:

• A passport translated into Azerbaijani and notarized
• Proof of residence
• A valid international driver's license
• The vehicle's service record
• Vehicle certificate and title

Once the registration is complete, you will receive licence plates and the vehicle's registration card, both of which are required for a foreign vehicle to be driven legally in Azerbaijan. The licence plates for imported vehicles have a yellow background and have the letter "H" in front of the licence number.

Frequently asked questions