Azerbaijan.US
President Ilham Aliyev has approved amendments to Azerbaijan’s Law on Road Traffic that will significantly tighten regulations for moped use across the country.
Under the new rules, mopeds will be subject to mandatory state registration and may only be operated by individuals holding a valid driver’s license. The changes will take effect on March 27, 2026, three months after the law’s official publication.
Transport expert Arshad Huseynov said the amendments effectively place mopeds in the same legal category as motorcycles. Once the law enters into force, mopeds will be registered with state authorities, issued license plates, and provided with official registration documents confirming their inclusion in the national vehicle registry.
According to the new regulations, only individuals aged 16 and older will be allowed to operate mopeds. This requirement aligns with existing rules for obtaining an A1-category driver’s license, which is issued from the age of 16. As a result, minors below that age will no longer be permitted to ride mopeds on public roads.
Changes have also been made to the Code of Administrative Offenses, extending motorcycle-level liability to moped riders. This means violations committed while operating a moped will now carry the same penalties as those applied to motorcycle drivers. In some cases, fines may increase substantially, rising from 40 manats to as much as 100 manats.
Huseynov noted that delivery and courier companies relying on mopeds should begin the registration process in advance by contacting the relevant authorities. Failure to do so, he warned, could disrupt delivery operations once the new rules take effect.
At the same time, the expert does not expect the amendments to have a serious negative impact on the courier sector. Most delivery workers are already over the age of 16 and will be eligible to obtain the required driver’s licenses, allowing them to continue operating mopeds legally.
Once the law comes into force, riding an unregistered moped or operating a moped without a valid driver’s license will result in administrative liability under Azerbaijani law.
