Tbilisi is where most Georgia road trips begin. You land, you clear arrivals, and within an hour you want to be moving — toward Kazbegi, toward Kakheti, toward the Black Sea. The car rental decision you make in the first hour sets the tone for everything that follows.
This guide covers how to rent a car in Tbilisi without overpaying, without a deposit block on your card, and without standing in a queue at an airport desk while the rest of your trip waits.
There are three main options for renting a car in Tbilisi: international brands at the airport, OTA platforms booked in advance, and direct booking with a local operator.
Hertz, Sixt, Europcar, Avis, and Budget all operate desks at Tbilisi International Airport. They are convenient in the sense that the desk is there when you land. Beyond that, the advantages are limited.
International brands in Georgia set the minimum driver age at 23 to 25, charge daily surcharges for younger drivers, require a security deposit of €200 to €500 blocked on your credit card, and price their vehicles at rates that reflect the cost of running an international brand operation rather than the actual market rate in Georgia. Queue times at the desks in peak season run 30 to 45 minutes.
OTA platforms aggregate inventory from multiple suppliers and present it in a single interface. The listed price looks competitive. The reality is that the platform adds 15 to 25% commission on top of the base rental price, deposits are required, surcharges are often not shown until checkout, and support is a call centre rather than a person who knows Georgia's roads.
This is the option that most experienced Georgia travellers use once they have done the trip once. A local company books direct, no commission layer, no deposit, and — if the company is based in Kutaisi rather than Tbilisi — lower operating costs that translate to a lower daily rate.
StarCar is based in Kutaisi with delivery to all three major airports. Booking direct via starcar.ge or WhatsApp gives you the base rate with no platform markup.
Pickup at Tbilisi airport is arranged in advance — at least 24 hours before your arrival.
Provide your flight number and estimated arrival time when booking. The operator tracks your flight. When you clear arrivals, your operator is waiting at the exit beyond the neutral zone, holding an A4 board with the StarCar logo.
Contract signing takes around 10 minutes on the spot. The car is at or near the airport. You leave without queuing.
For last-minute requests — contact via WhatsApp on arrival. Delivery to Tbilisi airport is possible but takes longer than Kutaisi given the distance from the office. In peak season, advance booking is strongly recommended to guarantee your vehicle.
The honest answer is that price depends on the vehicle, the season, and how you book.
Booking direct with a local operator in low or mid season, a sedan starts from around €20 to €25 per day. A crossover from €30 to €38 per day. An SUV from €45 to €55 per day. These are direct rates with no platform commission and no deposit requirement.
StarCar applies a 15% discount in spring and autumn and 20% in winter relative to peak summer rates. The minimum rental period is 3 days.
The comparison with OTA or international brand pricing is not straightforward because the advertised daily rate never tells the full story. Add the deposit block, any surcharges, and the platform fee, and the gap between a direct local booking and an OTA booking becomes significant — typically 20 to 35% higher total cost.
The car you need depends on your route, not on a general preference for a bigger vehicle.
For Tbilisi city driving and day trips to Mtskheta, Gori, or Kakheti, a sedan or hatchback is the right choice. It is easier to park, cheaper to run, and handles every paved road in Georgia without difficulty. There is no advantage to renting an SUV for a Tbilisi city trip.
The road to Kazbegi is paved throughout and well-maintained. A sedan handles it in good weather. In winter, a crossover with winter tyres is recommended. A full SUV is not necessary for Kazbegi unless you are combining with mountain tracks above the town.
Paved roads throughout the standard circuit. A sedan or crossover covers Telavi, Sighnaghi, Alaverdi, and Tsinandali without any difficulty. Upgrade to a crossover if you plan to visit smaller wineries on gravel tracks.
The E60 highway is excellent. Any vehicle works. For the scenic route via Goderdzi Pass, a crossover is the minimum. For Svaneti beyond Kutaisi, a crossover for Mestia and an SUV for Ushguli.
A sedan or crossover covers the standard Georgia–Armenia route via Sadakhlo without difficulty. Request the cross-border permit at least one week in advance.
Browse the full fleet at starcar.ge/cars.
The drive from Tbilisi International Airport to the old town takes 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic. The airport is southeast of the city on the E60 approach road. Google Maps navigates it accurately.
Avoid the morning rush hour (8 to 9:30am) and evening rush (6 to 8pm) if possible. Traffic on the main approach roads to the city centre adds 20 to 40 minutes at peak times.
Paid parking zones operate in the city centre. The Tbilisi Parking app handles payment — download it before arriving. Blue zone parking (central areas) costs around 1 GEL per hour. White zone (slightly further out) is free.
For the old town specifically, parking is limited and the streets are narrow. Consider parking on the edge of the old town near Rike Park and walking in. The distances are short and the streets are not designed for driving.
Google Maps is accurate and updated for Georgian road conditions. Download offline maps before heading into mountain areas where data becomes unreliable. Waze also works well in Tbilisi city traffic.
Most travellers use Tbilisi as a starting point rather than a base — picking up the car and leaving the city within the first day or two. This makes sense for a road trip. Tbilisi itself is best explored on foot, and the car becomes most useful once you leave.
If you are spending multiple days in Tbilisi before departing, consider whether you need the car in the city at all. Pickup can be arranged for the day you plan to leave — this avoids city parking costs and reduces the number of rental days.
Tbilisi is well connected by metro, bus, and taxi for getting around the city. The car is for leaving it.
| Destination | Distance | Drive Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mtskheta | 20 km | 30 min |
| Gori | 80 km | 1 hour |
| Kazbegi | 150 km | 2.5 hours |
| Telavi (Kakheti) | 120 km | 1.5–2 hours |
| Borjomi | 150 km | 2 hours |
| Kutaisi | 220 km | 2.5 hours |
| Batumi | 300 km | 4 hours |
| Mestia | 430 km | 5.5–6 hours |
| Armenia border (Sadakhlo) | 80 km | 1 hour |
| StarCar (Direct) | International Brand (Tbilisi Airport) | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum driver age | 20 years | 23–25 years |
| Young driver surcharge | None | €10–15 per day |
| Security deposit | None | €200–500 blocked on card |
| Mileage | Unlimited | Often capped |
| Pickup process | Meet and greet | Desk queue, 30–45 min peak |
| Support | WhatsApp, 24/7 | Call centre |
| One-way fee | No fee | Often applies |
| Base daily rate | Lower (no commission) | Higher (brand premium) |
What is the cheapest way to rent a car in Tbilisi?
Book direct with a local operator. Cut the OTA commission, avoid the deposit block, and compare base rates without platform markup. For most travellers, direct booking with a Kutaisi-based company delivering to Tbilisi airport is the most cost-effective option.
Do I need a credit card to rent a car in Tbilisi?
With international brands and OTA bookings, yes — they require a credit card to block the deposit. StarCar does not block a deposit. Payment is in cash at pickup (EUR, USD, or GEL) or by card at the office with a 2% processing fee.
Can I rent a car in Tbilisi and drop it off in Batumi or Kutaisi?
Yes — one-way rentals between Tbilisi, Kutaisi, and Batumi are available with no drop-off fee. Confirm the drop-off location when booking.
What is the minimum age to rent a car in Tbilisi?
StarCar accepts drivers aged 20 and over with no surcharge. Most international brands require drivers to be 23 to 25.
How early should I book a car rental in Tbilisi?
At least 24 hours in advance for airport pickup. In peak season (July–August) and around Georgian public holidays, book further ahead — popular vehicle categories fill up.
No queue at arrivals. No deposit block. No surcharge for drivers aged 20 to 22.
Book direct at starcar.ge or message on WhatsApp 24/7. Full fleet at starcar.ge/cars. One-way rentals available to Kutaisi and Batumi with no drop-off fee.
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