Car Hire in Georgia: How to Choose a Rental Company and Not Overpay
A rental car is the easiest way to see Georgia: distances are short, while the sea, mountains, canyons and wineries are spread out in a way tours only partly cover. Here is a checklist for comparing rental companies so the total doesn't grow at pickup.
Where to pick up the car
Most travellers collect the car where they land:
- Batumi — office, airport and hotel delivery. Details: car rental in Batumi.
- Kutaisi — the airport with low-cost flights from Europe. Details: car rental in Kutaisi.
- Tbilisi — the capital and main airport. Details: car rental in Tbilisi.
One-way rentals are convenient: for example, land in Kutaisi and return the car in Batumi.
1. Compare the total, not the daily rate
A low daily rate means little if delivery, after-hours pickup and insurance are added later. Ask for the all-in price for your dates. With us it is shown on the booking page right away: rental, airport delivery (Batumi $20, Kutaisi $60, Tbilisi $100, free for 7+ days) and $25 for pickup or return outside 10:00–20:00.
2. Insurance and excess
Check what is included. A fair standard is insurance with an excess (CDW) in the price and full no-excess cover as an option. Our excess is about $312–317 depending on the car; full cover is $20 per day.
3. Deposit: cash or a card hold
Many companies block a large sum on your card for the whole rental. 19 of our 28 cars need no deposit at all; where there is one, it is paid in cash and returned at drop-off. More: car rental without a deposit.
4. Mileage, territory and a second driver
- Mileage should be unlimited — Georgia is small, but 1,500 km in a week is easy.
- Ask where you may not drive. No rental car may enter Abkhazia or South Ossetia, and some mountain roads are allowed only with AWD.
- A second driver is free with us — handy for long transfers.
5. Documents and age
You need a passport and a licence in Latin script (or a national licence plus an IDP), age 21+ and 2+ years of driving. Who needs an IDP: international driving permit in Georgia.
How much it costs
The daily rate depends on the length of the rental: the most affordable car in our fleet is from $57 for 1 day, $42 for 4–7 days and from $33 a day for 22+ days. Summer and New Year cost more. Details: what the price is made of.
Which car to choose
- City and coast — a compact sedan.
- Mountains, Svaneti, Kazbegi — an AWD crossover (we have 19).
- Family or group — 7 seats: Mitsubishi Outlander, Kia Sorento, VW Atlas, Toyota Sienna.
- Seaside drives — the VW Beetle convertible.
How to book
Choose dates and a city on the booking page — we show only available cars with the total price. Confirmation is instant, payment at pickup by card or cash. General information: car rental in Georgia.