Driving to Georgia and Turkey in your own car is spreading steadily among travellers setting out from Baku. The reason is clear: you take your luggage freely, you build the route yourself, and travelling as a family brings the cost per person down considerably. But at the border a separate document regime applies to the car, and someone who does not know it stands there for hours. Below I have written the preparation list.
Documents for a trip in your own car
| Driving licence | In some countries an international licence is required as well |
| Registration certificate | The car’s technical document, the original |
| Insurance | Compulsory insurance that is valid outside the country |
| Power of attorney | If the car is not in your name, notarised permission |
The last line is where most trouble arises. If the car is in a relative’s or a bank’s name, a document confirming your right to drive it is required at the border. That document has to be prepared at a notary in advance and, where possible, translated.
The insurance question needs separate attention too, because a policy that works at home is not valid abroad. For a number of countries there is an international insurance system, and it has to be bought before you set out. It is sold at the border as well, but the price there is high.
What happens at the border
The car is admitted into the country under a temporary import regime, and that is formalised with a customs declaration. The declaration shows a period, and the car must be taken back out before that period ends. Exceeding it means a fine.
Be ready for a queue, especially on public holidays and at weekends. Crossing the border can take several hours, so set out with water, food and a full tank. Official information on customs rules is set out on the site of the State Customs Committee.
Read more: Renting a car abroad: documents, insurance and the hidden costs
What to watch on the road in your own car
The road rules differ by country and some of the differences are unexpected. In a number of countries the dipped headlights must be on in daylight too, and a high-visibility vest and a warning triangle must be in the boot. The speed limit is written on the signs, but a separate limit applies on rural roads.
There are toll roads as well, and the payment system is not the same everywhere: in some countries a vignette sticker is bought, in others an electronic system works. Check this as soon as you cross the border, because passing without paying writes an automatic fine. Fuel prices differ too, so put that into the budget when you plan the route. For navigation you need the internet, and an eSIM covering several countries that starts working as soon as you cross the border prevents the roaming surprise.
In brief
Take the documents in their original form, have the power of attorney prepared at a notary, buy insurance valid abroad in advance. Remember the temporary import period, clarify the vignette and toll road system at the border, leave a reserve of time for the queue. To plan the route and the documents together, fill in the application form.
Note: border and customs rules may change, so check an official source before setting out.
