Renting a car in Tbilisi: where to get one, where to go 2026

Tbilisi is the main place where people pick up a car in Georgia: most visitors fly in here, and the most popular routes radiate out from the city. One key point — in town you need a car not so much for Tbilisi itself (the centre is compact, with traffic and tricky parking) as for trips out of the city. For how renting works in general, see how to rent a car in Georgia; for the deposit specifically, see renting with no deposit. Specific prices change, so confirm them with the rental company.

Where to pick up a car in Tbilisi

• At the airport — rental desks operate in the arrivals area, handy for getting behind the wheel straight away. The airport is about 17 km south-east of the centre; there’s sometimes a small surcharge for an airport pickup.
• In the city — local companies’ offices and delivery to your address; sometimes cheaper, but pay closer attention to the contract and the deposit.
• Online aggregators (such as Localrent or Discover Cars) — compare prices and terms across different companies and book ahead.

Parking and traffic downtown

In the Old Town, Sololaki and on Mtatsminda the streets are narrow and steep, parking in the centre is paid and not always easy, and there are traffic jams at peak hours. For exploring Tbilisi itself a car is more of a hindrance — the metro, buses on a Metromoney card and taxis are easier. It’s worth renting a car for trips out of town: then it works for you rather than sitting in a paid zone.

Where to drive from Tbilisi

• Kazbegi via the Georgian Military Road — the pass, Gergeti, mountain views: Tbilisi → Kazbegi in 2 days.
• Kakheti for wine — the wineries and monasteries of the east: Kakheti wine in 2 days.
• A day trip nearby — Mtskheta, Uplistsikhe and Gori in a single day: a one-day route.

Documents, deposit, insurance — in brief

You’ll need your passport and a driving licence (if your licence isn’t in the Latin alphabet, it’s handy to have an International Driving Permit, IDP). The deposit is usually held on your card; some rates come without one. The key thing with insurance isn’t the daily price but the size of the excess. For more on this, see the basic rental guide and renting with no deposit; for the mandatory health insurance required to enter the country, see the insurance section.

What to check at pickup

• Photograph the body, wheels, windscreen and interior — record any damage before driving off.
• The fuel level and the return condition.
• In the contract: the excess, the mileage limit, and whether you can cross into neighbouring countries.

Next, pick a route and have a look at the Tbilisi city guide. Flying into the west of the country? See renting a car at Kutaisi Airport. You can compare rental offers through the box below.