Renting a car in Georgia: the complete guide

01Is a rental car worth it in Georgia?

Yes, if you want to see more than Tbilisi and Batumi. Georgia is small, but its best places (Kazbegi, Kakheti wine villages, Borjomi, Vardzia, Svaneti) sit at the end of roads that marshrutkas cover slowly and tours cover in a hurry. With a car you stop where you like, stay longer where you are happy and skip the fixed timetables.

Distances are short: Mtskheta is 20 minutes from Tbilisi, Kakheti about 1.5 to 2 hours, Kazbegi about 3 hours, Batumi about 5 hours. There are no toll roads in Georgia.

02Documents you need for renting a car in Georgia

• Passport (or ID card for citizens of countries that enter Georgia with one).
• Driving licence. Georgia recognises foreign licences for up to one year after your last entry into the country.
• International Driving Permit (IDP) if your licence is from a country outside the Vienna Convention (for example the USA) or is not written in Latin letters. We accept Vienna Convention licences as they are.

If you are under 21 or passed your driving test less than a year ago, message us before booking so we can confirm the car and the conditions.

03What renting a car in Georgia really costs

Daily rates on GO Car Rental start at $35 for a Toyota Prius hybrid, $55 for a Ford Fusion, $65 for 4x4 SUVs such as the Renault Duster and $75 for 7 to 8 seat minivans. The minimum rental is 3 days, and the daily rate is the same whatever the length of the rental.

• Service fee: $20 per booking (car wash and preparation).
• Delivery: free in Tbilisi city centre; Tbilisi Airport $30 per end; Kutaisi $120 and Batumi $160 per end.
• Extras: child seat, snow chains or a third driver $5 per day each. A second driver is free.
• Fuel: full to full. In 2026 petrol costs roughly 3 to 4 GEL per litre; prices change often.

Example: a Toyota Prius for 7 days, picked up and returned in Tbilisi city, costs 7 x $35 = $245, plus the $20 service fee = $265. The booking form always shows the full total, with every fee, before you pay.

04How payment and the deposit work

• You pay 15% online by card to confirm the booking.
• The remaining 85% is paid at pickup.
• We take a refundable deposit of about $200 at handover, returned when you bring the car back in the same condition.
• Free cancellation up to 48 hours before pickup.

05Insurance

Every rental includes standard insurance: third-party liability and cover for road accidents and theft, with a deductible of about $200 (the deposit).

• Insurance only pays with an official police report. After any accident, do not move the car, call 112 and wait for the patrol police.
• Not covered: interior damage, tyres, driving under the influence, off-road driving against our instructions.

06Pickup and return

Our colleague meets you at the agreed place (city centre, hotel, airport or another city). Walk around the car together, take photos or a short video of any existing marks, check the fuel level and save our phone number. Return the car at the agreed time and place with a full tank.

07Where you can drive

• Anywhere in Georgia, with unlimited mileage.
• Armenia only, with prior notice so we can prepare the documents (see our Georgia to Armenia guide).
• Not allowed: Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and the occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
• For Tusheti, Ushguli in winter or other rough roads, tell us your plan so we can match the right 4x4.

08Local tips

• Download offline maps (Google Maps or Maps.me) for the mountains, where signal drops.
• Carry some cash in lari for fuel in villages, parking and roadside food.
• Avoid long drives after dark: rural roads are poorly lit and cows sleep on warm asphalt.
• Read our driving rules guide before your first day on the road.