Is Georgia a good place to rent a car from local companies?

What the snapshot says about car hire in Georgia

Georgia ranks #1 of 36 destinations in this guide, with a score of 8.3. The score comes from a snapshot of public Localrent search results for a one-week rental. The methodology page explains how each component is weighted.

The snapshot counted 3,283 cars listed across 3 tracked cities and airports. Of these, 2,590 cars were analysed in detail. That is a large choice for a country of this size, and the choice component reaches the top mark.

The terms are the main reason for the high rank:

• 89% of analysed cars need no deposit.
• 100% can be rented without a credit card.
• 96% come with unlimited mileage.
• 99% have an automatic gearbox.

The weak point is the fleet. The median model year is 2018, and only 20% of cars are marked as new. Expect well-used vehicles rather than showroom stock. The fleet component scores lowest of all six.

Car rental companies in Georgia: Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Gudauri compared

Tbilisi has the largest choice of the three tracked places. It is served by Tbilisi International Airport (TBS). The capital lists slightly more cars than Kutaisi, and almost every car is automatic. Its no-deposit and free cancellation shares sit a little above the national figures.

About a third of Tbilisi cars offer free delivery, the best rate of the three. That helps if you want a car brought to a city hotel.

Kutaisi is the main western base, served by Kutaisi International Airport (KUT). Its listing is almost as large as the capital's. Terms track the national picture closely, and roughly a quarter of cars offer free delivery. Many international flights land at KUT, so pick-up there saves a transfer.

Gudauri is the mountain option on the Georgian Military Road. It lists about half as many cars as Tbilisi. The no-deposit share is the lowest of the three, though still a large majority. No Gudauri car in the snapshot offered free delivery.

Travellers searching for car rental in Batumi, Georgia should note one gap. Batumi is not among the tracked cities in this snapshot. Kutaisi is the nearest tracked base for the Black Sea coast.

Subarus and Jeeps: matching Georgian rental cars to mountain and valley roads

The most listed models in Georgia are the Subaru Forester, Jeep Renegade, Subaru Crosstrek, Mitsubishi Outlander, Jeep Cherokee. Almost all of them are compact or mid-size SUVs. This mix reflects the terrain: mountain passes, gravel side roads and long valley drives.

• The Subaru Forester is a mid-size all-wheel-drive SUV that suits the Georgian Military Road to Gudauri.
• The Subaru Crosstrek is a compact crossover that suits the wine roads of Kakheti around Telavi and Sighnaghi.
• The Jeep Renegade is a small SUV that suits city driving in Tbilisi and day trips to Mtskheta.
• The Mitsubishi Outlander is a mid-size SUV that suits families on the Tbilisi to Kutaisi highway.
• The Jeep Cherokee is a larger SUV that suits longer trips west towards the Black Sea coast.

The Toyota Prius also appears often in Gudauri listings. It is a hybrid hatchback that suits paved highway driving, not snowy passes.

Check the car card for the exact drive type before you book. Not every SUV listed has all-wheel drive. The model year and photos on the card show the real condition of the car.

Deposit, cash deposit or card: how Georgian companies secure a car

Deposit terms are the strongest part of the Georgia picture. In the snapshot, 89% of analysed cars need no deposit at all. That is well above the median destination in this guide.

The remaining 11% of cars ask for a deposit in cash. Where a deposit applies, its amount and accepted payment methods are on the car card. Read them before you book, not at the counter.

Cards matter less here than in many countries. In total, 100% of cars can be rented without a credit card. The online advance is still paid by bank card, as cash is not accepted for it.

The payment stages work like this:

• Advance: paid online by bank card to confirm the booking.
• Balance: paid to the rental company at pick-up, by the methods shown on the card.
• Deposit: only if the car card lists one, in the stated form.

Use the no-deposit page to see where this filter works best. The deposits guide and cash deposit page explain the details.

Free cancellation, unlimited mileage and delivery across Georgia

Free cancellation is available on 61% of analysed cars. That beats the median destination, where far fewer cars allow it. Still, a sizeable share of cars carry cancellation conditions. Check the terms on each car card, and see the free cancellation page if plans may change.

Mileage is rarely a concern. In the snapshot, 96% of cars come with unlimited mileage. This suits Georgia well, as a loop from Tbilisi to Kutaisi and back covers long distances. Gudauri has the smallest unlimited share of the three cities, so check mileage there carefully.

Free delivery is offered on 22% of cars nationally. The rate varies sharply by city. Tbilisi leads, Kutaisi follows, and Gudauri offered none in the snapshot. If you want a car brought to a hotel, check the car card and confirm the address in advance.

All of these terms are fixed in your voucher. The voucher is your reference if anything differs at pick-up.

Driving in Georgia: right-hand traffic, the E60 and mountain passes

Georgia drives on the right, and cars are left-hand drive. Almost every car in the snapshot is automatic, so gears are not an issue.

The main east-west road is the E60 highway. It links Tbilisi with Gori, Kutaisi and the Black Sea coast. Parts are modern dual carriageway, while other stretches still pass through towns and villages.

The Georgian Military Road runs north from Tbilisi to Gudauri, the Jvari Pass and Stepantsminda. It climbs high and can close after heavy snow. Check road status before setting off in winter.

Other popular routes include:

• Tbilisi to Kakheti over the Gombori Pass, or via the longer Sagarejo road.
• Kutaisi to Mestia in Svaneti, a long mountain drive through Zugdidi.
• Tbilisi to Mtskheta, a short trip on the northern road.

Expect livestock on rural roads and assertive overtaking on highways. Mountain roads have tight bends and few barriers. Plan daylight driving on unfamiliar passes.

Auto rent Georgia on Localrent: how the booking works step by step

Localrent is an online booking service, not a rental company. It lists cars of local, independent companies and owns no cars itself. The how it works guide covers the process in depth.

• Search by city or airport, such as Tbilisi or Kutaisi, and set your dates.
• Apply filters such as no deposit or no credit card.
• Open a car card. It shows the model, year, photos, deposit, payment methods, mileage, insurance and cancellation terms.
• Pick a specific car from a named local company.
• Pay the advance online by bank card. Cash is not accepted for the advance.
• Receive your voucher with the conditions of the booking.
• At pick-up, sign the rental contract with the local company and pay the balance.

Minimum driver age and licence rules are set by each company. They appear on the car card, so check them early. Insurance terms also differ between companies.

The car card checklist helps you compare offers. If you have doubts about the service, read is Localrent legit. Other places are listed on the destinations page.

Our verdict

Georgia is the strongest destination in this guide for renting from local companies. Deposit, card and mileage terms are excellent, and choice is wide in Tbilisi and Kutaisi. Accept an older fleet and check cancellation terms on each car card.