Driving licence in Georgia: which licences work, who needs an IDP
Every traveller asks us the same question before booking: can I drive in Georgia with my licence? The short answer is yes for almost everyone. Georgia has been a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic since 1993 and its traffic law only asks for a certified translation when a licence is not printed in Latin letters. Below: the rule for your citizen group, a country lookup table, and what GO Car Rental checks at pickup.
How a foreign driving licence works in Georgia
Georgia acceded to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic on 23 July 1993, so a national driving licence issued by any other party to the convention is recognised on Georgian roads as it is. The Law of Georgia On Traffic (Article 21) asks every driver to carry a licence valid for the category they drive and adds one condition for foreign documents: a certified translation is required only when the licence data is not in the Georgian or Latin alphabet.
That gives two simple rules. If your licence card has your name and categories in Latin letters, you can drive in Georgia with the card alone. If it is printed only in Arabic, Hebrew, Hindi, Japanese, Chinese or Cyrillic, carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) or a certified translation next to it. A foreign licence is used for one year from your last entry into Georgia; tourists never reach that limit, and residents exchange their licence at the Service Agency before it ends.
GO Car Rental follows the same rules at pickup, with one extra request for drivers from countries outside the convention, explained below. Read our travellers handbook for the rules of the road and the rental FAQ for deposit, insurance and payment.
- Latin-script licence: drive with your national card, no permit, no translation
- Other scripts: national card plus an IDP or a certified translation
- At pickup: physical licence card, passport and the rental contract we sign together
from real travelers
Driving in Georgia with a foreign licence: questions by where you are from
The rule is the same for everyone, but the questions are not. Type your country, or pick your group.
EU, UK, Switzerland and Türkiye
Vienna Convention parties, Latin-script licences
Can I drive in Georgia with my EU or UK licence?
Yes. Every EU and EEA state, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Türkiye are parties to the Vienna Convention and issue licences in Latin letters, so your national card is accepted by the police and by us without any other document.
Do I need an International Driving Permit from Europe?
No. An IDP is not required for a European licence in Georgia. Carry one only if you plan to cross into Armenia, where some officers ask for it; we allow Armenia with prior notice.
Is my plastic card enough, or do I need the paper counterpart?
The card is enough. We do not need paper counterparts, driving records or licence histories; we check the card, your passport and that the licence is valid on the dates of the rental.
United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand
Latin-script licences from countries outside the convention
Will my US driving licence be accepted in Georgia?
Your state licence is printed in Latin letters, so it meets the translation rule of Georgian law and the police accept it. The United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are not parties to the Vienna Convention, though, so Georgia is not obliged to recognise the licence by treaty. For that reason we ask drivers from these countries to bring an International Driving Permit together with the national licence.
Where do I get an IDP and how much does it cost?
From your national automobile association before you fly: AAA in the United States, CAA in Canada, the state auto clubs in Australia, AA in New Zealand. It costs about $20, takes a few minutes at a branch (or a couple of weeks by post), is valid for one year and is only issued in your home country. Online "digital IDPs" sold by other websites are not the same document and may not be honoured.
What if I arrive without an IDP?
Message us on WhatsApp before you book. We decide case by case for a Latin-script licence, and we will tell you clearly whether we can hand over the car.
Israel
Vienna Convention party, bilingual licence
Is an Israeli driving licence valid in Georgia?
Yes. Israel is a party to the Vienna Convention and the Israeli licence card carries your name in Latin letters as well as Hebrew, so it is accepted as it is. Israeli travellers are among our most frequent guests and rent on the national licence alone.
Should I get an IDP from MEMSI anyway?
Only if you plan to cross into Armenia or want the fastest possible document check at a police stop. It is not needed for Georgia itself.
Do you speak Hebrew, and can I book from Israel?
We answer in English and Russian on WhatsApp every day, and the website has a Hebrew version via the language switcher. Book online with any card, pay 15% to confirm and the rest at pickup.
Gulf and Arab countries
UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and other Arabic-speaking countries
Can I drive in Georgia with a UAE or Saudi licence?
Yes. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain are parties to the Vienna Convention, and their licence cards are bilingual Arabic and English, so your name and categories are readable in Latin letters. The card alone is accepted.
My licence is in Arabic only. What do I need?
Georgian law asks for a certified translation when a licence is not in Latin letters, and an International Driving Permit does the same job in a form the police know. Get the IDP from your traffic department or automobile club before you travel, or bring a certified English translation of the card. We need to see one of the two at pickup.
Can I rent during Eid or in July and August?
Yes, but book early: summer and the Eid holidays are busy weeks, and the 4x4 SUVs and 7-seaters go first. Our colleague meets you at Tbilisi Airport at any hour, including night arrivals.
Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and other CIS countries
Vienna Convention parties, Cyrillic or bilingual licences
Is my Russian or Kazakh licence accepted in Georgia?
Yes. Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Armenia are all parties to the Vienna Convention. Licences issued in the current format carry the name in Latin letters next to Cyrillic, so they count as Latin-script cards and are accepted as they are.
My licence is in Cyrillic only. Do I need a translation?
Strictly, yes: the law asks for a certified translation when a licence is not in Georgian or Latin letters. In practice, Georgian police read Cyrillic and rarely ask. To be safe, carry an IDP or a certified translation with an old-format card; we accept the card at pickup either way.
Can I take the car to Russia or Armenia?
Not to Russia: our cars may not cross the Dariali border. Armenia is possible with prior notice, and we recommend an IDP for the Armenian police.
India, Pakistan and Asia
India, Pakistan, Japan, South Korea, China and others
Can I drive in Georgia with an Indian driving licence?
Yes, with the right card. Indian smart-card licences issued since 2019 show your name and vehicle class in English, so they meet the Latin-script rule. India is not a party to the Vienna Convention, so bring an International Driving Permit from your RTO as well; it is cheap, and it settles any question at a police stop or at our desk.
What about a Japanese, Korean or Chinese licence?
A Japanese licence is printed in Japanese only, so get an IDP from JAF before you travel. South Korean licences since 2014 carry an English name and are usually accepted; an IDP is still the safest companion. China does not issue IDPs, so bring a certified English translation of your licence; we need to see it at pickup.
Is there a minimum age or driving experience?
There is no fixed minimum age or experience rule in our terms. If you are a young or new driver, message us before booking so we can confirm the car for you.
Driving licence requirements in Georgia by country
Type your country in the finder above to filter this table, or scroll it.
"Vienna party" means the country has joined the 1968 Vienna Convention, which is what makes a licence recognised by treaty.
What we check before handing over the keys
Four things, five minutes. Our colleague meets you in Tbilisi city centre or at the airport with the car and the contract.
Your licence card
The physical card, valid on every day of the rental. A photo on your phone, a digital licence app or an expired card is not accepted, and neither is a learner or provisional licence.
Your passport
We check that the names match and note the passport number on the contract. A copy is fine in the car afterwards if you keep the original at the hotel.
IDP or translation, when it applies
Drivers from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and Japan, and anyone whose card is not in Latin letters: show the IDP or the certified translation next to the card.
Second driver
The second driver is free and goes on the contract under the same rules, so bring their licence and passport to pickup too.
Licence sorted? Pick a car for the trip
A Prius for the city and the Kakheti wine road, a Duster or Pajero for the mountains, a Sienna for a family. All from our own fleet, insurance and unlimited mileage included.
Driving licence in Georgia: the questions we get every week
Short answers on licences, permits and documents. Not sure about your card? Send us a photo on WhatsApp and we tell you within minutes.
Can I drive in Georgia with a foreign driving licence?
Yes. Georgia is a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic and accepts national licences from other parties as they are. Georgian law asks for a certified translation only when the licence is not printed in Georgian or Latin letters.
Do I need an International Driving Permit in Georgia?
Not if your licence is from a Vienna Convention country and printed in Latin letters (EU, UK, Türkiye, Israel, the Gulf states, Russia and the CIS). We ask for an IDP from drivers from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and Japan, and from anyone whose card is in another script only.
How long can I drive in Georgia on my foreign licence?
One year from your last entry into the country. Tourists never reach the limit; residents exchange their licence for a Georgian one at the Service Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs before the year ends.
Is a digital driving licence accepted?
Not at our pickup, and the police want the card too. Bring the physical licence.
Does my licence need to be translated into Georgian?
Only if it is not in Latin letters. A certified English translation or an International Driving Permit satisfies the rule; a Latin-script card needs nothing.
What documents does GO Car Rental check at pickup?
Your licence card, your passport and, when it applies, your IDP or certified translation. We sign the rental contract together, you pay the balance and a refundable deposit of about $200, and our colleague walks you around the car.
Can a friend drive the car on their own licence?
Yes. One additional driver is free; add them at pickup with their licence and passport. The same licence rules apply to them.
Can I cross into Armenia or Türkiye with the rental car?
Armenia is possible with prior notice. Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Russia are not. Carry an IDP for the Armenian police if you go.
What happens if the police stop me?
Stay in the car, show your licence, passport and rental contract, and be polite. Patrol police are filmed and professional; fines are paid by bank transfer or at a payment terminal, never in cash to the officer.
What is the minimum age to rent a car with GO Car Rental?
There is no fixed minimum age or experience rule. Young or new drivers should message us before booking so we can confirm the car for them.
Your licence works here. Book the car.
Pick your dates; the booking page shows the daily rate, the $20 service fee and any delivery fee before you pay. We meet you at Tbilisi Airport at any hour.