Driving in Georgia: Complete Guide for Tourists 2026 Do You Need a License to Drive in Georgia? Mandatory Insurance for Tourists (2026) Speed Limits and Traffic Rules Speed Cameras and Traffic Fines Road Conditions in 2026 Where Do You Need a 4x4? NOT Needed (Sedan) RECOMMENDED (SUV) MANDATORY (True 4x4) Winter Driving Rules Cross-Border Driving 🇹🇷 Turkey (Sarpi) 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan ⚠️ Abkhazia / South Ossetia Fuel, Parking, and Practical Tips Driving in Georgia FAQ Driving in Georgia: Complete Guide for Tourists 2026 Welcome to the ultimate guide to driving in Georgia. Whether you are planning a road trip from the Black Sea to the high Caucasus or picking up a car from Car Rental Batumi or at Batumi Airport, navigating the Republic of Georgia by car gives you unmatched flexibility. The driving culture, terrain, and legal framework are distinct, so knowing the current renting a car in Georgia rules is essential. This 2026 guide covers licensing, the new mandatory health insurance law, traffic enforcement, and updated mountain-road realities. Table of Contents Do You Need a License to Drive in Georgia? Understanding licensing rules is the first step to driving legally in the Republic of Georgia under Georgian law. A foreign license is valid for up to one year from your date of entry, and re-entry resets that one-year period. Your document format determines whether extra paperwork is required. Latin-script licenses: Licenses printed in Latin script (EU, UK, Australia, Canada) are generally accepted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and police without translation. UK licenses remain valid in line with current FCDO guidance. International Driving Permit (IDP): An international driving permit Georgia requirement applies if your license is in non-Latin script. U.S. travelers are also commonly asked for an IDP at corporate rental counters, especially at Batumi International Airport (BUS), even when the license text is Latin. The legal driving age is 18, but most rental suppliers require drivers to be at least 21, sometimes 23+ for larger engines. Keep your physical license, passport, vehicle registration, and rental contract with you at all times. Mandatory Insurance for Tourists (2026) The biggest legal change for visitors is the Georgia car rental insurance and health-insurance mandate. Since January 1, 2026, under the Law on Tourism (Regulation No. 602), foreign nationals entering Georgia must carry valid health and accident insurance. This is separate from rental-car products such as collision damage waiver (CDW) or super CDW (SCDW), and separate from any vehicle third-party liability (TPL) limits. What matters in practice: Minimum cover: At least 30,000 Georgian Lari (GEL) (about €10,000). Required benefits: Emergency treatment, hospitalization, medical evacuation, and repatriation. Must cover your full stay, with policy text available in English or Georgian. Enforcement is active at airline check-in (including routes to BUS) and border control. Non-compliance can trigger an administrative fine of 300 GEL, refusal of entry, or deportation procedures. If you land late at Batumi International Airport (BUS), do not rely on airport purchase options; buy the policy online before departure. Limited diplomatic exemption categories apply. Speed Limits and Traffic Rules Knowing Georgia speed limits is essential because enforcement is strict. Georgia applies a practical zero tolerance policy for drunk driving, with a legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit of (0.30 mg/ml). DUI penalties include a 700 GEL fine, and severe cases can include license suspension and vehicle impoundment. Traffic moves on the right. Vehicles already inside a roundabout have priority, and right turn on red is illegal unless a green arrow specifically allows it. Handheld phone use is banned (hands-free is allowed), seatbelts are mandatory for all occupants, children under 12 must sit in the rear, children under 7 need a child seat/booster, and children under 4 require a dedicated age-appropriate seat. Speed Cameras and Traffic Fines The national speed camera network is dense, especially on the E60 East-West Highway, in city grids, and at highway-to-village transition points. The Ministry of Internal Affairs uses section control over 1,269 km, calculating average speed between points. Fines are digitally logged at videos.police.ge.