Importing and Clearing a Car in Georgia: Full 2026 Guide
Documents, the clearance process, the real duty/excise formulas, re-export rules, and the current age restrictions.
Updated: September 2026
Where to find a car and how to check it
Most buyers choose between two paths: online listings with photos, mileage and a VIN already on hand — like on Cross.ge — or in-person auto markets. The country's largest market is in Rustavi, 25 km from Tbilisi, with its own customs terminal right next to it.
Always check the VIN before buying — mileage, accident and lien history. If you can, order a technical inspection at a service center before wiring any money, especially for a rebuilt or right-hand-drive car.
Which documents you need for customs clearance
You'll need: the original Certificate of Title for the car, a Bill of Lading confirming arrival at the port of Poti or Batumi, a Commercial Invoice showing the purchase price, a Packing List if the car shipped in a shared container, and the owner's passport or a power of attorney if a representative handles the paperwork.
Without the original title, Georgian customs generally won't clear the car — a scan or copy isn't enough. This is one of the most common reasons a car gets stuck at the terminal for buyers who skip a broker.
The clearance process, step by step
1. The ship carrying the car arrives at the port of Poti or Batumi. 2. A customs declaration is filed with the full document package. 3. An expert valuation is carried out — the expert act is part of the fixed fees. 4. Duty, excise and the fixed fees are paid (Revenue Service 150 GEL + declaration 50 GEL + expert act 30 GEL = 230 GEL). 5. Once paid, the car is released from the terminal — from there it can be registered in Georgia (inspection 20 GEL + plate 80 GEL + certificate 100 GEL = 200 GEL) or processed as transit/re-export.
How duty and excise are calculated
Duty depends on engine displacement (cc) and the car's age: the rate climbs from 0.0525 GEL/cc for a new car to 0.08 GEL/cc for a 12-year-old one. Excise is 1.5 GEL/cc for cars up to 6 years old (0.6 GEL/cc for a hybrid — a 60% discount), and triple that, 4.5 GEL/cc, from age 7 — usually the single biggest line item. Electric vehicles are fully exempt from both duty and excise — only the flat 230 GEL fee applies, regardless of age.
DIY or through a broker
Georgian customs law doesn't require an intermediary — you can clear a car yourself. In practice a broker saves time (knows the current requirements of a specific terminal, gathers documents faster) and often prevents costly mistakes, especially on a first import.
If you go without a broker, budget more time for terminal visits and document checks, and work only through the official declaration — not informal on-the-spot "arrangements."
Re-export, transit and temporary plates
A car on foreign plates may legally stay in Georgia for no more than 90 days from entry; an extension is only granted in exceptional cases at customs' discretion. Separately, internal transit plates valid for up to 60 days exist for a car that hasn't been cleared yet but already needs to move within the country — say, to the terminal or a service shop.
Re-export — routing a car through Georgia to a third country, such as Armenia or Azerbaijan — is possible without paying full duty if customs processes it under a transit or re-import regime instead of a standard import. A car brought in under these terms cannot be registered on Georgian plates and must leave the country within the set deadline.
Since September 26, 2023, separate restrictions apply to exporting and re-exporting from Georgia to Russia cars previously imported from EU countries — check current applicability with a broker for the specific car's country of origin.
Age and emissions restrictions — current for 2026
Importing cars aged 13 years or older into Georgia is prohibited — this rule is already reflected in the Cross.ge calculator.
Since April 1, 2026, a separate, stricter requirement from Georgia's Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture has been in effect: both first-time and temporary registration of M1-category passenger cars older than 6 years is banned. That means even after paying duty, putting such a car on Georgian plates may not be possible.
Exempt from this rule: electric vehicles (no age limit), cars already registered in Georgia before April 1, 2026, cars imported before that date, cars in transit with shipping confirmed before April 1, 2026 (crossing the border no later than July 1, 2026), and cars that aren't registered in Georgia at all — transit and re-export. The Euro 5b emissions standard requirement remains in force separately, with no exceptions.
The rules changed during 2026 — before buying a car older than 6 years, confirm its current status with a licensed broker or the Revenue Service (rs.ge).
Common costly mistakes
Understating the price on the invoice — the expert still values the car against market benchmarks, so a lowballed invoice doesn't reduce duty but does create risk on resale. Missing the original title — copies and scans generally aren't accepted, and the car gets stuck at the terminal. Using an unlicensed fixer instead of a licensed broker or a proper self-filed declaration. Miscalculating for a right-hand-drive car — RHD needs extra certification to register in Georgia. And the big mistake specific to 2026: buying a 6–12-year-old car without checking the current registration rules — before April 1 these cleared without issue, now registration can be blocked.
Frequently asked questions
Can I clear a car through Georgian customs myself, without a broker?
Yes, the law doesn't require a broker. You'll need time to gather documents (title, bill of lading, invoice) and visit the terminal; a broker speeds things up and reduces the risk of mistakes, but isn't formally required.
How long does clearance take?
With a complete document set and fees paid, terminal processing usually takes anywhere from one to a few days. Exact timing depends on how busy that specific port and terminal are — check with a broker or on site.
What if the original title is lost or wasn't sent?
Without the original document, customs generally won't release the car — you need to request a duplicate from the seller or auction in the country of origin before the shipment leaves for Georgia. Replacing a document like a US title once the car is already in Georgia isn't possible.
Will a Salvage Title car (written off after a serious accident) clear Georgian customs?
Yes, Salvage Title status by itself doesn't block clearance — duty and excise are calculated from engine size and age, not condition. Such a car is worth inspecting separately at a service center before buying, and expect a more involved registration process.
Can I bring a car into Georgia purely for re-export to another country?
Yes — if customs processes it under a transit or re-import regime instead of a standard import. Full duty isn't paid in that case, but the car can't be registered on Georgian plates and must leave the country by the set deadline.
Is a car older than 6 years even drivable in Georgia in 2026?
Cars already registered before April 1, 2026 keep driving without restriction. For a new car older than 6 years (other than an EV), both first-time and temporary registration are blocked from that date — check the specific car's status before buying (see the age-restrictions section above).
Is clearing customs in Rustavi really cheaper than in Tbilisi?
The government duty, excise and fixed fees are the same everywhere in the country — they're based only on engine size and the car's age, not the city where you clear it. Rustavi is just the biggest auto market with its own terminal next door, so there are more brokers competing for business there — that's where the 'it's cheaper' impression comes from, not a different government rate.
Can a car enter Georgia just to be re-exported to another country?
Yes. If customs files it as transit or re-import instead of a regular import, you don't pay full duty — but the car can't go on Georgian plates and has to leave the country by the deadline. A car on foreign plates can legally stay in Georgia for up to 90 days; for a car that isn't cleared yet but still needs to move around the country, there are separate internal transit plates valid for up to 60 days.
Is the "over 12 years — no import" rule still a thing?
Yes, but since April 1, 2026 there's also a separate, stricter rule from Georgia's environmental ministry: neither first-time nor temporary registration is issued anymore for cars older than 6 years (EVs excluded). So clearing an old car through customs is still physically possible — putting it on Georgian plates isn't always. Full details in the age-restrictions section above.
Why isn't VAT or delivery cost in the calculation?
For an individual bringing in a personal car, VAT is already baked into the duty and isn't shown as a separate line. Delivery is arranged by each buyer with a carrier or RoRo agent — the price depends heavily on the country of origin and the specific ship, so it isn't part of the overall calculation.
Can a foreigner register a car in Georgia in their own name without a residence permit?
In most cases — yes, a residence permit isn't required: registration needs a Georgian identification number, which the Public Service Hall (House of Justice) issues to foreigners even without residency. In practice requirements can vary by situation, so it's worth confirming the current process with a broker or directly at the House of Justice before buying.
Can I later sell a car I cleared through customs in Georgia?
Yes — once a car is registered on Georgian plates, you can freely sell it and re-register it to a new owner at the House of Justice, same as any other car in Georgia, including listings on Cross.ge. If the car entered under a transit/re-export regime without registration, it can't be sold on Georgian plates domestically — it has to leave the country as originally filed.