Russia Georgia
Russia 
GeorgiaLast reviewed July 2026
Crossing the border
Russia and Georgia share a land border you can cross by car. Keep your passport, national driving licence and International Driving Permit together, and check opening hours and any toll or vignette requirements before you travel.
Driving rules in Georgia
- Drive on the right.
- Headlights on at all times.
- 0.03% alcohol limit.
- Assertive driving on mountain roads.
What to see when you arrive in Georgia
- the old town of Tbilisi and its sulphur baths
- the cave city of Uplistsikhe
- the Caucasus village of Kazbegi
- the wine region of Kakheti
- the Black Sea resort of Batumi
Once you're driving in Georgia
Destination-specific detail sourced from national road authorities, motoring clubs and rental policies — the things that catch cross-border drivers out.
Driving on a foreign licence
A foreign licence is valid for driving and rental for up to one year from entry; if it is not in Latin script you legally need an International Driving Permit or certified translation. Police and rental firms may still ask for an IDP even when a Latin-script licence is accepted, so carrying one is prudent.
Tolls & road charges
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.
Parking in the cities
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.
Fines & camera enforcement
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.
If you have an accident
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.
Driving in the capital
Tbilisi traffic is fast and assertive, with drivers ignoring lane markings and frequent abrupt lane changes; the central paid-parking zones and narrow Old Town streets are the main hazards for first-time visitors.
Sources: wander-lush.org · og.ge · og.ge · globalpetrolprices.com