Road trip stop
Kazbegi
Follow the Georgian Military Highway north through the Caucasus towards Gudauri and Stepantsminda, with the journey itself forming a major part of the experience.
Georgia · Tbilisi International Airport
Car rental at Tbilisi Airport
Compare car rental at Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) — including the rental conditions that matter when your plans extend beyond the capital.
TBSGeorgia
Tbilisi International Airport
Central Tbilisi
Approx. 17 km
Typical drive
Around 25–35 min, traffic dependent
Airport collection
Rental desks and airport collection available
Hiring a car in Georgia
Hiring a car at Tbilisi Airport
Tbilisi International Airport can be a convenient place to collect a car if the capital is the starting point for a wider journey through Georgia.
Georgia is a country where having your own transport can change the shape of a trip. Instead of organising each journey around transfers or tours, you can stop at viewpoints, monasteries, towns and villages along the way and decide how long to spend there.
If you are only visiting central Tbilisi, you may have little reason to keep a rental car throughout your stay. But if your plans extend to places such as Mtskheta, Kazbegi, Kakheti, Vardzia or further across the country, hiring a car becomes much more useful.
Georgia road trip
Where can you go from Tbilisi Airport?
Tbilisi works well as the starting point for a much wider journey. The routes can vary from straightforward main roads to mountain journeys where conditions need more careful consideration.
Road trip stop
Svaneti
The mountain region around Mestia and Ushguli is one of Georgia’s most memorable destinations, but it also requires more attention to road conditions and vehicle choice.
Road trip stop
Vardzia
Vardzia can form part of a longer journey through southern Georgia, combining the cave complex with towns, fortresses and mountain scenery along the route.
Also worth considering
Mtskheta
Close enough to Tbilisi to work as an early stop on a road trip, with Jvari Monastery providing views across the old capital and surrounding landscape.
Also worth considering
Kakheti
Georgia’s eastern wine region is another natural direction from Tbilisi, particularly if you want to build several towns and countryside stops into the same journey.
Also worth considering
Akhaltsikhe
A useful stop when travelling towards Vardzia and southern Georgia, with Rabati Castle giving another reason to break up the journey.
Choose for the route
What kind of car do you need in Georgia?
Before choosing the car, check whether the roads on your planned route are paved. That is often more useful than choosing a vehicle simply because the destination is mountainous.
Main paved routes
A normal car may be enough
If your itinerary follows established paved roads between cities and major visitor destinations, there may be little reason to pay more for a larger vehicle.
Mountains and remote areas
Consider more ground clearance
On rougher mountain roads or routes well away from towns, extra ground clearance can be more useful than simply having a larger car.
Unpaved roads
Check the exact route first
If any part of the route is unsealed, check current road conditions and confirm that the rental agreement allows the car to be driven there.
4×4
Only choose it when the route needs it
Four-wheel drive is not automatically necessary for a trip through Georgia. In some cases, higher clearance may matter more than four-wheel drive itself.
Look beyond the headline
What to check before booking
Two rentals at Tbilisi Airport can look similar until you compare the conditions behind the price. For a longer Georgia road trip, mileage, vehicle type, deposit and restrictions on where the car can be driven can matter just as much as the headline cost.
Don't compare rentals on headline price alone.
01
Total price
Compare the overall rental cost rather than simply choosing the first low price you see.
02
Security deposit
Check how much may be blocked on your card and what type of card the rental company requires.
03
Insurance excess
Understand how much you could be liable for if the car is damaged.
04
Mileage
Particularly important if you are planning a longer road trip across Georgia rather than staying around Tbilisi.
05
Fuel policy
Check how much fuel the car should have when you collect it and when you return it.
06
Collection method
Check whether you collect the car at an airport desk, meet a representative or use a shuttle to another location.
Driving in Georgia
What is driving in Georgia like?
The family behind The World As We Found It travel blog travelled around Georgia by car on a three-week family road trip, connecting Tbilisi with Kazbegi, the Black Sea coast, Svaneti, Kutaisi, Akhaltsikhe and Vardzia. Having a car made it possible to link these places while making the journeys between them part of the trip.
Their trip also highlighted why route planning matters. A road that looks like a simple connection on a map can feel very different once it reaches the mountains. Current conditions matter more than the experience of any single past journey, so the planned route should always be checked before setting off.
Journey times can also be longer than the distance suggests. Road surfaces, traffic, livestock, stops and mountain sections can all affect how long a drive takes, particularly away from the main routes.
When you land
Collecting a car at Tbilisi Airport
The cheapest-looking offer is not always the most convenient one. Check how and where the car is actually collected before you book.
Check the collection method
Depending on the supplier, collection may be from an airport desk, by meeting a representative or after a short shuttle journey to another location.
Late-night arrivals
If your flight lands late, check the desk or collection hours and whether an out-of-hours charge applies before choosing the rental.
Give the supplier your flight number
Where the booking allows it, supplying the flight number can help the rental company identify a delayed arrival. It does not replace checking their late-arrival policy.
Check the documents and payment card
Read the supplier’s requirements for the driving licence, identification and payment card before travelling. Card and deposit rules can differ between rental companies.
Choosing your car
Do you need a 4×4 in Georgia?
Don’t assume that every Georgia road trip requires a 4×4. If your itinerary stays on major roads between cities and established destinations, a normal rental car may be entirely appropriate.
The calculation changes when you add remote mountain roads. Routes in regions such as Svaneti can be more demanding, and weather, roadworks and seasonal conditions can change what is sensible to drive.
Stepantsminda and the Georgian Military Highway should not automatically be treated as an off-road journey simply because they are in the Caucasus. The important question is where you plan to leave the main road and what the current conditions are.
Before booking, check the rental company’s rules on unpaved roads and restricted areas as well as the current condition of the route. A larger or four-wheel-drive vehicle is only useful if it is appropriate for where you actually intend to go.
Before choosing a deal
Rental conditions worth checking in Georgia
This matters particularly on a longer road trip. Two cars with similar prices can come with very different conditions once you look beyond the headline figure.
Security deposit
Check how much will be held or charged and which type of card must be presented at collection.
Insurance excess
Check your potential liability and what is excluded from the standard cover.
Tyres, glass and underbody
These areas may be treated differently from general bodywork damage, so read the cover carefully.
Unpaved roads
Check whether driving on unsealed roads is permitted and whether doing so affects the rental agreement or cover.
Mileage allowance
Important if your itinerary crosses large parts of Georgia rather than staying around Tbilisi.
Fuel policy
Check the collection and return fuel requirements rather than comparing the rental price alone.
Additional drivers
If more than one person will drive, check whether they need to be added in advance and whether there is a fee.
Cross-border travel
Do not assume the car can be taken into another country. Check permission, paperwork, insurance and fees with the supplier first.
Before you book
Car rental at Tbilisi Airport FAQs
What is the main airport for Tbilisi?
Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) is the main international airport serving the Georgian capital and is located to the southeast of the city.
Should I collect my car at Tbilisi Airport or in the city?
It depends on your itinerary. Airport collection can make sense if you plan to start your road trip soon after arriving. If you are spending several days in central Tbilisi first, compare the cost and convenience of collecting the car later.
Do I need a 4×4 to drive around Georgia?
Not automatically. Many major routes can be driven in a normal rental car, but road conditions vary considerably and some mountain routes require more thought. Choose the vehicle for your actual itinerary and check the rental company’s restrictions.
Can I drive a rental car to Kazbegi?
Stepantsminda, commonly referred to as Kazbegi, is reached from Tbilisi via the Georgian Military Highway. Check current road and weather conditions before travelling, particularly outside the summer months, and make sure your rental is suitable for your planned route.
Can I take a hire car to Mestia and Ushguli?
Mestia and especially onward travel in Svaneti need more planning than a straightforward city-to-city journey. Conditions can change, so check the current road situation, weather and your rental company’s rules before deciding whether to self-drive.
Should I simply choose the cheapest rental?
Not necessarily. Compare the final price alongside the deposit, excess, mileage, fuel policy, vehicle type and collection arrangements before deciding which offer suits your trip.
Can I collect a rental car late at night at Tbilisi Airport?
It depends on the supplier and the collection arrangement. Check the opening hours, out-of-hours policy and any additional charge before booking, especially if your flight arrives late.
What happens if my flight into Tbilisi is delayed?
Check the supplier’s delayed-arrival policy and provide your flight number where the booking process allows it. Do not assume the desk or representative will wait indefinitely after the scheduled collection time.
Can I use a debit card to hire a car at Tbilisi Airport?
Most car-hire companies require a credit card in the main driver’s name, even where no separate security deposit is taken. A small number may accept debit cards, but the conditions can be more restrictive, so check the exact card requirements before booking.
Can I take a Georgian rental car into Armenia?
Cross-border travel depends on the individual rental company and vehicle. Check whether written permission, extra insurance, additional paperwork or fees are required before booking and before crossing the border.
Is driving in central Tbilisi difficult?
If you are spending several days only in the centre, it may be simpler to collect the rental when you are ready to leave the city. If you do drive in Tbilisi, allow time for traffic, navigation and parking rather than treating it like the start of an open-road journey.
Travel inspiration from
Three weeks in Georgia by road
A family road trip through Georgia linking Tbilisi, Kazbegi, the Black Sea coast, Svaneti, Ushguli, Kutaisi, Borjomi, Akhaltsikhe and Vardzia. The itinerary shows how the route fitted together and where having a car made the journey easier.
Read the full Georgia road-trip itineraryCompare car rental
Search car rental at Tbilisi Airport
Compare the price, vehicle and rental conditions before choosing where to book.
