Driving in Georgia: Car Hire, Tbilisi Parking and Mountain Roads

A car offers freedom outside Tbilisi, but a scenic road on a map is not necessarily suitable for every vehicle or season. Traffic keeps right. Match the vehicle to the route, understand junction priority and check mountain-road conditions before departure.

Tbilisi, Georgia · packing4two

Choose for the route

Compare car hire in Georgia on DiscoverCars, checking unpaved-road and regional exclusions plus tyre, glass and underbody cover. A high-clearance vehicle is not permission to drive everywhere.

Consider using taxis and public transport in Tbilisi and renting only for days outside the city, reducing parking costs and congested urban driving.

Documents and cover

Bring your original licence, passport and any required international permit or translation. Confirm the supplier accepts your licence, driver age and payment card before booking.

For a vehicle entering from abroad, establish local insurance and crossing paperwork separately. Passenger entry permission does not authorise a rental vehicle; obtain the supplier’s written approval.

Green lights and left turns

An ordinary green may be shared with opposing traffic. Yield when turning left and watch pedestrians crossing the road you enter. Read dedicated arrows as part of the complete junction arrangement.

Stop at red; red and amber together still do not permit proceeding. There is no general right turn on red: follow only a specifically permitting signal and its priority requirements.

Roundabouts and merging

Roundabouts circulate anticlockwise. Inspect priority signs rather than assuming that every circulating vehicle always has priority. Where no other arrangement exists, the give-way-to-the-right rule matters.

An indicator does not confer lane-changing priority. Leave space at exits and merges, and continue to a safe alternative if you miss a turn instead of crossing several lanes suddenly.

Speed limits

Ordinary passenger-car reference limits are 60 km/h in built-up areas, 90 on other interurban roads and 110 on motorways, subject to signs. Designated residential areas may be limited to 20.

Trailers and other categories have different rules. Narrow mountain roads require much lower speeds according to visibility, bends and traffic, whatever the maximum.

Road charges

There is no ordinary passenger-car motorway vignette scheme comparable to those in parts of Europe. In June 2026, the Roads Department stated that introducing an East–West Highway toll was not under consideration.

Parking, attraction admission, drivers and specialised transfers are separate charges. Do not buy an unidentified road pass through an advertisement without establishing the operator and purpose.

The Parking Tbilisi app

Add the vehicle to the Parking Tbilisi app, select the signed parking segment and start the session. End the timer when leaving and check payment. The app also displays parking locations and details.

A general parking arrangement does not necessarily cover a signed hourly zone. If registration or your foreign card fails, arrange proper payment with the rental supplier or host before leaving the car. Someone directing you into a space is not evidence that municipal parking has been paid.

Check mountain-road restrictions

Before Kazbegi, Gudauri or another mountain route, inspect the Roads Department’s restriction updates. Landslides, snow and works can close routes that navigation still shows as passable.

Avoid tightly scheduled days built around optimistic travel estimates. Prefer daylight and safe photo stops. Follow restrictions and checkpoint instructions rather than attempting independent bypasses.

Winter equipment

From 1 December to 1 March, designated road sections require winter tyres. Passenger-car requirements include a snowflake symbol and at least 3 mm tread, alongside tyre-age and marking conditions.

Police may require chains according to conditions. Ensure the chains fit and you know how to use them. Four-wheel drive does not automatically exempt a vehicle from equipment requirements or closures.

Rural roads and visibility

Anticipate pedestrians, animals and unexpectedly slow or stopped vehicles. Do not overtake into blind bends or rely on another driver’s wave when you cannot see the road yourself.

For a challenging unpaved route, consider a suitable local driver instead of ordinary car hire. Winery visits need a non-drinking driver; tasting still involves alcohol.

Fuel and vehicle collection

Confirm whether the specific vehicle needs 95/98 petrol, diesel or another fuel. Imported and gas-converted vehicles make a clear handover especially useful.

Photograph exterior condition, the fuel gauge and warning lights before departure. Begin remote routes with enough fuel and retain receipts as required by the return policy.

The E-Space charging app

Register in the E-Space app, verify your phone number and add a payment card. Choose a charger on the map or enter its station code, connect as instructed and start the session.

Check whether pricing is per kWh, time or a combination, plus separate parking costs. Imported EVs may use different connectors: do not assume universal CCS. Match Type 2, CHAdeMO or another connection to the actual car, and keep reserve range and a backup.

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