Car rental in Tbilisi from $21/day

If your first day or two is limited to the Old Town, Sololaki and Rustaveli, you can walk everything and start the rental only once you are ready to leave the city — many suppliers will deliver the car to your hotel that morning instead.

The Old Town's lanes around Betlemi, Sioni and the sulphur baths are narrow, cobbled and often one-way, with delivery vans and pedestrians sharing the same few metres of street; a car is more of a liability than a convenience there, so it is usually easier to leave it parked. Once you climb out toward Vake, Saburtalo or the airport road, streets widen and driving becomes more straightforward.

For paid street parking in the centre, check the signs for the zone and use the city parking service to check the parking rules and payment options. Many Old Town guesthouses have no parking of their own, so confirm this before booking accommodation, or ask your supplier whether hotel or nearby garage parking is available.

Expect assertive lane changes and drivers who merge with little warning, especially on the ring roads and the approaches to bridges. Night driving in the city is generally calmer than daytime traffic, but poorly lit side streets and the occasional pothole are worth watching for once you leave the main avenues.

City delivery is the most flexible option for anyone staying in an apartment or a hotel without its own desk — 1,663 of the cars listed in Tbilisi can be delivered to your hotel or apartment; ask your supplier whether delivery carries a fee. If you would rather meet in person, most offices and delivery points cluster around Rustaveli Avenue, Freedom Square and Vake, all easy to reach by taxi or on foot from most central hotels.

For anyone flying in or out, the Tbilisi Airport guide covers arrival, meeting points and night pick-up.

If your trip continues beyond Tbilisi, you do not have to return the car to the same point. One-way rentals let you pick up in Tbilisi and drop off in another city, most commonly on the Tbilisi to Batumi route. The one-way rental guide covers the other combinations and how the drop-off fee is shown before you book.

• Mtskheta — about 25 km, 30 minutes. Georgia's ancient capital and a UNESCO World Heritage site, easy enough to combine with a half-day in the city and be back before lunch.
• Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) — about 155 km, 3 hours, along the Georgian Military Road over the Jvari Pass. A full day out, or an overnight if you want time to walk up toward Gergeti Trinity Church rather than just view it from below.
• Gudauri — about 120 km on the same road as Kazbegi, roughly halfway there; Gudauri is Georgia's main ski resort in winter and a hiking and paragliding base in summer.
• Kakheti — Sighnaghi — about 115 km, 2 hours to the wine region. Sighnaghi's walled hilltop old town and Telavi's vineyards and wine cellars make an easy loop; plan a designated driver or a taxi back from any tasting.
• Borjomi — about 160 km, 2.5 hours. A spa town and national park; the Borjomi guide covers the park, Bakuriani and Vardzia beyond it.
• David Gareja — in the semi-desert about 70 km east of Tbilisi near the Azerbaijan border. The last stretch to the monastery complex is rough and unpaved. Rental cars may use only paved public roads: arrange other transport for the unpaved stretch.
• Gori and a detour to Uplistsikhe — about 90 km west along the main highway; an ancient rock-hewn cave town near Gori, easily combined into one day.

• City and Kakheti — a compact or mid-size car covers Tbilisi's streets and the paved roads to Mtskheta, Sighnaghi and Telavi comfortably.
• Kazbegi in summer — the Georgian Military Road is paved all the way, so an SUV is a comfort choice rather than a necessity in the warmer months; ground clearance does not give you the right to leave the paved road for unpaved side roads. Driving to Juta in a rental car is prohibited.
• Tusheti, Svaneti and winter driving — Driving to Tusheti over the Abano Pass in a rental car is prohibited. The Mestia–Ushguli–Lentekhi route is allowed only from May to September and only for a car with the designated travel option. Permitted winter routes need four-wheel drive and winter tyres, but the type of car does not lift road restrictions; see the 4x4 rental guide for the vehicle choice and route restrictions.
• Families and groups — a 7-seat minivan or a larger SUV spreads out luggage and car seats better than two smaller cars.
• Premium trips — business travel, a special occasion, or simply wanting a newer, larger car: the luxury car rental page covers the premium end of the Tbilisi fleet.
• Staying a month or longer — long stays change the maths on daily rates and deposits; see the monthly rental guide before booking week by week.

Fuel in Georgia is sold by the litre at stations that are easy to find throughout Tbilisi and along every main road out of it; most take cards, so there is little reason to carry cash for fuel alone. Ask whether your rental is full-to-full or comes with a fixed fuel charge, since the two policies can lead to very different costs on a short trip.

Insurance is usually included at a basic level, with an excess (deductible) that applies if the car is damaged; some suppliers offer to reduce or waive that excess for an extra daily fee, worth considering on mountain routes.

A couple of extras are worth booking ahead rather than requesting on arrival: a child seat, offered by 1,521 cars in the current Tbilisi listings, and winter tyres, useful for anyone driving toward Gudauri or Kazbegi in the coldest months.

Speed and lane cameras are common on the highways out of Tbilisi; a fine issued after you return the car is normally passed on by the supplier, sometimes with a small handling fee.

Heading from Tbilisi to Armenia? Get the supplier's written permission and confirm the documents for your car. The current Tbilisi search lists 7 cars with an Armenia cross-border option. Read the conditions in the car's listing before booking. Taking a rental car into Turkey is prohibited under the current general rental terms.