Winter tyres on a rental car in Georgia are not optional on mountain roads from December to March. Our Gudauri and Kazbegi rentals leave Tbilisi with them fitted in season. This post explains what you get with the car and when you need snow chains on top. It also shows how the $5-a-day chains work in the booking form, and which roads actually require them.
Updated 28 October 2026. Prices and rules checked against our booking system on that date.
Winter tyres on a rental car in Georgia: what is included
In season, every car we hand over has winter tyres. You do not pay extra and you do not need to ask. It is part of the car being ready for the roads. Insurance and unlimited mileage are included as well. So a trip over the Jvari pass costs the same as a day in the city. The only winter extra is snow chains, which you add as an option when you book, at $5 a day.
However, a tyre is not a guarantee. Winter tyres help you brake and steer on cold, wet and lightly snowy asphalt. Deep fresh snow, ice on a steep climb and the police checkpoint before a closed pass are a different matter. That is where chains and a 4x4 come in.
When you need snow chains, and where
| Road | Chains needed? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Tbilisi to Gudauri (Georgian Military Highway) | Often after snowfall | The climb from Kvesheti to Gudauri is steep. The police can require chains or 4x4 at the control point. |
| Gudauri to Kazbegi over the Jvari pass (2,395 m) | Yes in bad weather | The pass closes during heavy snow and avalanche risk. Chains are checked when it reopens. |
| Tbilisi to Bakuriani via Borjomi | Rarely | No pass, only the last 30 km climb. A 4x4 is enough most days. |
| Kutaisi to Mestia | Sometimes | The road is cleared, but the last stretch into Svaneti ices over at night. |
| Tbilisi to Batumi highway | No | Lowland road, kept clear. The Rikoti tunnel removes the old pass. |
So for Gudauri and Kazbegi we recommend booking chains for any dates between December and March, even with a 4x4. They cost $5 a day and sit in the boot. You only fit them if the road asks for it.
How to fit chains without ruining your day
- Fit them before the steep part, on a flat, safe spot, not on the hill itself.
- They go on the driven wheels. That means the front on the Duster, Forester and most crossovers, and the rear on the Pajero and Land Cruiser unless you lock in 4x4.
- Drive slowly, under 40 km/h, and take them off as soon as the asphalt is clear again. Chains on bare road damage both the chains and the tyres.
- Carry gloves and a torch. It is usually dark, cold and wet when you need them.
If you have never fitted chains, say so at pickup. Our colleague shows you on the car in five minutes.
Which car makes winter tyres on a rental car in Georgia enough on their own?
For the main winter destinations, a 4x4 with winter tyres covers almost every day of the season. Our picks:
- Renault Duster and Subaru Forester, $65 a day: light, sure-footed, and the usual choice for Gudauri weekends.
- Toyota RAV4 2021-2024, $79 a day: newer, automatic all-wheel drive, comfortable on the highway.
- Mitsubishi Pajero, $80 a day, and Land Cruiser Prado, $110 a day: low-range gearing for deep snow.
The autumn discount runs for pickups until 15 December 2026. It gives 5% off from 5 days and 10% off from 10 days on all cars except the Toyota Prius (flat $35). The Mazda CX-3 and Jeep Renegade get 15% off from 5 days and 25% off from 10 days. The booking form applies it automatically. The full list is on the 4x4 and SUV rental page.
What is not included, and what happens if a road closes
Towing after driving into a closed road, damage from chains fitted wrongly, and fines are on the driver. The normal insurance terms apply as on any other day. Because of that, check the road status before you leave Tbilisi. The Georgian Military Highway closes for hours or days several times each winter. The police then turn cars back at Kvesheti. When that happens, write to us and we help you re-plan, for example with a night in Gudauri instead of pushing on to Kazbegi.
Planning a winter trip? Send us your dates and destinations and we will say honestly which car and which extras you need. Message us on WhatsApp (+995 591 89 60 60) and we will plan a custom route with you. We suggest the right car for the roads, pickup and drop-off in different cities, and honest driving times.
Short answers
Are winter tyres on a rental car in Georgia mandatory by law?
Georgia has no blanket winter-tyre law. But the police close mountain roads and require chains or 4x4 at control points when it snows. In practice, winter tyres are the minimum for any trip above 1,500 m.
Do you provide chains for free?
Chains are $5 a day, added in the booking form. Winter tyres are included at no charge.
Can a Prius go to Gudauri in winter?
On a clear day, yes, and many guests do it. After snowfall, the police may not let a front-wheel-drive car without chains through. So book chains or take a 4x4.
To sum up: winter tyres on a rental car in Georgia come with the car, and chains cost $5 a day. A 4x4 then turns most winter roads into an ordinary drive.
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