Does Hertz require an IDP in Azerbaijan?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Hertz in Azerbaijan: the policy in plain terms
Asks foreign drivers for a licence translation when the licence is not printed in the Roman alphabet, and often for non-EU renters in much of Europe. One of the largest global rental networks, operating in 150+ countries.
Azerbaijan drives on the right; an IDP is advised with your licence, useful at the assertive Baku traffic and rural checkpoints.
In Azerbaijan specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Azerbaijan ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Hertz will typically ask for it at the counter. Baku desks request an IDP with non-Latin-script licences.
Hertz runs a global network; at its Azerbaijan desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Azerbaijan drives on the right, uses the AZN, and sets a minimum driving age of 18, so an IDP is the document that removes any doubt at the counter.
What to bring to the Hertz counter in Azerbaijan
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the AZN deposit; Azerbaijan drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Azerbaijan Hertz renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Zero-tolerance alcohol limit (0.0%).
- Seatbelts mandatory.
- Carry passport, IDP and home licence.
Hertz's rental terms that affect your IDP booking
Hertz's standard minimum rental age in the US and Canada is 20, though it drops to 18 in Michigan, New York and Quebec, and 19 in Alabama and Nebraska. Renters aged 20-24 pay a Young Renter fee of about USD 19 per day, and under-25s are blocked from premium, luxury and high-performance car classes.
Hertz places a hold on the renter's card for the estimated rental charges plus a security deposit that varies by location and vehicle class; debit cards are accepted at many US locations but must be Visa, MasterCard or Discover branded, in the main driver's name, and carry sufficient available funds, with extra ID/credit checks sometimes required.
Hertz charges a per-day additional-driver fee that varies by location (commonly around USD 13.50/day in the US, capped per rental); in many markets a spouse/domestic partner can be added free, and the fee is often waived for Gold Plus Rewards members. Hertz requires each driver to hold a valid full driver's licence that has typically been held for at least one year, with longer tenure (often one to two years) required for some markets and premium vehicle classes.
Driving a Hertz vehicle across a country border (e.g. US to Canada or Mexico) requires advance permission and may incur a cross-border fee, and travel into Mexico generally requires separate Mexican insurance; one-way rentals are permitted on many routes but typically carry a drop-off/one-way charge.
Hertz states that a valid driver's licence issued by the renter's home country must always be presented; an International Driving Permit is recommended (and effectively required) when the home-country licence is not in the Roman alphabet or not in English, but Hertz will not rent on an IDP alone.
Once you collect the keys in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan has no general vignette or nationwide toll-road system for tourists; the main highways are free to use. Drivers should still budget for fuel rather than tolls when planning long routes.
Baku has paid on-street parking zones with metered and app/SMS-based payment, and designated lots; signage indicates time limits and charges. Illegally parked or obstructing vehicles risk fines and towing in the city centre.
An extensive fixed and mobile speed-camera network enforces limits, and rental companies pass camera fines to the renter; typical fines run from around 40 AZN for speeding to higher amounts for phone use or seatbelt violations. Fines are generally not paid in cash to officers but via the official system.
Call 102 for the traffic police; do not move the vehicles until officers document the scene, and obtain the police report needed for insurance. For injuries call the 112 unified emergency line.
Full driving guide for Azerbaijan →