4 min
Georgia produces no oil and relies entirely on imports. That feeds directly into prices, which track the global market and have risen noticeably over the past few years. In early 2026, fuel costs more here than in Russia but less than in most of Europe. Knowing what’s available, where to fill up, and what to expect in mountain regions is worth sorting out before you get behind the wheel.
What fuel types are available
Euro Regular (92/93 octane) – the base grade, Euro-5 standard. Suitable for most cars without high octane requirements. Price in March 2026: 3.04–3.27 GEL per litre depending on the network.
Premium (95 octane) – the most common choice for modern vehicles, and the grade most rental companies recommend. Price: 3.20–3.43 GEL per litre.
Super (98 octane) – for high-performance engines. Available at all major networks, though demand is lower. Price: 3.50–3.80 GEL per litre.
Diesel – Euro-5 standard, with an upgraded Nano Diesel variant at some networks. In March 2026 diesel rose more sharply than petrol: 3.20–3.65 GEL per litre depending on grade and network.
CNG (compressed natural gas) – popular with local drivers, especially taxi operators. Roughly half the price of petrol, which explains the widespread use of gas-converted vehicles in Georgia. CNG stations are available in most cities and along main roads, but are essentially absent in mountain regions – Tusheti, Svaneti, Racha, and the Georgian Military Highway. Do not count on gas in these areas.
LPG (liquefied propane-butane) – significantly rarer than CNG. Infrastructure is underdeveloped and finding a station when you need one is unreliable. Not a practical fuel choice for tourist driving.
Current prices by network – March 2026
Rompetrol: Efix Super – 3.65 GEL, Euro Premium – 3.25 GEL, Euro Regular – 3.12 GEL, Euro Diesel – 3.25–3.30 GEL.
Lukoil: Euro Super – 3.67 GEL, Premium Avangard – 3.30 GEL, Euro Regular – 3.17 GEL, Euro Diesel – 3.52 GEL.
Socar: Nano Super – 3.67 GEL, Nano Premium – 3.30 GEL, Nano Euro Regular – 3.14 GEL, Euro 5 Diesel – 3.40 GEL.
Exchange rate reference: approximately 2.70 GEL to the dollar as of April 2026. A litre of Premium works out to around $1.20–1.25. Since the start of March 2026, petrol has risen by 15–36 tetri and diesel by 37–54 tetri across networks, driven by higher global oil prices.
Major station networks
Wissol – one of the largest local networks, with wide coverage including smaller towns. Competitive pricing, consistent quality.
Socar – Azerbaijani state company, over 100 stations across the country including 37 in Tbilisi. Offers petrol, diesel, and CNG. Popular with gas-converted vehicle owners.
Rompetrol – Romanian company, 81 stations in Georgia. Its Efix-branded fuel is marketed as a premium Euro-5 product. Well represented on transit routes.
Lukoil – one of the longest-established networks in the country. Wide geographic coverage, loyalty card programme available.
Gulf – international network, positioned primarily on key highways and in major cities. Modern equipment, reliable quality.
Regional differences
Tbilisi – full choice of networks, all fuel types, card payment everywhere. Standard market pricing.
Batumi and Kutaisi – major cities with good coverage. Prices are essentially the same as Tbilisi.
Main highways (Tbilisi–Batumi, Tbilisi–Kazbegi, Tbilisi–Kutaisi) – stations appear regularly, predominantly branded networks on tourist routes.
Kakheti, Borjomi, Racha – branded stations exist but are less frequent. Fill up in the nearest city before heading into less populated areas.
Mountain regions – Kazbegi, Svaneti, Tusheti – a fundamentally different situation. Petrol is available, but the choice of stations is minimal and unbranded pumps are more common. In Tusheti, sort out fuel before entering the mountains. The road in is difficult, and opportunities to refuel along the way are essentially nonexistent.
Practical notes for rental drivers
Attendant service. Georgian stations do not follow a self-service model. A station attendant fills the car for you. Tell them the fuel type and the amount, or ask for a full tank.
Payment. Visa and Mastercard are accepted at major networks. Russian bank cards are generally not accepted – you will need cash in GEL or a card from a non-Russian bank. Small and unbranded stations may not accept cards at all.
Fuel quality. At unfamiliar stations, take your cue from taxi drivers and truck drivers – they fill up where the fuel is good. Quality at unbranded stations is inconsistent, particularly for diesel.
American-spec vehicles. A significant portion of the Georgian fleet consists of US-import cars with odometers in miles and often large-displacement engines. If you are renting one of these, confirm the recommended fuel type with the company before filling up.
Full tank on return. Most rental companies operate on a full-to-full basis: you receive the car with a full tank and return it the same way. Fill up at a branded station before drop-off – it will cost less than paying the company’s per-litre rate.
Budgeting for fuel
A working estimate: at 10 litres per 100 km and a Premium price of around 3.30 GEL, every 100 km costs roughly 33 GEL, or about $12. The Tbilisi–Kazbegi–Tbilisi loop (approximately 300 km) comes to around $36 in fuel. Tbilisi to Batumi (approximately 380 km) is around $46. For SUVs with a 12–14 litre per 100 km consumption, add 20–40% to those figures.
