Does Sixt require an IDP in Georgia?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Sixt in Georgia: the policy in plain terms
Asks for a licence translation for licences issued outside the EU and not in the Roman alphabet. Premium European brand with a fast-growing global network.
Georgia drives on the right under the 1968 Vienna Convention and uses its own script, so an IDP is advised to translate your licence.
In Georgia specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Georgia ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Sixt will typically ask for it at the counter. Tbilisi desks ask for an IDP with non-Latin-script licences.
Sixt runs a europe / global network; at its Georgia desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Georgia drives on the right, uses the GEL, and sets a minimum driving age of 18, so an IDP is the document that removes any doubt at the counter.
What to bring to the Sixt counter in Georgia
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the GEL deposit; Georgia drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Georgia Sixt renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Headlights on at all times.
- 0.03% alcohol limit.
- Assertive driving on mountain roads.
Sixt's rental terms that affect your IDP booking
Minimum age is region-specific: typically 21 in the US (18 in New York, where an under-25 fee still applies) and 18 in much of continental Europe such as Germany and France; drivers aged 21-24 pay a young-driver surcharge of roughly USD 25-30 per day in the US (about GBP 36 per rental in the UK, around EUR 5-6 per day in markets like Cyprus), and under-25s are usually limited to economy through full-size sedans, midsize SUVs and minivans.
A credit or debit card in the main driver's name must be presented at pickup; Sixt holds a security deposit of at least USD 200 plus the rental amount on the card, with substantially higher holds on premium/high-value vehicles, and debit-card acceptance and limits vary by branch and vehicle class.
A per-rental additional-driver fee applies; extra drivers can be added at any Sixt branch during the rental provided the main driver is present and the additional driver shows a valid licence (some European markets waive the fee for a spouse/partner). The driver must typically have held a full valid licence for at least 1 year (rising to 2-3 years in higher-risk markets such as Cyprus, while Germany requires the licence be held only since at least the day before pickup).
Most Sixt passenger vehicles may be driven across borders into listed neighbouring countries (e.g. France, Germany, Spain, Italy within Europe), but you must notify and get authorisation from the pickup branch in advance; a cross-border and/or one-way drop-off fee applies, and certain vehicle classes and destination countries are restricted.
Sixt does not require an International Driving Permit everywhere, but states that where local law requires it the IDP must be carried alongside the original home licence; if the licence is in a non-Roman alphabet (Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Cyrillic, etc.) the renter must present an IDP or an official translation, and an official translation is also required if the issuing country is not party to the international driving-permit treaty.
Once you collect the keys in Georgia
Georgia has no toll roads, vignettes or road taxes on any main tourist route, so foreign-registered and rental cars drive the national highways toll-free. Budget only for fuel and parking.
Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi and Gori run paid zones requiring payment via municipal app (Tbilisi Parking), website or pay-box, with a 50 GEL fine for unpaid parking; passes range from a 20 GEL daily up to 800 GEL annual. Read signs carefully, as cars in prohibited spots are towed.
Speed cameras are widespread and fines are issued by plate (e.g. roughly 50 GEL for moderate speeding, up to 200 GEL for over 50 km/h above the limit), plus fines for phone use and no seatbelt; rental firms forward camera fines to the renter. Most fines are paid online or at banks, not cash on the spot.
Dial 112 for police and ambulance; do not move the vehicles and wait for the patrol police to attend and produce a report, which the rental company and insurer will require. A police report is effectively mandatory for any claim.
Full driving guide for Georgia →