Author: Гнедько Марина

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.

Georgia has become one of the main transit hubs for importing American vehicles into the CIS region. The reasons are straightforward: relatively favorable customs conditions, direct sea freight through the port of Poti, and a well-developed support network – from auction agents to shipping companies and lawyers. For a buyer in Russia, Kazakhstan, or Belarus, this means one thing: sourcing a Range Rover through Georgia can save you 30–40% compared to local markets or official dealerships.

We do this regularly – including for our own fleet. Most of the Range Rovers you see in our rental lineup made this exact journey. So when we walk you through the process, we’re speaking from firsthand experience.

Where Cars Are Purchased in the US

The main platforms are Copart, IAAI (Insurance Auto Auctions), and Manheim. Copart and IAAI handle vehicles that have been through insurance claims – some with minor damage, others more seriously affected. Manheim is a dealer auction, where you typically find well-maintained, used vehicles with service history.

For our order-based sourcing, we work exclusively with clean-title vehicles. The savings aren’t built on buying damaged cars – they come from the fundamental price gap between the US market and CIS-region pricing, which on Range Rovers runs consistently at $30,000–50,000.

Who This Works For

Individuals and businesses from Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. The purchase is structured through Georgia. What happens next depends on your destination country – each has its own customs rules. For those who want to keep the car in Georgia, it’s even simpler: no additional customs clearance required.

How the Deal Works – Five Steps

Step one is defining your requirements: model, year, trim level, color, and budget. This determines what we’re looking for and at what price point.

Step two is the search. We monitor live auction listings and stay in constant contact. When we spot the right car, we confirm with you before placing a bid.

Step three is the purchase. You transfer funds for the vehicle and auction commission. We handle the export paperwork and arrange transport to the port.

Step four is shipping. Sea freight from the US to Poti takes roughly 2–2.5 months. We manage the full logistics chain – freight, customs clearance, and documentation – end to end.

Step five is handover. Once the car arrives and final payment is confirmed, we transfer ownership and hand over the keys. Onward delivery to your country can be arranged separately.

Real Cost Breakdown

A concrete example: Range Rover Vogue Autobiography Black, 2024, 15,000 miles. Auction price: $80,000. Shipping to Georgia, all-inclusive: $10,000. Our service fee (10% of vehicle price): ~$9,000. Total for the client: approximately $99,000.

The same car on the Georgian market (MyAuto): from $140,000. Savings: around $41,000, or roughly 40%.

What to Keep in Mind in 2026

Since April 2026, importing vehicles older than 6 years has become economically unviable due to changes in customs regulations. Cars under 6 years old remain straightforward. This is worth factoring into your brief – a 2019 Range Rover or older is currently not a strong candidate for this route.

The second thing to note is vehicle history. Before any purchase, we run a full VIN check and, where needed, arrange a physical inspection on the ground in the US. It takes a bit more time upfront but eliminates unpleasant surprises on arrival.

If you’re not yet certain whether a Range Rover is the right car for you, renting one first is a sensible move. We offer exactly that – drive it, decide, then order yours.

Georgia’s car rental market is growing fast. So is the number of companies whose real business isn’t renting cars – it’s the dispute at the end. From the outside, they look like everyone else: a website, photos of vehicles, prices. The difference tends to show up later.

We’ve been in this market long enough to watch clients end up in bad situations – not because they were careless, but because they didn’t know what to look for. Here’s what’s worth checking before any money changes hands.

A physical address

A legitimate company has a specific handover location – an office, a parking lot, an address you can find on a map and actually drive to. If every question about where to pick up the car gets answered with “we’ll sort it out when you call” – that’s not flexible service, that’s no address.

A contract with company details

A rental agreement is signed with a legal entity. It should include the company name, registration number, signature, and stamp. If you’re handed a sheet with no company details, or asked to skip the paperwork entirely – you’ll have no recourse if anything goes wrong.

A reputable company will send you the contract before payment, simply so you can read it.

Willingness to answer uncomfortable questions

Before booking, ask: what does the insurance cover, what’s the excess, what happens in an accident, can you drive on unpaved roads. A legitimate company answers these questions calmly and specifically – because there’s nothing to hide.

If the manager deflects, stays vague, or pushes you to pay quickly – that’s a signal. Urgency tactics (“the car is reserved, we need confirmation right now”) are a classic move.

Reviews: not the rating, but the responses to complaints

A 4.9 rating on its own means very little. Look at how the company handles negative reviews. Does it acknowledge the problem, explain its position, offer a resolution – or does it delete comments, respond aggressively, or say nothing at all? Both tell you something.

Pay attention to the detail in positive reviews. “Great experience, would recommend” says nothing. “Car was ready on time, no questions raised about the condition at drop-off” – that’s a real account from a real person.

Pricing below market

The going rate for a decent rental car in Georgia isn’t a secret. If an offer is noticeably cheaper than everything else, it’s worth understanding why. Sometimes it’s a genuine promotion or a basic car with no extras. Sometimes the gap gets made up on return – through disputed damage, unexpected charges, or a deposit that doesn’t come back.

Cheaper doesn’t mean better value. Especially when the final number is calculated after, not before.

We know that choosing a rental company in an unfamiliar country comes down to trust. That’s why we’re happy to answer any questions before you book – about the contract, insurance, deposit, and return conditions. No pressure, no vague answers.

It comes up constantly. Someone moves to Georgia — from Russia, Israel, Germany, Ukraine, wherever — gets settled, realises they need a car, and hits the same question: buy now or rent for a while? We work with expats every day and see how this plays out in practice. Not in a spreadsheet — in real life.

The conclusion we keep arriving at: for most people, the first year is better spent renting. Here’s why.

The Georgian Used Car Market Is Its Own Thing

Georgia spent years as a transit country for used cars from the US, Japan, and Korea. Low import duties made it a convenient entry point, and that legacy is still very visible in the market today. A large share of what’s listed are “American imports” — cars with a right-hand drive conversion, a Florida or Texas title, and often a rolled-back odometer. Alongside them are decent European and Japanese cars, but finding those requires either local knowledge, money for a proper inspection, or luck.

The main platforms are MyAuto.ge and SS.ge. Plenty of inventory, not a lot of transparency. If you don’t know the local quirks, can’t read Georgian, and don’t have a trusted mechanic, buying something solid on the first try is genuinely hard. This isn’t Germany, where every dealer hands you a service history. Here, you do your own due diligence — and that takes time and money.

Registration is its own topic. Putting a car in a foreigner’s name is possible, but requires a residence permit or local registration. Without one, you’re going through a Georgian individual or legal entity. It’s not complicated, but it takes time that most people don’t have right after moving.

What a Car Purchase Actually Costs in Year One

Say you have $13,000–$15,000 for a decent used car. Beyond the purchase price, here’s what gets added in the first year:

• Insurance (mandatory liability + basic comprehensive, if available) — $400–600
• Two scheduled services — around $400
• Unplanned repairs — a realistic minimum on a used car is $500–1,000
• Depreciation on resale after a year — 10–15% of the purchase price, or $1,300–2,000
• $13,000 sitting in a car instead of working — opportunity cost around $700–900

That’s $3,000–5,000 in costs on top of the car itself, in year one alone. Add time: finding the car, having it inspected, handling paperwork, tracking down a decent workshop when something breaks, and eventually organising the sale at the end of the year.

One of our clients moved from Moscow in 2022 and bought a Toyota Camry for $14,000. The car looked fine — 90,000 km on the clock. Three months in, the gearbox started giving trouble. Another $2,000 in repairs. He’s been with us on a long-term rental ever since and says he wishes he’d started there.

Long-Term Rental: What’s Actually Included

Long-term rental — from a month upward — is a different product from tourist-style daily hire. Different terms, different logic.

With us, a Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata, or BMW 5 Series starts from $600–700 per month. That covers full insurance, scheduled maintenance, tyre changes, and a replacement car if something goes wrong. You pick up the keys and drive. No searching for a workshop, no surprise bills.

A year at $700/month comes to $8,400. A purchase with all the real costs attached runs $16,000–18,000 over the same period. The gap is $7,000–10,000 — and that’s before factoring in the time you spend managing a car you own.

Year One Is Uncertain By Nature

When you’ve just arrived, there’s a lot you don’t know yet:

• Where will you actually be living in six months — Tbilisi, Batumi, or somewhere else entirely?
• How will your work situation develop?
• What kind of car do you actually need — something for the city, or a proper SUV for the mountains?
• Are you staying in Georgia at all?

In our experience, roughly one in three expats who planned to stay long-term changes their plans within the first year — whether that means leaving the country or moving within it. It’s not unusual. That’s just how the first year tends to go.

Selling a car in Georgia quickly and without taking a loss requires time. If you need to leave in a hurry, it becomes a real problem. With a rental, when the contract ends, you hand the car back.

You Won’t Know What Car You Need Until You’ve Been Here a While

Most people arrive thinking they’ll grab something small for the city. Then they discover Kazbegi, Mestia, Tusheti — and realise they actually need a proper SUV. Or the opposite: planned to drive around a lot, got something big, and end up stuck in Tbilisi traffic in the narrow streets of Vera or Saburtalo.

The first few months are spent figuring out how you actually live in this country. Our fleet covers the range — from the Camry and BMW 5 Series to the Range Rover and Mercedes G-Class. Try one, decide it’s not right, switch. That happens, and it’s fine.

When Buying Does Make Sense

There are situations where buying is the right call:

• You’re staying three years or more, have a residence permit, and have stable work or a business here.
• You have a trusted mechanic and a working knowledge of the local market.
• You need a specific model that isn’t available through rental.
• Family, kids in school, a settled life — you’re not going anywhere.

Over a three-year horizon, the numbers can shift in favour of ownership. By that point you’ll also know the market well enough to buy with confidence.

How Long-Term Rental Works With Us

Every car in our fleet has a known service history. All you need is a passport and a driving licence — no Georgian documents required. We deliver anywhere in Tbilisi, to the airport, to Batumi and back. For clients we’ve worked with for a while, we drop the deposit.

Terms are worked out for each person individually: duration, mileage, vehicle class. If you want advice on buying a car — that’s something we can help with too. It’s part of what we do.

The Short Version

In the first year after relocating, renting is almost always the better option — both financially and in terms of the time and energy involved. Buying makes sense when you already understand how you live in the country and know exactly what you’re getting into.

If you want to talk through what makes sense for your situation, get in touch.

Long-term Range Rover rental is the perfect choice for clients who need a premium SUV for a month or more. In this guide, we break down exactly who this service is designed for and what advantages it offers. We’ll walk through the key customer segments and typical use cases, compare models across the most important parameters (power, fuel consumption, comfort, off-road capability, and prestige). We’ll cover the economics of renting: approximate rates (in USD per month and for add-on options), the factors that affect pricing (rental period, mileage, insurance, servicing, seasonality, and demand), and rough calculations showing how long-term rental compares to short-term hire and outright purchase. We’ll explain the logic behind personalized pricing — how length-of-stay discounts work (approximate percentages by month, key threshold periods) — with sample calculations for 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. You’ll also find guidance on crafting a soft commercial offer, lead-generation scripts, calls to action, and qualifying questions for evaluating potential clients. Finally, we cover the key risks and conditions of long-term rental: deposits, penalties, inspections, mileage limits, vehicle return, and insurance. Informative and practical — let’s dive in.

Who Is Long-Term Range Rover Rental Right For?

Long-term rental of a premium SUV makes the most sense for people who value status, comfort, and versatility — but don’t want to be tied down by ownership. The main client profiles include:

Senior executives and entrepreneurs. C-suite leaders and business owners rent Range Rovers for business travel and client-facing appearances. The brand’s commanding image and distinctive design signal authority, while the spacious cabin and powerful engine ensure comfort on any road.

Families and expats. For families — especially those with children — long-term luxury SUV rental is a natural fit during relocations or extended work assignments. The generous boot easily swallows a stroller and luggage, and the advanced all-wheel drive system inspires confidence on any surface.

Adventure travelers and outdoor enthusiasts. If you’re planning extended trips out of the city — to country houses, nature retreats, or remote regions — a Range Rover is the obvious choice. High ground clearance and a powerful engine handle gravel tracks, dirt roads, and off-road terrain with ease, while the onboard electronics maintain comfort even in the roughest conditions.

Events and premium services. Organizers of VIP events, weddings, photo shoots, and film productions regularly rent Range Rovers for extended periods. The luxurious interior and visual impact — particularly on Autobiography or SV trims — look exceptional in promotional content, advertising campaigns, and on the red carpet.

Typical use cases span a wide range: long business trips, regular city and regional meetings, weekend escapes to a country home, family holidays, corporate client hosting, and VIP transfers (with or without a driver).

What to Consider When Choosing a Model

Power and performance For fast highway driving or frequent off-road excursions, go with a Range Rover Autobiography or Sport with a high-output engine — a V8 producing 500+ hp or a V6 with 400+ hp. These deliver strong acceleration and serious towing capability. For predominantly urban use, the Range Rover Velar or Evoque are lighter, more fuel-efficient, and still plenty quick.

Comfort The highest level of comfort comes with top-spec Autobiography trims: premium leather upholstery, massaging seats, advanced infotainment, and near-total cabin silence. The Sport is also supremely comfortable but tuned slightly more dynamically. The Velar offers a cutting-edge interior with touchscreen panels and a smooth, refined ride, while the Evoque is more compact but equally well-appointed.

Fuel consumption The thirstiest model is the Autobiography with its large V8 (15–20 L/100 km in mixed driving). The Range Rover Sport (roughly 12–15 L) and Velar (around 7–10 L) are more moderate. The most economical is the compact Evoque (approximately 6–8 L in mixed conditions). If running costs matter, diesel variants or smaller petrol engines are the way to go.

Off-road capability Every Range Rover comes with all-wheel drive and Terrain Response systems as standard. The Range Rover Autobiography and Sport offer the greatest off-road potential thanks to their ground clearance and engine power. The Velar and Evoque can handle light off-road use (gravel, snow) but are primarily designed for urban and highway driving.

Prestige and image The full-size Autobiography and Sport are symbols of luxury and status — they command attention wherever they go. The Velar and Evoque project a sleeker, more contemporary image that suits the modern urban professional. The right choice depends on the impression you want to make.

The Economics of Renting a Range Rover

Monthly Range Rover rental costs more than a standard crossover, but it’s significantly cheaper than daily rental rates. Approximate monthly prices in Georgia are as follows:

• Range Rover Autobiography: ~$2,700–$3,900/month (top-spec, premium segment)
• Range Rover Sport: ~$3,300/month
• Range Rover Vogue: ~$2,700–$3,300/month

Exact pricing depends on the trim level, vehicle age, and contract terms — the final figure is always agreed individually.

Factors that affect the price:

Rental period. The longer you rent, the lower the effective daily rate. Monthly rentals and above come with a meaningful discount compared to paying day-by-day, and annual agreements are negotiated individually with the most favorable terms.

Mileage. Most companies set a daily mileage cap (typically 150–300 km/day), with excess charged separately (roughly $0.05–$0.10/km). For long-term rentals, we offer unlimited mileage options at no extra cost.

Servicing and maintenance. Our standard rental package includes scheduled maintenance at our own service center and seasonal tire changes. With professionals looking after the vehicle, you never need to worry about repairs.

Seasonality and demand. Prices may be higher during peak periods — the New Year holidays, high tourist season, and major events. Newer models and exclusive trims are priced at a premium. Off-season rental is traditionally more affordable.

Personalized Pricing, Discount Structure, and Sample Calculations

For long-term arrangements, pricing is discussed on an individual basis. The general framework: the first month is billed at the standard rate, with each additional period receiving its own discount coefficient.

Below are sample daily and monthly rates with the effective savings illustrated:

Model	Daily Rate	Monthly Rate	Effective Daily Rate	Discount
Range Rover Vogue (Autobiography)	$200	$3,900 (vs. $6,000)	$130/day	35%
Range Rover Vogue 5.0 Petrol (Supercharged)	$125	$2,700 (vs. $3,750)	$90/day	28%
Range Rover Vogue 4.4 Diesel (Autobiography) Black	$125	$2,700 (vs. $3,750)	$90/day	28%
Range Rover Vogue 4.4 Diesel (Autobiography) Silver	$125	$2,700 (vs. $3,750)	$90/day	28%
Range Rover Sport 3.0 Diesel (Autobiography Sport)	$150	$3,300 (vs. $4,500)	$110/day	26.7%
Range Rover Vogue 5.0 Petrol (Autobiography) White	$150	$3,300 (vs. $4,500)	$110/day	26.7%
Range Rover Sport SVR 5.0	$150	$3,300 (vs. $4,500)	$110/day	26.7%
Range Rover Velar 2.0 Diesel	$150	$3,300 (vs. $4,500)	$110/day	26.7%
Range Rover Defender 110 2.0 Diesel	$190	$4,200 (vs. $5,700)	$140/day	26.3%
Range Rover Discovery 3.0 Diesel	$140	$3,000 (vs. $4,200)	$100/day	28.6%

The comparison between short-term and monthly rates makes the math clear: long-term rental brings the effective daily cost down by roughly a third — making it nearly twice as cost-effective as paying by the day.

The takeaway is simple: the longer you rent, the lower your average daily rate and the greater your discount. We always recommend asking your manager about “monthly pricing” or a “guaranteed long-term discount” to get the most out of your rental.

Long-term Range Rover rental is an all-in-one solution: a premium vehicle on subscription, with flexible terms that reduce your costs at every stage. We provide detailed quotes, straightforward conditions, and support throughout your entire rental period. Get in touch or leave a request today — we’ll put together a tailored offer built around your needs.

Our insider’s view — after thousands of deals and hundreds of conversations under the hood

Over the years of working in the car rental business in Georgia, we have seen a lot. We have all kinds of customers — tourists, locals, businesspeople, newlyweds who need a stylish ride to their mountain wedding. And everyone has their own idea of the perfect car. But honestly? When it comes to choosing a car, Georgians are people with character. And that character is very clear if you know what you’re looking for.

Today, we want to share what we see with our own eyes every day. Not statistics from ministries, not marketing reports — the real-life experience of a company that works with cars and people.

An SUV is not a whim, it is a necessity

Let’s start with the basics. Georgia is a country where the asphalt ends exactly where the most interesting part begins. Kazbegi, Tusheti, Svaneti, Racha — if you want to see the real Georgia, you need a proper four-wheel drive. And Georgians understand this on a genetic level.

The Toyota Land Cruiser is almost a cultural phenomenon here. Seriously. We’ve noticed that when a local customer rents a car for a long trip — say, from Tbilisi to Mestia or to the high mountain pastures — the first question is almost always the same: “Do you have a 200?” They mean the Land Cruiser 200. This is a car with a reputation, and here it is known and respected. Reliability, off-road capability, ease of maintenance — in conditions where the nearest service station may be 80 kilometers away along a mountain serpentine road, these are not trivial matters.

The Mitsubishi Pajero also enjoys enduring popularity, especially among older drivers. It is a proven, straightforward vehicle, a “workhorse” in the best sense of the word. We have heard many times from customers: “I grew up with one of these, I know every bolt.” That is worth a lot.

Among the more modern options, the Toyota RAV4 and Mitsubishi Outlander are rapidly gaining popularity. They are the choice of city dwellers who want to be able to get off the asphalt. They are comfortable, have normal ground clearance, and fuel consumption is not excessive. Everything is fair.

Tbilisi is a different story

The logic changes in the city. Tbilisi is traffic jams, narrow streets in the Old Town, parking spaces where you literally have to “fit in,” and endless hills. The priorities are different here.

The Toyota Prius has become something of a symbol of the profession for Tbilisi taxi drivers, but ordinary drivers have also grown fond of it. Fuel savings in city driving are real, and people count their money. At the same time, the car is reliable, spare parts are available, and there are plenty of service centers. It’s the ideal formula for everyday use.

The Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage are very popular cars in Tbilisi and Batumi. The Korean auto industry has made a very confident entry here: the combination of price, quality, and service availability does the trick. We see this: when people want something “decent, but without unnecessary frills,” they often choose Korean cars.

I would like to mention the Chevrolet Captiva separately — a car that has found a second life in Georgia. It is valued here for its size, simplicity, and affordability. Families with children, trips to the sea, loading up luggage — the Captiva handles it all without question. It’s not the most modern design, but it’s practical to a fault.

Germans? Yes, but with nuances

BMW, Mercedes, Audi — they are loved in Georgia. Especially BMW. This is not a stereotype — it is what we see in the flow of cars every day. Here, a BMW is perceived as a marker of success, and this works for both young people and established businessmen.

But there is a nuance that everyone who really knows the market understands: maintaining a German car in Georgia costs a lot of money. Spare parts are more expensive, there are fewer specialists, and non-original parts sometimes come as a surprise. That’s why smart people buy German cars for the city and short trips — and they buy well-maintained ones.

From our experience, customers who rent Mercedes E-Class or BMW 5 Series cars are usually business people who have come for negotiations or those who want to make an impression. And that’s perfectly normal. A car is also a form of communication.

Lada? Don’t laugh.

It may sound surprising, but in the regions — especially in mountain villages — old Nivas are still everywhere. And not because people can’t afford anything better. It’s because in conditions of real off-roading, the lack of normal roads, and the need to repair the car yourself with whatever means are at hand, the Niva works. You don’t feel sorry for it. You understand it. It has no electronics that can be damaged by dust or water.

We treat it with respect. Choosing the right tool for the job is what real motoring is all about.

What’s Happening Right Now

The Georgian market is changing fast. Over the past few years, we’ve noticed some clear trends:

The rise of electric vehicles. Especially in Tbilisi. Teslas are no longer a rare sight — people are importing them, driving them, talking about them. Charging infrastructure is growing, though unevenly. Young, tech-savvy, urban — that’s your typical EV owner in Georgia today.

Japanese used cars from direct imports. A massive slice of the market. Cars come in from Japan — both right-hand and left-hand drive — with honest mileage and solid condition. Toyota Aqua, Honda Fit, Nissan Note — you see them everywhere in city traffic. Georgians know how to pick a car with a good history.

The SUV obsession isn’t going anywhere. Crossovers and off-roaders keep growing their share of the market. And it’s not just about the roads — it’s about status, comfort, and the ability to say “I can afford this.” The market responds: more models, more options, and Chinese manufacturers are moving in more aggressively.

Chinese Cars — A Story of Their Own

Chery, Haval, Geely, BYD — none of these are exotic anymore. We’ve watched attitudes shift in real time. Three or four years ago, most clients raised an eyebrow at Chinese brands. Now? Not so much. The specs are solid, the looks are respectable, and the price is hard to argue with.

The one question we always hear is: “But what about servicing?” And it’s the right question. The service infrastructure for Chinese brands in Georgia is still being built out, but the direction is good. Give it a couple of years and this will be a fully established, widely accepted segment of the market.

What Do All These Preferences Have in Common?

If you had to distill it down to a formula — the Georgian driver respects:

Reliability. The car needs to work. No breaking down in the mountains, no letting you down on a long drive.

Practicality. Big families, lots of luggage, varied terrain — all of that gets factored in.

Appearance. Georgia is a country with a strong culture of hospitality and personal presentation. Looking the part matters.

Serviceability. No surprise here — people tend to stick with brands their local mechanic actually knows.

And honestly? That’s a pretty smart approach. Not chasing trends for the sake of it, not showing off for its own sake — real criteria for real life.

Our Take

After years of working with clients every day, we’re convinced: the cars people choose in Georgia reflect the way people actually live here. Richly, fully — somewhere between the mountains and the sea, between city and countryside, between tradition and the modern world.

That’s exactly why our fleet covers all of it — dependable 4x4s for mountain routes, comfortable sedans for business trips, and practical city cars for everyday use. We understand what different people need, because we’ve met those people, heard their stories, and helped them find the right car for the right moment.

If you’re planning a trip through Georgia and want more than just a car — you want the right vehicle for your route and your goals — we’d love to help.

CabrioGE — car rental in Georgia. Tbilisi, Batumi, airport.