Car rental in Batumi: prices, deposit, documents
Updated 5 November 2026
A small rental car in Batumi costs from about 47 ₾ ($18) a day on local listings, about 110–150 ₾ on average, and at least 91–104 ₾ ($35–40) in summer. The deposit runs from nothing to $100 with local firms and is $500–800 at an international brand such as National at the airport. You need a passport and a physical licence, which visitors can generally use for a year from their last entry, and most firms will not let the car into Turkey. In the city Bolt and buses are cheaper, so rent only for mountain and long out-of-town days; all figures are as of November 2026.
| Months | Localrent, local firms | Discover Cars, local and global firms | KAYAK |
|---|---|---|---|
| November–February | $41–42 (107–109 ₾) | €38–45 (111–131 ₾) | $44 in November, its lowest month |
| March–May | $43–50 (112–130 ₾) | €41–52 (120–152 ₾) | — |
| June–September | $43–48 (112–125 ₾) | €42–48 (123–140 ₾) | $63 in August, its highest month |
| October | $44 (114 ₾) | €43 (126 ₾) | — |
Price per day. Discover Cars (updated 3 November 2026) and KAYAK (checked 4 November) show averages; Localrent's monthly table gives no year. Lari at the National Bank rate for 5 November 2026: 1 USD = 2.60 ₾, 1 EUR = 2.92 ₾.
Prices: "from" and what you actually find
Localrent's "from" prices are $18 (47 ₾) for a Kia Picanto, $20 (52 ₾) for a Toyota Prius and $25 (65 ₾) for a Ford Escape SUV. In summer the low prices go first: Localrent says its cheapest summer car is $35–40 and that cheap cars are often gone days before the date, so book July and August early.
Among global brands, Discover Cars shows Hertz from €18 (53 ₾), Enterprise from €22 (64 ₾), Budget from €25 (73 ₾), Avis from €38 (111 ₾) and Europcar from €39 (114 ₾). Sixt's own page says it has no airport branch: staff meet you by the Tourism Information Centre in arrivals.
Deposit
Localrent advertises many offers with no credit card and no deposit, or a deposit up to $100 (260 ₾). Global brands hold more: National at Batumi airport takes $500 (1,300 ₾) for Mini to Standard, $600 (1,560 ₾) for SUVs and $800 (2,080 ₾) for Premium Elite SUVs, on a credit card in the renter's name.
Age, licence and documents
Localrent accepts drivers from 18 with a year's experience, with more cars from 21 with two years and the widest choice from 23 with three. National requires ages 21–79 and a licence held for over a year. Bring your passport and the original licence: Madloba says a photo or digital copy is not accepted.
International permit. We could not open the Georgian law: matsne.gov.ge refused our requests. The UK government says a UK licence works for up to one year and to ask the hire company about a permit. Canada (August 2026) advises its drivers to get a permit and a notarised Georgian translation. Madloba (October 2026) says the year runs from your last entry, that Russian licences are recognised, and that a permit is not required by law, though rental companies may ask for one. National requires one for US citizens and for licences not in Latin letters, so get the company's answer in writing.
Insurance
Car insurance is not mandatory in Georgia and most private cars are not comprehensively insured (Wander-Lush), so check what the rental covers. National includes CDW-TP with an excess of $500–800 each time the car is damaged, lost or stolen. Tonkosti, undated, gives 1,000–2,000 ₾ at international companies, about 30 ₾ a day to remove it, and 600–900 ₾ at local firms. After any damage, call the police (112) and the rental company: settling privately or moving the car can void your cover (Wander-Lush).
Localrent bans rental cars on the Goderdzi Pass road to Akhaltsikhe, Sairme–Abastumani, Truso, Juta, Vashlovani, Tusheti, Shatili, Abkhazia and South Ossetia; Wander-Lush warns this can void the insurance even in a 4×4.
Taking the car to Turkey or Armenia
Turkey: plan on no. Localrent, StarCar and Wander-Lush say a Georgian rental cannot go, and MY.DRIVE (August 2026) says most international chains refuse; RentoRika (June 2026) and Tonkosti say some firms allow it with a Green Card, RentoRika at $50–100. Without written permission, leave the car in Batumi and cross on foot at Sarpi: see how to get to Batumi.
Armenia: with some firms. National allows it for an extra fee with 48 hours' notice, and Wander-Lush mentions a notarised power of attorney, about 150 ₾. Localrent prohibits leaving Georgia, and Tonkosti, undated, says citizens of Russia and Customs Union countries may not enter Armenia in a car rented in Georgia. An Armenian policy at the border costs from $15–20 (MY.DRIVE).
Parking in Batumi
City parking is sold as passes, not by the hour. Batumi Autotransport's own site lists 10 ₾ for one day, 20 ₾ for 7 days and 30 ₾ for 30 days (checked 4 November 2026); the 1, 5 and 10 ₾ on GoBatumi and about 1 ₾ an hour on Madloba do not match it. Paid zones carry a blue P sign, and gated car parks at malls, the airport and the station charge separately (Localrent). Madloba gives fines of 10–50 ₾ and towing at 100–300 ₾, and says fines reach the renter even after the car is returned.
Roads, driving style and fuel
Limits are 60 km/h in town, 90 km/h outside and 110 km/h on highways. Canada calls the drink-driving policy zero tolerance and Wander-Lush gives 0.03 %, so do not drink at all.
Localrent describes Batumi driving as energetic, with frequent lane changes and last-minute signals. The UK government warns of badly lit roads outside city centres, stray livestock, confusing right of way and landslides. The Adjaristsqali valley road is firm asphalt to Keda, then narrow with potholes in places; past Khulo the asphalt ends (Zagranitsa, August 2026). Winter tyres are mandatory on some mountain roads from 1 December to 1 March (Wander-Lush).
Fuel on 4 November 2026 (amindi.org): premium 95 at 4.19–4.39 ₾ a litre, regular 3.94–4.08 ₾, diesel 4.87–5.02 ₾ at Wissol, Rompetrol, Socar, Lukoil and Portal. Figures near 3.20 ₾ on rental sites are out of date.
Do you need a car at all?
In the city, no. A Bolt ride is usually 5–10 ₾ (Madloba, October 2026; Bolt raised fares 12 % on 18 September), and a bus is about 1 ₾ with a contactless card.
Gonio and the southern beaches, rarely. Bus 16 takes 20–30 minutes to Gonio and an app taxi is 15–25 ₾ (Madloba). See the beaches.
The Adjara mountains: a driver for one trip, a car for several. GoTrip showed from 88 ₾ return to Makhuntseti and from 100 ₾ to Mtirala on 4 November 2026, with fuel, a waiting driver and a child seat on request. A rental at about 110 ₾ plus fuel and parking makes sense with several stops or three or more days out. See day trips.
A Kutaisi day depends on numbers. Four people pay 160 ₾ return by minibus (20 ₾ each way) or 248 ₾ by train (31 ₾). A rental is about 110 ₾ plus about 90 ₾ of fuel for 300 km, assuming 7 litres per 100 km. GoTrip's day to Martvili and Prometheus Cave starts from 222 ₾ per car, tickets extra.
Our studios and your car
Our two studios are on the 33rd floor of Blue Sky Tower, 15 minutes by car from the airport. The building has paid underground parking, arranged and paid on site, and free street parking next to it, and the beach is 7 minutes on foot, so the car can stay parked between trips. You book directly with us on this site: see the studios.
More from our Batumi guide: day trips from Batumi, the beaches and how to get to Batumi.
Questions and answers
How much does it cost to rent a car in Batumi?
From about 47 ₾ ($18) a day on local listings, with averages of about 110–150 ₾ depending on the month and source.
How much is the deposit for a rental car in Batumi?
From nothing to $100 (260 ₾) on many local offers through Localrent, and $500–800 (1,300–2,080 ₾) at National at the airport, on a credit card.
Do I need an international driving permit in Georgia?
Madloba says it is not required by law, but rental firms can ask: National requires one for US citizens and for licences not in Latin letters. We could not open the Georgian law itself.
Can I take a rental car from Georgia to Turkey or Armenia?
Plan on no for Turkey. Armenia works with some firms, such as National for an extra fee with 48 hours' notice, while Localrent prohibits leaving Georgia.
Do I need a car in Batumi?
Not in the city, where Bolt is usually 5–10 ₾ a ride. A car makes sense with several stops in the Adjara mountains or three or more days out.
Sources: Localrent — Batumi, Discover Cars — Batumi, KAYAK — Batumi, National — Batumi airport, SIXT — Batumi airport, National Bank of Georgia — exchange rates, Batumi Autotransport — parking passes, GOV.UK — Georgia travel advice, Government of Canada — Georgia travel advice, Wander-Lush — driving in Georgia, Wander-Lush — day trips from Batumi, Madloba — foreign licence, Madloba — parking, Madloba — taxi in Batumi, Madloba — bus fares, Madloba — Batumi to Gonio, GoBatumi — getting around, Tonkosti — car rental in Batumi, Zagranitsa — car rental in Batumi, StarCar — Armenia by rental car, MY.DRIVE — crossing the border, RentoRika — cross-border rental, amindi.org — fuel prices, Georgia Today — Bolt fares, GoTrip — Batumi to Martvili and Prometheus. Checked in November 2026.