Planning to rent a car in Tbilisi, or reach the Caucasus in your own vehicle? First thing to check before you take the wheel: your home car insurance does not cover Georgia. The country is not part of the international Green Card system, and border insurance is mandatory for any foreign-registered vehicle. The good news is it costs a few dozen lari and can be bought online. Here is the complete, figures-backed rundown for driving in Georgia on a foreign licence: insurance, car rental, mountain roads and police. To build your route, lean on our Georgia travel guide.
Border insurance: settle it before you even start the engine
Let's clear up the point that trips up most travellers first: Georgia is not a member of the Green Card system, only a candidate country since 2003. So your home car insurance stops at the border, whatever your policy says.
To drive legally, you must take out Georgian border insurance, mandatory since 1 March 2018 for any foreign-registered vehicle. The official rates for a passenger car (under 3.5 t, 8 seats maximum):
- 15 days: 30 GEL (about €10 / $11, based on 1 GEL ≈ €0.33)
- 30 days: 50 GEL (about €17 / $18)
- 90 days: 90 GEL (about €30 / $33)
- 1 year: 295 GEL (about €97 / $106)
You can buy it at the border crossing or, more simply, online at tpl.ge, the compulsory insurance centre's website. Driving without it exposes you to a 100-200 GEL fine (about €33-66 / $36-72).
Keep in mind that this cover stays minimal: 30,000 GEL per victim for bodily injury (about €10,000 / $11,000) and 25,000 GEL for property damage (about €8,250 / $9,000). In a serious accident, that ceiling is reached fast. If you are coming in your own vehicle, ask your insurer whether a Georgia extension exists.
Uninsured local cars: why full cover is essential when you rent
Here is the quirk that changes everything: third-party liability insurance is not compulsory for Georgian-registered vehicles. The requirement was abolished on 15 January 2010, and by 2012 voluntary liability cover accounted for just 0.8% of premiums collected in the country. In other words, the vast majority of Georgian cars are on the road with no insurance.
The direct consequence: if a local driver hits you, no one pays on their behalf. When you rent, there is only one defence: take the full cover (CDW type) with zero excess, even if it pushes up the daily rate. It is the best-value spend of your whole road trip.
The state of the fleet backs up that caution too: more than 45% of Georgian cars are over 20 years old, and 45% are between 11 and 20 years old. Many are used right-hand-drive Japanese imports, which makes overtaking harder to read.
One last reflex: photograph the vehicle from every angle at pickup and at return. Rental companies deduct fines and damage straight from your deposit.
National and international driving permits: what the embassy says
On paper, the answer is reassuring. Foreign national licences from EU countries, the US, the UK, Canada and Australia are generally accepted for a short stay, though an International Driving Permit (IDP) is strongly recommended and spares you any discussion at a checkpoint. Travel advisories even suggest carrying a Georgian translation alongside it. See the Georgia country page from France's foreign ministry for the official wording.
Practical translation: for a two-week rental, your home licence is usually enough, but an IDP removes any ambiguity if you get stopped.
New rule to know: since 1 January 2026, travel insurance covering illness and accident is mandatory to enter Georgia. Check that your policy or your bank card actually includes that cover.
On the road: local driving, cattle and night driving
The local driving style is startling: optimistic overtaking, token safety distances, the horn used as a turn signal. France's foreign ministry warns that "traffic is often difficult and dangerous despite recent improvements to road surfaces". The motorway network is good quality, but secondary and urban roads combine broken tarmac, potholes and poorly signposted roadworks.
Another classic, reported by just about every traveller: animals on the road. Cows lying in a bend, flocks of sheep, stray dogs: on rural roads, keep your foot light at all times.
At night, these risks stack up with weak street lighting and vehicles running tired headlights. Our advice: avoid driving after dark, especially off the main routes. In the mountains, rockfalls are "particularly frequent" according to the same official page.
The Georgian Military Road and the mountain routes
This is the country's legendary route: 212 km between Tbilisi and Vladikavkaz, via Stepantsminda (Kazbegi) and the Dariali Gorge, topping out at the Jvari Pass at 2,379 m. The road is spectacular but busy: lorry queues toward the Larsi border crossing can stretch for kilometres.
In winter, the pass closes regularly under snow, and chains or a 4x4 become essential when it stays open. A bypass has been under construction since 2021: the Kvesheti-Kobi project and its 9 km tunnel, designed to avoid the Jvari Pass.
More demanding still, the Tusheti track over the Abano Pass climbs to 2,826 m. It is closed from mid-October to mid-June and can only be driven in a 4x4. Watch out: most rental contracts exclude this kind of track. The ministry sums it up well: "a four-wheel-drive off-road vehicle is preferable for travelling on Georgia's secondary network".
Police, checks and fines: the rules to know
Speed limits are close to Western norms: 60 km/h in town, 90 km/h outside built-up areas, 110 km/h on expressways for a car, and 20 km/h in residential zones. In Tbilisi, a few arteries go up to 70 or 80 km/h. A tolerance of roughly 14 km/h is commonly observed, with no guarantee.
A plus on the police side: interventions are filmed, which has sharply cut attempts at corruption. Fines stay moderate: about €13 ($14) for a seatbelt, €18 ($20) for speeding, €40 ($44) for crossing a solid line, over €350 ($385) for drink-driving. On a rental, they are deducted from your deposit, sometimes weeks after you return the car.
On alcohol specifically, sources diverge: France's foreign ministry states 0 g/l, whereas Georgian law sets 0.3 g/l. Our recommendation fits in one word: zero. In an accident, even a minor one, call the police on 112 to have the report drawn up: it is the first thing expected, and your insurer will require it.
Conclusion: is renting a car in Georgia a good idea?
Yes, honestly. The car remains the best way to explore the Caucasus, its valleys and its clifftop monasteries, provided you follow five simple rules:
- Border insurance from the moment you enter if you bring your own vehicle: 30 GEL for 15 days, on tpl.ge or at the border crossing.
- Full cover with zero excess on a rental, since most local cars are uninsured.
- An International Driving Permit in your pocket, with a Georgian translation if possible.
- No night driving, and maximum care around animals and potholes.
- A 4x4 is compulsory for Tusheti and strongly advised on the secondary network.
With these precautions, driving becomes a pleasure: short distances, vast landscapes. All that's left is to trace your loop in our Georgia travel guide.
Quick FAQ
Can you drive in Georgia on a foreign licence?
Yes, it is accepted for a short stay. An International Driving Permit is still strongly recommended, ideally with a Georgian translation.
How much does border insurance cost?
30 GEL for 15 days (about €10 / $11), 50 GEL for 30 days, 90 GEL for 90 days. Mandatory for any foreign-registered vehicle, it is bought at the border or on tpl.ge.
Do you need a 4x4 to drive in Georgia?
Not on the main routes. It becomes preferable on the secondary network and compulsory for Tusheti: Abano Pass at 2,826 m, open from mid-June to mid-October.
Can you drive to Georgia in your own car?
Yes, the classic route runs through Turkey. On entry, take out Georgian border insurance: your home car insurance does not cover the country.
Is night driving risky?
Yes: weak lighting, animals on the road, poorly lit vehicles, invisible potholes. Plan your stages to arrive before nightfall.
Leave a comment
Share your thoughts or travel experience. Your email will not be published.
