Car hire

Self-drive: who it suits

Hiring is worth it when the route covers cities and lowlands and you want to decide each morning where to stop. Kakheti, Imereti and the coast open up beautifully in your own car.

It is less worth it if you are staying only in Tbilisi - parking is difficult, taxis are cheap and city traffic is dense. And less so if the route goes deep into the mountains: a local driver there is both safer and calmer.

What you need to hire

A passport, a driving licence and a card for the deposit. In some cases an international driving permit is needed too - that depends on the country that issued your licence, and we check it before you book.

The minimum age and driving experience vary by company. For a young driver there is often an extra fee or a higher deposit - we tell you in advance.

The deposit

The deposit is blocked on your card and released after the car is returned. Lifting the block can take several days depending on your bank - that is not the company's fault, but you should allow for it in your travel budget.

Some companies do not accept a debit card for the deposit and ask for a credit card. Some local companies take a cash deposit too - in that case always ask for a receipt.

The size of the deposit depends on the class of car and the insurance. With full insurance it usually comes down, sometimes considerably.

Insurance: what it covers and what it does not

Basic insurance covers damage, but with an excess - an amount you pay yourself in an accident. That amount can be quite large, and it is stated in the contract.

Full insurance reduces the excess or brings it to zero. But even then tyres, glass, the underside of the car and damage on unpaved roads are often excluded. We check the contract for this and set it out for you separately.

Driving under the influence of alcohol, on a forbidden road, or by a driver not named on the contract voids the insurance entirely. That is the most expensive mistake there is.

Checking the car when you collect it

When you collect the car, photograph and film every scratch and dent in front of the handover agent. Those five minutes rule out any argument when you return it.

Check the fuel level, the spare wheel, the jack and the car's documents in the glovebox. In winter, the type of tyre too: winter tyres in the mountains are a necessity, not a luxury.

If anything does not match the handover report, ask for it to be noted before you drive off. We follow this process remotely too and, if needed, speak to the company.

Fuel and mileage

The most common policy is "full to full": you collect the car with a full tank and return it full. If you bring it back with less, the company charges the fuel at its own price plus a service fee.

Some contracts have a daily mileage limit. For driving around town that is no problem, but on a trip to Batumi and Svaneti the limit runs out quickly.

So before you book we work out your route and choose an unlimited option if needed. The price of extra kilometres is often the most unexpected cost.

A 4x4 or a saloon

On the main roads, including to Kazbegi, Borjomi and Mestia, a saloon manages perfectly well in summer. The roads are tarmac and well kept.

A 4x4 is needed where the tarmac ends: some mountain villages, viewpoints and unpaved stretches. And in winter, when ground clearance and four-wheel drive make a real difference in the snow.

But a 4x4 is not a licence to go anywhere. A hire contract often restricts unpaved roads, even for a 4x4 - so we always compare the contract with the route.

Where not to take a hire car

Most hire companies forbid driving a hire car into Tusheti over the Abano Pass. It is one of the hardest roads in the country, and there we offer a local driver with a 4x4.

On unpaved and forest tracks, through river crossings and off-road, the insurance usually does not apply. If something happens there, all the costs are yours - the recovery truck included.

Entering the occupied territories is impossible and forbidden. Crossing into neighbouring countries is only possible with the company's written permission and insurance valid abroad.

One-way hire

Collecting the car in Tbilisi and returning it in Batumi or Kutaisi is convenient when the route runs in one direction. That way you do not have to drive back.

But the company has to bring the car back, so one-way hire often carries an extra fee. Sometimes it is small, sometimes considerable.

We work out both options: one-way hire, and a return hire with the trip back by train. The second often comes out cheaper.

Delivery to your hotel or the airport

Delivering the car to your hotel or the airport saves you a trip to the office, and the charge is often small or included. The handover report and inspection are done at the delivery point.

At the airport the car will be waiting even for a night flight, if agreed in advance. The handover agent tracks the actual flight time.

Return can work the same way: you leave the car at the hotel or the airport car park, and the agent inspects it on the spot.

Long-term hire

For people living in Georgia or coming for several months, long-term hire is often simpler than buying a car. The daily rate falls considerably, and servicing is included.

In a contract like this some points matter especially: who changes the tyres for the season, who pays for repairs, and what happens if the car is off the road for several days. We confirm these before you sign.

If you are staying in Georgia for a long time, buying a car may make sense too. We compare the two options and show you the figures.

A local company or an international brand

International brands operate at the airports, with standard terms and new cars. They are usually more expensive, but predictable.

Local companies are cheaper and often flexible - delivery, a cash deposit, unusual requests. But quality varies sharply, from the condition of the car to the clarity of the contract.

We work with companies whose terms and cars we have checked. If a company behaves in bad faith in a dispute, we stop working with it.

A breakdown or accident on the road

If the car breaks down, call the hire company first - the roadside assistance number is in the contract. Do not repair it yourself or take it to a mechanic without agreement.

After an accident calling the police is essential, even for minor damage. Without the report the insurance often does not apply, and the company will ask you for the full amount.

At that point we interpret, speak to the company and arrange a replacement car or a transfer, so the trip does not fall apart.

Returning the car

Return it at the agreed time: some companies charge a whole extra day for a late return. If you are running late, let them know in advance - that often solves the problem.

On return take the same photos and video, and sign the report only after the inspection. If the agent points to new damage, ask for it to be recorded on camera.

Sand in the car after the seaside is normal, but some companies charge a cleaning fee for it. A quick clean at a filling station saves you that.

The police on the road

The patrol police may stop you to check documents. Show your driving licence, passport, the hire contract and the car's documents, which should be in the car.

A fine is not paid in cash on the spot - it is issued electronically and paid later. If anyone asks for cash on the spot, that is not normal.

If the language makes the conversation difficult, call us - we interpret by phone. The police are usually polite and patient with a foreign driver.

Child seats and extras

A child seat needs to be booked in advance, by age and weight. Not every company always has every size, so asking on the spot is a risk.

For navigation a phone and a local SIM card are enough - you rarely need a separate device. A roof box and a ski rack are available on request.

If two people will drive, the second driver must be named on the contract. Damage caused by a driver who is not named is not covered by the insurance.

Hiring in winter

Not every hire car comes with winter tyres automatically, especially in Tbilisi and Batumi, where snow is rare. If you are going into the mountains, you need to ask for them in advance.

In winter the road to Gudauri and Bakuriani is usually tarmac, but icy. The Jvari Pass sometimes closes, and on some stretches chains are needed.

If you have no experience of driving on snow, we recommend a driver in the winter mountains. An accident with a hire car on snow is the most expensive winter surprise.

When hiring is not worth it

If you are staying only in Tbilisi, a car is more of a burden than a help: parking is paid and difficult, while taxis and the metro are cheap. For a day or two out of town, a transfer is better.

It is not worth it either if the route is mostly mountains in winter, or if the plan includes wine days. In both cases a driver is the better choice.

And if the local driving style stresses you, it spoils the holiday. In that case we suggest a combination: yourself in the lowlands, a driver in the mountains.

Cancellation and changes

Cancelling a hire is usually free up to 24-48 hours ahead, depending on the company. In summer and over holidays the terms are stricter, and that is written into the contract.

Extending the hire during the trip is usually possible if the car is free. Let us know in advance so we can renew the contract and the insurance does not lapse.

If your flight is cancelled and your arrival moves, we move the hire too. With us that normally happens without any trouble.

What we need from you

The dates, the pick-up and drop-off points, the class of car you would like and the route. The route matters - it tells us whether you need a saloon or a 4x4, and whether limits apply.

The driver's age, the country of the licence and years of driving. With that we check whether an international permit is needed and whether a young-driver fee applies.

And the extras - a child seat, a second driver, winter tyres, a ski rack. We put everything into one quote.

Hiring for digital nomads and new residents

Some people who move to Georgia hire a car for the first few months while they decide whether buying is worth it. That is a sensible approach - you get to know the city and the country before making a large outlay.

A foreign licence is valid for a visitor, but the rules may change once you are resident. We check this separately and, if needed, help you exchange your licence.

On a long-term hire, the switch to winter tyres and the servicing should be in the contract itself. That way winter does not catch you out.

What the price depends on

Four things set the price: the season, the class of car, the length of the hire and the level of insurance. In summer and over the New Year the price rises noticeably, and cars are booked up early.

The longer the hire, the lower the daily rate. A week's hire often costs only a little more than five days, so we always work out the term.

One-way return, delivery, a second driver and extra equipment are added separately. We show you everything in one quote, as separate lines.

Rules that often surprise foreigners

Seat belts are compulsory for every passenger, in the back seats too. Talking on the phone while driving is allowed hands-free only, and cameras often record it.

The alcohol limit is strict, and our advice is simple - zero. In a wine country that is a temptation, which is why on a wine day we offer a driver.

Speed limits differ in towns, in villages and on the open road, and cameras enforce them. Speeds drop sharply through villages - the most common reason foreigners get fined.