As of March 25, the import of rare motor vehicles into the country has been exempted from VAT, excise duty, and customs duty.
It is interesting to note, how has the price dynamics in the automotive market changed against the backdrop of these changes? Currently, which types of vehicles are experiencing the most significant price increases?
Furthermore, how will the tax exemptions applied to the import of rare cars affect the market?
In a statement to Modern.az on the topic, Eyyub Aliyev, Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan Automobile Dealers Association, stated that the abolition of concessions applied to environmentally friendly vehicles as of January 1, 2026, has formed a new trend in the market. According to him, the prices of vehicles in this category have increased in line with the duties.
"Alongside this, the used car market, which had almost “collapsed” in 2025, has gradually begun to revive this year. While last year saw a price decrease of up to 35-45 percent, this year, on the contrary, an increase in car prices is felt. However, this does not mean that there is a significant revival in the market. On the contrary, January-February are traditionally considered a quiet period in the automotive market, and this year, that stagnation has been felt even more clearly. A weakening in the sales of both new and used cars has been observed".
The Chairman added that since the beginning of March, a certain dynamism has emerged in the market, and interest in car dealerships and cars has increased again:
"Generally, those who wish to purchase a new car tend to make their decision after mid-March. The reason is that buyers prefer the car to be manufactured in the current year. That is, interest in a car produced in 2026 is higher compared to models produced in 2025 and put on sale in 2026. For this reason, there is a lull in the market at the beginning of the year, and sales gradually increase from the spring months".
E. Aliyev noted that when it comes to rare and collector's cars (rarities), their impact on the overall market is almost negligible:
"These types of cars are imported into the country in limited numbers, mainly by individual order. They are mostly used for collection purposes or for visual display in places like restaurants and hotels. Therefore, the concessions granted to this segment do not significantly affect the overall dynamics of the market", he stated.
For information, it should be recalled that as of January 1, 2019, the import of cars operating solely with an electric motor was exempted from VAT. Subsequently, in 2022, concessions were also applied to the import and sale of hybrid cars, as well as the sale and import of electric vehicles.
