Buying and exporting a car

Why people buy a car in Georgia

Georgia has a large used-car market, with a wide choice and prices often lower than in neighbouring countries. So both locals and buyers from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Central Asia buy here.

But a big market carries big risk too. Many cars have been rebuilt after an accident, some have had the mileage wound back, some have been under water. So the inspection is the most important part of buying.

Whose side we are on

We work for the buyer, and we say so plainly. We take no commission from the seller, because that would bias our conclusions.

If after the inspection we say a car is not worth it, that is a conclusion, not a negotiating trick. Sometimes the best advice is not to buy - and we give it often.

The Rustavi car market

The Rustavi car market, half an hour from Tbilisi, is one of the largest in the region. There are thousands of cars, especially at weekends, and bargaining happens on the spot, often in Russian or Georgian.

For a foreigner the market is confusing: plenty of middlemen, a fast pace of bargaining and pressure to "buy now or someone else will". We do not give in to that pressure - a good car will survive a day's inspection.

We go to the market with you, or in your place, with photos and video. We check every interesting car on the spot before any talk about price begins.

A car's history by VIN

A car arriving from America often has a history visible through its VIN: auction photos, the type of accident, a description of the damage and the mileage at the time. That information often says it all.

We check the history report before buying and compare it with what the seller says. If the seller says "minor damage" and the auction photo shows the car on its side, that is already an answer.

For cars arriving from Europe and Asia the history is less available. In that case the technical inspection becomes even more important.

The technical inspection

The technical inspection is done by an experienced mechanic: engine, gearbox, running gear, electronics and fault codes. It usually takes a few hours.

With a paint thickness gauge we check which panels have been repainted or replaced. That shows the scale of an accident, even when the car looks perfect from the outside.

The result is a written report with photos: what is in good condition, what needs repair and what the repair costs. With that report, talking about price is far easier.

Wound-back mileage

Winding back the mileage is one of the most common frauds on the used-car market. The number on the display is easy to change; the wear on the car is not.

So we compare the mileage with the history report, the service records and the real condition of the car: wear on the steering wheel, seats and pedals often tells the truth.

If the figures do not match, we say so in the report. That is grounds for walking away or lowering the price, and either way the decision is yours.

Flood-damaged cars

Some cars from US auctions come after a flood. From the outside they can look fine, but electrical problems appear even years later.

The signs of such a car are corrosion where there should be none, silt in inaccessible places, a damp smell and strange electronic faults. The mechanic checks for this specifically.

A water history often shows in the VIN report too. We usually advise against buying such a car, however cheap it is.

A cleared and an uncleared car

Many cars in Georgia are sold uncleared - they are in a customs zone, and the duties for the domestic market have not yet been paid. For export that is often the most logical option.

If you need the car for use in Georgia, it has to be cleared, and we count that cost in the price. Sometimes buying an already cleared car is cheaper overall.

Which option is better depends on where the car is going. We work that out before you buy, so you do not pay duties twice.

The destination country's rules

Every country has its own rules for importing a car: an age limit, an emissions standard, customs duty and registration conditions. In some countries these rules change often.

So before you buy we check whether that particular car can be imported into the destination country and what it will cost. A car bought in Georgia that cannot cross the border is the most expensive mistake there is.

The final advice on the destination country's customs rules comes from a specialist there. We put you in touch and compare the information.

A car from a US auction

Many buyers purchase a car straight from a US auction, and it arrives by ship at the port of Poti. That is often cheaper, but you see the car only in photos, and it is often damaged.

The biggest risk on this route is the gap between the auction photo and the real condition, plus hidden damage. The sea voyage takes weeks, and during that time you have no control over the car.

When the car arrives in Poti we oversee its receipt, inspect it and arrange the next steps: repair, customs clearance or export. We do not take part in the auction purchase itself.

The customs procedure

The customs procedure goes through a licensed customs broker. We choose the broker, keep an eye on the process and explain what happens at every stage, in your language.

The amount of duty depends on the car's age, engine size and type. We calculate the exact amount before you buy, so the price is complete and not just the price of the car.

The documents - the purchase contract, the vehicle documents, the customs declaration - stay with you, with copies of each. All of it is checked at the border.

Registration in Georgia

If the car stays in Georgia, it is registered in your name. For that you need your passport and the purchase documents, and the change of ownership is completed at the official service.

A foreigner can own and register a car in Georgia. But if you live here long term, the driving licence question needs sorting out too - we help with that separately.

After registration the car needs insurance and a regular technical inspection. We tell you about that in advance so an unexpected fine does not catch you out.

Moving the car

For export a car goes one of three ways: you drive it yourself, our driver drives it, or a car transporter carries it. The first is cheapest, the last safest for a new or expensive car.

The car needs insurance in transit, and that does not work the same way in every country. We check before the move and arrange the right cover.

At the border you need the vehicle documents, the customs declaration and a power of attorney for the driver if they are not the owner. We prepare all of that in advance.

Common scams

The most common scheme is a suspiciously cheap car online, for which you are asked to pay a "reservation" in advance. Often the car does not exist at all.

The second is a middleman who promises you a "discount" but actually takes a commission from the seller and raises the price. The third is documents that do not match the car.

Our rule is simple: money only after the car has been inspected and the documents confirmed, and only in an officially completed transaction. We do not advise paying for a "reservation" in advance.

Payment and completing the deal

The deal is completed officially, and bank transfer is better so there is a trace of the money. Handing over a large sum in cash is a risk for the buyer and the seller alike.

The change of ownership is completed at the official service, and the documents are checked one last time then. Until the car is in your name, it is not yours.

We attend the transaction, interpret and check that everything is as agreed. If anything changes at the last moment, we stop the deal.

Repairs after purchase

A car often needs repair after purchase, especially one from an auction. Repairs in Georgia are usually inexpensive, and there is a wide choice of mechanics.

We choose the mechanic using the inspection report and agree the cost of the repair in advance. We send you photos of the work if you are not on site.

Original or aftermarket parts, a quick repair or a thorough one - you decide, and we explain the options and what they cost.

Buying remotely

Many buyers do not come to Georgia and buy the car remotely. In that case we are your eyes: photos, video, the inspection report and a video call beside the car.

The transaction needs a power of attorney so we can act in your name. It is drawn up in your country and sometimes needs notarisation or an apostille - we explain this in advance.

Buying remotely requires more trust, so we record every step: what was inspected, what was paid, what document was received. All of it stays with you.

Timescales

Finding and inspecting a car in Georgia usually takes one to two weeks, depending on your requirements. A rare model takes longer to find.

Customs and documents take a few days, and moving the car to the destination country takes a time that depends on the distance and the queues at the border.

The auction route through Poti is much longer - weeks or months, depending on the shipping schedule. We allow for that in advance.

When it is not worth it

If you need a car for only a few weeks, buying and then selling costs more than hiring once every expense is counted. In that case we recommend hiring.

If importing a car into the destination country is tightly restricted or the duty is very high, buying in Georgia may not pay off. We show you that in figures.

And if a car is very cheap compared with the market, that is usually not a good opportunity. A price always has a reason.

What we need from you

What car you need: make, model, year, budget, engine type. And where it is going - staying in Georgia, or export.

For export, the destination country and in whose name it will be registered. That tells us which cars can actually be imported.

And how you want to take part: will you come, or do we do everything remotely? Both are possible, and we organise either with one plan.

What our service costs

Our service is separate from the price of the car and agreed in advance: inspection, search, accompanying the transaction, documents and delivery each appear as separate lines.

We take no commission from the seller, so we have an interest in lowering the price of the car, not raising it. That is the foundation of how we work.

If you decide not to buy after the inspection, you pay only for the inspection. Walking away from a bad car is a good outcome, not a failure.

Electric cars and hybrids

Hybrids and electric cars are increasingly common on the Georgian market, many of them from auctions. With these the key question is the condition of the battery - and that does not show from the outside.

We check the battery's capacity and degradation with specialist diagnostics. A new battery is often a large part of the car's value, so this check is essential.

For export, the rules on importing an electric car and the charging infrastructure differ in the destination country. We check that before you buy, so the car is actually usable there.