Car rental in Georgia

A car almost always pays off if your plans go beyond “airport to hotel”. Public transport between regions is sparse, and to mountain monasteries, wineries and viewpoints it barely runs at all. For two to four people a rental is usually cheaper than taxis and transfers, and you build the route yourself and stop wherever you like. For a purely city stay in Tbilisi or Batumi with no day trips, a car isn’t essential.

The classic grand loop: Tbilisi → the Georgian Military Road to Kazbegi → back and east into wine-country Kakheti (Sighnaghi, Telavi) → then southwest to Borjomi and the cave city of Vardzia → on to Kutaisi with its canyons and caves → and to the sea in Batumi. That’s roughly 1,200–1,400 km over 7–8 days, all on paved roads. You can pick the car up in one city and drop it off in another — for example, start in Tbilisi and finish in Batumi.

For 90% of routes an ordinary sedan is enough: the main roads, including the Georgian Military Road to Kazbegi and the way to Kakheti, are paved. A crossover or all-wheel drive is worth taking mainly for the mountains in winter (Gudauri, Kazbegi) — because of snow and ice, not road quality. Any off-roading is prohibited on all cars and isn’t covered by insurance, so an SUV for the sake of rough terrain makes no sense.

Yes, a one-way rental across Georgia is routine. Common scenarios: pick up at the airport and drop off in the city centre; take the car at the sea in Batumi and return it in Tbilisi, or the other way round. Choose different pickup and return cities on the site — suitable cars appear right away with a price that already accounts for the trip. Taking any car outside Georgia is prohibited.

It’s cheapest in the shoulder seasons (late autumn, winter, early spring), especially on the coast, where demand and prices are higher in summer. By duration, longer rentals are better value: the weekly daily rate is almost always lower than for a couple of days. It’s best to book ahead in high season (July–August on the coast, New Year and ski dates) — at peak times there may be no cars free at the moment. Each car’s price on MY.DRIVE is shown before booking, with insurance.

Overall it’s not hard: driving is on the right, the main roads are in good shape, and signs are duplicated in Latin letters. The driving style can be emotional — keep your distance and don’t be surprised by overtaking. There are plenty of fuel stations along the highways and fuel is affordable. The patrol police keep order; fines for speeding and phone-in-hand are real. Your licence needs to be duplicated in Latin letters; an international permit isn’t required. And remember the bans: Abkhazia and South Ossetia, leaving the country and off-roading are all prohibited on every car.

A passport and a driving licence — that’s enough. Georgia doesn’t require an International Driving Permit; all that matters is that your first and last name on the licence are also written in Latin letters.

No. Georgia accepts national licences — the key is that your name and surname are duplicated in Latin letters. You don’t need to get a separate International Driving Permit.

Most cars on MY.DRIVE are available from age 21 with at least 2 years of driving experience. Some models have a higher bar (23–25) — you’ll see it in the terms of the specific car before booking.

It varies by car. Many cars require no deposit at all, others do; the exact amount and terms are shown on the car’s page before you confirm the booking. You can filter for no-deposit options if that matters to you.

Usually insurance is already included, and for most cars so is unlimited mileage. The full price is shown on the car’s page before booking — no “extra charges on the spot”. Check the specifics in each car’s terms.

On most MY.DRIVE offers mileage is unlimited, but some rates come with a cap — check the terms of the specific car. This matters especially on long trips like Tbilisi–Batumi or a loop around Kakheti.

No. Taking any of our cars outside Georgia is prohibited. Note separately that visiting Abkhazia and South Ossetia is both forbidden and effectively impossible.

A few destinations are off-limits for rentals — hard-to-reach mountain regions: Tusheti (Omalo), Khevsureti (Shatili, Mutso), the road to the Truso Valley, the Vashlovani reserve, and the Trans-Adjarian road Khulo–Goderdzi. There’s either no proper road there or it’s dangerous for a passenger car. Everywhere else in the country is fine.

Yes, MY.DRIVE has plenty of automatics — the gearbox type is shown on the car’s page and you can filter by it right away. An automatic is fine for mountain routes too, but on steep climbs it’s nicer to have some power in reserve, so don’t pick the weakest engine.

Usually yes — a child seat is often available on request, sometimes for a small extra fee. Mention it when booking so the seat is definitely in the car at pickup.

No. Any off-roading — leaving public roads for rough terrain or river fords — is prohibited on all cars, and insurance doesn’t cover such trips. Reach even mountain sights via normal roads; if a place can only be reached off-road, people use local transport there.

First, contact the rental provider — the details are in your contract, and MY.DRIVE support will help you get your bearings. In an accident, document it by the rules (call the patrol police, take photos), otherwise insurance may not apply. The exact steps and coverage depend on the insurance you chose — check at the booking stage. Don’t try to hide damage: using the insurance will definitely be cheaper than paying for repairs yourself.

Pick your dates and pickup location, find a suitable car and submit a request — confirmation comes quickly. If your plans change, support is available on Telegram and by phone.