Driving in Georgia

Driving is a great way to see the best of this eclectic country where east meets west, but if you’re planning a road trip to Georgia, it’s essential you’re fully prepared ahead of time as driving there has many differences to the UK. 

To make your trip to Eastern Europe as safe and effortless as possible, we’ve put together a guide to everything you need to know before you go, from required documents to rules of the road.  

Driving a rented vehicle? Jump to the advice for driving a hire car in Georgia section.

RAC European Breakdown Cover (Basic and Comprehensive) provides a wide range of benefits should you breakdown in Georgia to ensure you stay safe. 

To supplement this, RAC also offers travel insurance. Cover will include medical expenses, baggage, personal money and belongings, among many other benefits.

• A valid, full UK driving licence (you must also be 18 or over)
• A UK sticker (unless your car is equipped with EU number plates showing the country code in a circle of 12 gold stars on a blue background) 
• Your motor insurance certificate
• The V5 registration document for your own car or the hire car paperwork for a rental

Aside from the documents above, there are some legally-required items you must bring with you to drive in Georgia.

Unless your headlights can be adjusted, it's a legal requirement to carry headlamp converters (stickers for your headlights when driving on the right, so your lights don't dazzle motorists coming the other way).

A warning triangle is also compulsory to carry in vehicles in case of a breakdown.

You must also:

• Be 18 or over
• Make sure everyone in the car wears a seat belt at all times
• Wear a crash helmet if you're riding a motorcycle
• Ensure your car is covered by third-party insurance recognised in Georgia. This is the legal minimum cover for residents and visitors, so check with your provider before you travel

It's also recommended to have:

• Spare bulbs for your car's external lights
• A fire extinguisher 
• A first-aid kit
• A reflective jacket
• A Green Card (this could be a useful back-up to your insurance documents to show you've got the minimum legal level of cover. To find out more, contact your insurance company)
• An International Driving Permit (you may need this to hire a car)

You can pick up all the car kit you need from RAC Shop.

• In Georgia, you drive on the right and overtake on the left. Vehicles from the right and emergency vehicles have priority
• If you're caught committing a motoring offence while driving through Georgia, you could be given an on-the-spot fine
• Seat belts should be worn in all seats where a belt is available
• Children under the age of 12 must sit in the back of the car. Children under 7 must use a suitable child restraint
• The drink-drive limit is zero - so there must be no alcohol in your blood when driving

The speed limit is 60km/h in built-up areas and 80km/h unless otherwise signposted

• Heavy rain and flooding can cause problems for motorists driving through Georgia, so be prepared
• Avoid driving at night where possible as roads can be in a poor state and some local drivers can be rather erratic
• There are no toll roads in Georgia
• Unleaded petrol and diesel are readily available, as is LPG. Payment is generally made i n cash, although some filling stations will accept credit cards
• Parking can be limited in built-up areas, with restricted zones signposted. Vehicles parked illegally may be towed away
• The Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against all travel to the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Check Government advice for travelling in Georgia for the latest information

In an emergency

112 - Here's a really important bit of knowledge; you can dial 112 from anywhere in Europe and an operator will connect you to an emergency service in the country you're visiting.

Operators can answer your call in their native language, English or French.

Breaking down in Georgia

RAC offers great-value, flexible RAC European breakdown cover tailored to meet your needs. We also offer comprehensive travel insurance, including cover for medical expenses, baggage, personal money and belongings.

Not all of the information in the guide above will be relevant to those looking to rent a hire car in Georgia.

Though it might be a good idea to read through everything anyway, here are the most important things to know for drivers of rental vehicles:

Rental information

• The minimum age to hire a car is 21
• You need a full, valid UK driving licence and usually a second proof of ID (passport)
• Car rental companies ask that you have held your licence for a minimum term of 1 year
• Most companies require you to use a credit card for deposit
• You may not be able to drive outside of Georgia unless planned in advance - check with your hire company first
• Make sure you get car hire excess insurance before your trip to protect yourself from unexpected costs. It's almost always cheaper to do this with a separate insurer and in advance

Hire car driving tips

• Georgians drive on the right and overtake on the left - the opposite to the UK
• The national speed limit is 60km/h in built-up areas and 80km/h unless otherwise signposted
• Dial 112 in an emergency
• It’s compulsory to wear seat belts in the front and rear seats
• The blood alcohol content limit is zero

UK Government travel advice

See up-to-date travel advice