Car Hire from Localrent in Georgia: A Personal Experience

Author

John Bennett

Our reader and travel enthusiast from Manchester, UK. He has traveled to many places, including the Balkans and the Caucasus, and especially loves Georgia for its beautiful nature and friendly people. John often travels with his child, enjoying exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations and sharing easy tips with others.

I had long dreamed of seeing Georgia, and this summer I decided to make that dream come true—my wife, our six-year-old daughter, and I set off on a week-long trip around the country.

With experience in independently organizing trips to Cyprus, Montenegro, Oman, the UAE, France, and Spain, I know that you can’t do without a car. First, it’s convenient; you can always get to the most remote attractions and see things that you wouldn’t see on an organized tour. Second, Georgia is an incredibly beautiful mountainous region, but unfortunately, public transport there is very poorly organized. It would definitely be inconvenient for a family with a child to stand at the bus stop waiting for a bus and then spend hours in it to get to the desired landmark.

Therefore, without even thinking about the price, we started looking for a car immediately after buying our plane tickets. The main idea was to see as much as possible without depending on schedules and crowds of tourists. In the end, renting a car in Tbilisi was one of the best decisions of this trip.

Advantages of Renting a Car in Georgia

• Flexibility. We stopped wherever we wanted: at a viewpoint or at a roadside café.
• Family comfort. With a child, this is a must-have. No queues, no crowds.
• Price. It cost about $500 for the whole trip, including full insurance and a child seat.

Where I Booked and How I Chose a Car

I booked the car in advance through one of the very popular services, Localrent. Why Localrent? I was attracted by the fact that it is an aggregator service, so the website features cars from various small local rental companies based in different cities. You can only book a car on the website. All cars from Localrent are in good condition and undergo regular maintenance.

I also liked the fact that the company promised me that I would get the exact car I booked. This sets them apart from their competitors. Many times, I booked one car and received another brand and model. But it is a well-known fact that if a rental company is unable to provide a customer with the reserved car due to a breakdown or other force majeure circumstances, it is obliged to provide another car of the same class or higher class on the same terms and at the same price.

For my trip to Georgia, I was looking for a car with air conditioning, an automatic transmission, a child seat, and a GPS. It was also important to have full insurance — we were traveling with a child, so I wanted peace of mind. I chose a 2018 Hyundai Tucson — a large, reliable car. The car seat was delivered immediately, clean and in good condition. I also chose full car insurance for my peace of mind.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any navigation systems available for rent among the options. I was surprised to find a whole section on the website explaining why they don’t offer navigation systems for rent. It turns out that it’s simple — they are now outdated technology. Localrent suggests using offline Google Maps and provides detailed instructions on how to do so.

What about the price? Renting such a car from Localrent in Georgia for a week cost me almost $370. The price for a car of this class and additional options is more than reasonable, so I booked it right away without thinking twice.

Another important thing to consider when booking is to look at the additional labels on the car card. During my search, I paid attention to the following signs: Instant booking, Unlimited mileage, No deposit. And in the end, I found a car with exactly these options. I must say, the search on the website is incredibly convenient!

Receiving a Car at the Tbilisi Airport

We flew into Tbilisi in the evening. A company rep met us right at the airport—with a sign, everything was clear. The paperwork took about 15 minutes: I showed my passport, driver’s license, signed the contract, and didn’t need to leave a deposit (in my case).

The rental company employee explained everything: where the spare tire was, how the onboard computer worked, and how to contact support in case of an accident. He also gave advice on driving on mountain serpentine roads and told us about his favorite places with the most delicious khachapuri and khinkali.

Route and Roads

In seven days, we covered just over 1,100 km: from Tbilisi through Gori, then to Borjomi, Kutaisi, and Batumi. The roads vary: the highways are fine, but in the mountains they are narrow, winding, and sometimes potholed. The main thing is to be careful and not speed. Local drivers are a bit aggressive and often don’t use their turn signals, but if you don’t push ahead and keep your distance, everything is fine.

On the first day, we left Tbilisi for Gori. Our first stop was Mtskheta, the ancient capital, where we walked around the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and climbed up to Jvari. It is a holy place with fantastic views — the confluence of two rivers looks like it was created especially for postcards. Then we visited the cave city of Uplistsikhe, where our child especially enjoyed climbing through the tunnels, and we enjoyed listening to the guide’s stories about the times when these caves were bustling with life. By evening, we reached Gori, where we spent the night. We spent about two and a half hours driving, but with stops, the time flew by unnoticed.

From Gori, we went to Borjomi, a green, cozy town surrounded by pine trees. In the park at the entrance, we were greeted by squirrels, and our daughter happily fed them from her hands. We tried mineral water straight from the source — the taste is certainly a bit weird, but the effect is refreshing.

The third day turned out to be a little more intense in terms of mileage, but still comfortable. The road from Borjomi to Kutaisi passes through the Rikoti Pass — winding roads, but the asphalt is smooth. The views are one better than the other, especially if you make short stops at the observation points. Once in Kutaisi, we went to the Sataplia caves, where, in addition to underground stalactites, there is a glass observation deck over the abyss and traces of real dinosaurs. In some places, it was even a little scary, but very interesting, especially for my daughter.

On the fourth day, we headed to the sea. On the way, we stopped in Ureki, where there is black magnetic sand. The season was just beginning, there were almost no people, and we lay on the beach for a while. After several days of traveling, we decided to take a break. We spent the entire fifth day in Batumi.

We didn’t want to make a hasty return to Tbilisi, so we split the journey over two days and went back to Kutaisi. We drove slowly, with stops, and bought fruits at the market in Samtredia. In the evening, we managed to pop into Prometheus Cave. By the end of the week, we were feeling tired from driving around Georgia in a rental car, but the route was still easy — the road was smooth and the traffic was calm.

The last day was the longest in terms of driving time — about five hours on the road. We left early so we wouldn’t have to rush and would have time to return the car in Tbilisi before evening. The car worked perfectly, no problems. We returned it to the rental office at Tbilisi Airport without any issues and flew back home.

I must say this route turned out to be ideal for traveling with a child. I’d recommend planning the route in advance and taking into account rental restrictions: we deliberately excluded mountain passes, prohibited areas, and remote regions where insurance does not apply.

The rented crossover gave us freedom and safety. The internet and navigation worked reliably, the car seat for our daughter was clean and comfortable, and the insurance provided full coverage. All this allowed us to relax and simply enjoy Georgia. And believe me, it is worth seeing it from the road.

Mobile Internet in Georgia

If you are traveling by car during your vacation in another country, don’t forget about mobile internet. For example, you can connect: a SIM card from a local mobile operator, a virtual eSIM through an app, such as UNISIM, Airalo, Yesim, Drimsim, or roaming with your home SIM card.

Each option has its pros and cons. In my case, I prefer UNISIM. But don’t forget to check if your phone supports eSIM before buying. Overall, they offer the most affordable mobile internet among eSIM operators.

Parking and Gas Stations in Georgia

Parking and gas stations are things you don’t immediately think about, but you encounter them on the very first day of your trip. Especially if you are going to the city center, be it Tbilisi, Batumi, or Kutaisi. Finding a free parking space there is a real lottery. So I realized that it’s better to figure out in advance where you’re going to leave your car and plan your route not to the attraction, but directly to the nearest parking lot. This will save you a lot of stress and time.

This is what I did: I found the right place on the map, and then simply entered the word “Parking” in the search bar. I often managed to find several parking lots nearby. If I wanted to save money and find a free spot, I switched to satellite mode and looked at the surroundings — a bunch of cars in courtyards usually means that you can park there for free. The main thing is not to block anyone’s passage. When I finally managed to park the car, I immediately saved the location on Google Maps — with children in tow, you don’t want to have to search for where you left your car.

Gas stations are simpler, but they also have their own nuances. I tried to fill up only at large chain gas stations, such as Gulf, Wissol, and Socar. They usually have high-quality fuel and polite staff. I once stopped at a forgotten little station in the middle of nowhere — and shortly after, the car started misfiring. Ever since, I’ve been more careful about where I refuel.

If there was no familiar gas station nearby, I resorted to a tried and tested method: I drove to where taxis and trucks were lined up. If you see a queue of truckers, you can trust it. Gasoline is usually inexpensive there, and it is not diluted. In general, as with any trip, a little observation will ensure that everything goes smoothly.

Places to Avoid When Driving a Rental Car in Georgia

There are places in Georgia where you should definitely not go with a rental car, even if you have a powerful four-wheel drive SUV. When you pick up your car, the manager will definitely tell you about this, especially if you are renting through Localrent or similar services: they know the local specifics and do not hide which destinations are strictly prohibited.

For example, trips to Abkhazia and South Ossetia are immediately ruled out. These territories are not controlled by the official authorities of Georgia, and your insurance simply does not apply there. If something happens, neither the company nor the insurance company will be able to help you. So it’s better not to even try.

There are also internal routes that seem passable on the map, but in reality are a real challenge. One such route is from Mestia to Ushguli and on to Lentekhi. This road passes through mountainous terrain with dangerous hairpin bends, rocky cliffs, and sections that are difficult to navigate even for locals in specially equipped off-road vehicles. Rental cars are strictly prohibited there, and for good reason.

Another difficult route is Akhaltsikhe–Batumi via the Goderdzi Pass. In winter, it may be closed altogether, and in the off-season, it is covered with mud and potholes, where it is easy to damage your suspension. The same applies to the Sairme–Abastumani road — picturesque, of course, but the road surface is such that even trucks turn back.

In addition, there are a number of regions where entry by rental car is restricted: Truso, Juta, Tusheti, Omalo, Shatili, and Vashlovani. These are either high-altitude areas or protected areas that require special training and equipment. Such routes are a topic for a separate discussion, and if you are interested, you can read more about them in specialized articles or ask the manager when renting. In any case, it is better to know in advance where you can go and where you should not venture. 

Georgian Driving Style

It’s unusual, but you get used to it quickly. Road safety in Georgia is a huge problem. Many drivers ignore speed limits.

You definitely need to keep yourself under control when driving in Georgia. Despite this, driving yourself will give you a greater sense of security.

Rules and Restrictions for Drivers

Traffic rules in Georgia are fairly simple, but it is not worth ignoring them — the country actively monitors speed limits using cameras. In populated areas, whether it is a large city or a small mountain village, the maximum speed limit is 60 km/h. Even if the road seems empty and straight, it is important to slow down as soon as you enter a settlement — this is indicated by a sign with the name of the settlement on a white background.

Outside cities, on regular country roads, the speed limit increases to 90 km/h. Here you can drive faster, but it is worth remembering that although the roads in Georgia are paved, they can be unexpectedly narrow, with potholes or without shoulders. In the mountains, you often have to reduce your speed to 40–50 km/h regardless of the speed limit — safety is more important.

On highways, such as the road between Tbilisi and Rustavi or the section of the highway towards Batumi, the speed can reach 110 km/h. These roads are well equipped and clearly marked, but even there, you should drive carefully: Georgian drivers often maneuver sharply, and the driving culture may differ from that in Europe or the USA.

It is worth noting that speeding is recorded automatically. Fines are issued instantly, and if you rent a car, the company may deduct the amount from your deposit or charge it to your card. So it’s better not to tempt fate.

Summing Up Our Trip around Georgia with Localrent

Renting a car in Georgia is a great way to see the real country. We stopped in small villages, drank homemade wine with the locals, swam in mountain rivers, and breathed fresh air. Without a car, we definitely wouldn’t have had time to do half of it.

If you are traveling with your family and value freedom, go ahead and rent a car. The main thing is to take out insurance, install an eSIM, download offline maps (communication is often lost in the mountains), and, if you have a child, be sure to get a child seat.

Georgia is a country that needs to be felt. And in a car, this feeling becomes especially vivid.

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