Georgia is a country that truly has a lot to offer tourists. People come here not only for seaside relaxation but also to gain a wealth of interesting and useful information. Considering the relatively small size of the country, it might seem quite easy to travel around without a car. However, in practice, reaching the most interesting places by bus can be challenging. If you want to explore attractions outside the city, you often have to take a taxi, which is not always convenient.
The most popular ways to get around in Georgia
Car rental at Tbilisi airport
You can rent a car at specialized offices of international companies. In this case, clients are offered various insurance options, including the possibility to insure the driver’s health. The main requirements for drivers are to have technical support and a navigator.
By providing a deposit starting from 400 USD and paying a rental fee of from 35 to 70 USD per day, you can rent a car and enjoy the sights of Georgia at your own pace.
When signing the contract, it is important to carefully study all the terms, especially the list of additional services included.
Car rental with driver (transfer)
This mode of transportation is the most popular among tourists. You can independently choose the most suitable option on specialized platforms, based on the price listed directly on the website.
In many cases, this turns out to be significantly cheaper than excursions and renting a car without a driver. If approached practically, you can save money and have a comfortable trip without unnecessary hassles.
A significant disadvantage of this option is that the driver most likely will not be able to provide detailed information about the attractions. They might tell you something general, but you should not expect a full-fledged tour like from a professional guide.
Advantages of Using Transfers
Travelers have the opportunity to visit exactly the places that interest them most, without paying for extra hotel nights and without having to adjust to other travelers. An undeniable advantage of the above is the absence of fatigue on the road.
Other important advantages of transfers include:
- optimal prices
The final cost of trips can be found out in advance directly on the website thanks to a convenient calculation system.
- friendly drivers
You can get all necessary information about them thanks to reviews from previous clients.
- availability of child seats
Taxi drivers usually don't have them, so traveling with children in this case will be completely safe for the little passengers.
- the driver will always wait
Even if you plan to stay at the location for 4–5 hours, the driver won’t rush you since they usually take only one order per day.
- comfort
Cars are always in good condition, the cabin is clean and free of unpleasant odors, and the working air conditioner protects from the Georgian heat.
- all stops are included in the price
You can get off wherever you find necessary, and the driver can even take photos of you if needed.
- custom route planning
Besides transfers between two cities, tourists can arrange a more complex route with stops at other tourist spots.
- no cheating or spoiled mood
The driver does not insist on taking you to places they consider important, and all payments are made according to prior agreements with no surprise increases in total cost.
Cost of Renting a Car with a Driver
When ordering a trip by car, keep in mind that the total cost may slightly vary depending on the driver and vehicle. Returning on the same day is usually free of charge. In other words, the price for a trip Tbilisi — Borjomi and the route Tbilisi — Borjomi — Tbilisi will be the same.
The most popular destinations for tourists involve three main cities of the country, and the payment for the car with a driver service for 1 to 3 passengers is approximately:
- Airport – Tbilisi – 30 GEL;
- Airport – Batumi – 55 GEL;
- Tbilisi – Batumi – 230 GEL;
- Tbilisi – Borjomi – 140 GEL;
- Batumi – Borjomi – 220 GEL.
Car Rental for Personal Driving
This method is the most convenient for those who feel confident behind the wheel on unfamiliar country roads. However, considering the fuel expenses, it will be somewhat more expensive compared to a transfer. In this case, you will have to drive yourself, so it’s unlikely you’ll have much chance to look around. The same goes for wine tasting—you will definitely be deprived of this pleasure.
The car must be pre-ordered on a dedicated website, and can be picked up at any popular resort. The rental fee is approximately 50 USD per day with a deposit of about 250 USD. This includes:
- insurance in case of a traffic accident;
- unlimited mileage;
- theft and third-party liability insurance;
- various taxes and fees.
The minimum rental period is 24 hours. Late returns are charged separately, about 5 USD per hour. The price of a liter of gasoline in Georgia is around 1.3 USD.
Advantages of daily rental
Despite the cost, daily car rental is a rather good alternative for organizing tourist trips. Renting a car from your chosen company, you can count on several undeniable advantages:
- independence
you decide where and when to go;
- cost-effectiveness
longer rentals are significantly cheaper than renting for just a few days;
- vehicle choice
you can choose from economical compact cars to comfort-class vehicles;
- opportunity for real adventures
spontaneous decisions often bring many pleasant experiences;
- family trips
traveling with children in the family circle in a rented car is much more comfortable than in the presence of many strangers.
Why Taxis in Georgia Are Not Cost-Effective
For those still doubting the feasibility of this mode of transportation in Georgia and preferring to hire taxis, here are some arguments:
- lack of quality guarantee
it’s hard to understand who is behind the wheel at first, and during the ride their behavior can become a real problem;
- high prices
for tourists, the fare is automatically increased, sometimes requiring lengthy bargaining to get a reasonable price;
- not always a decent level of comfort
the taxi car might be run-down and in need of repairs, air conditioning usually doesn’t work, and the driver may smoke inside the vehicle;
- not always good treatment of visitors
drivers often try to "upsell" clients by offering intrusive services like trips to specific restaurants;
- driving style
the taxi driver may be slightly intoxicated, drive on the wrong side, brake sharply, and all this is presented as a bold driving style;
- price deception
often, at the end of the ride, drivers demand more money than was agreed upon beforehand.
After a few days of such a vacation, many start thinking about renting a vehicle. Otherwise, all the money set aside for the trip will simply go into the pockets of local drivers.
Peculiarities of travel by minibuses
You can save money traveling in Georgia by using marshrutkas (minibuses). For just 25 GEL (lari), you can travel nearly half the country — from Batumi to Tbilisi. This is one of the cheapest types of transport, but also one of the least comfortable. The worst part is that marshrutka drivers do not follow a fixed schedule.
Most of them depart only once filled with passengers. Due to the lack of schedule, people often end up having to pay extra for taxis because the last marshrutka did not arrive or it’s unknown when it will. Other drawbacks include:
- dangerous driving style of Georgian marshrutka drivers;
- poor technical condition of vehicles;
- smell of tobacco inside the cabin;
- no opportunity to stop and see sights along the way;
- fatigue after the trip.
Features of Car Trips in Georgia
Renting a car in Georgia is very easy. You need two main documents – a personal passport and a driver’s license. Ukrainian driver’s licenses are accepted in Georgia as long as they include a Latin alphabet translation. Special attention should be paid to the requirements for drivers:
- the age of the person behind the wheel must be at least 23 years old;
- their driving experience must be at least 3 years.
Traffic Rules Compliance
While driving, you must strictly follow the traffic rules of the country regarding speed limits. They are as follows:
- inside populated areas – no more than 60 km/h;
- outside populated areas – around 90 km/h;
- maximum speed on highways – 110 km/h.
All drivers without exception must adhere to certain behavior rules:
- do not drive under the influence – the permissible blood alcohol level is 0.0%;
- fasten your own and passengers’ seat belts;
- small children must be transported only in child car seats;
- the driver must stop immediately upon a police officer’s request.
Roads in Georgia
There are no toll roads in Georgia. However, the quality of roads in some regions leaves much to be desired, as does the driving style of many locals. You must take all this into account if you plan to drive a rental car yourself. It’s also advisable to remember the fines for various violations:
- presence of alcohol in the driver’s blood – 300 GEL or license suspension up to 1 year;
- not wearing a seatbelt – 50 GEL;
- refusing to stop at a police officer’s request – 400 GEL;
- speeding and crossing a solid line – 60 GEL.
Before traveling to Georgia, make sure to plan your transportation options carefully so you don’t waste precious vacation time solving these issues. This way, you can fully enjoy and explore Georgian attractions — without harming your budget or wasting extra time.
