Importing and Clearing a Car in Georgia: Full 2026 Guide

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.

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.

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.

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. Left-hand-drive electric vehicles are exempt from both duty and excise — only the flat 230 GEL fee applies, regardless of age. Exception: an electric car with right-hand or relocated steering pays a fixed 3,000 GEL excise (Law N1477-VMS-XIMP, in force since 2 April 2026; checked 25 Sep 2026).

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."

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.

There is no age-based ban on importing or registering passenger cars in Georgia. The announced ban on first-time and temporary registration of M1 cars older than 6 years (Government Resolution No. 56 of 12 Feb 2026) was repealed by Resolution No. 105 of 12 Mar 2026, before it took effect.

Instead, since 2 April 2026 cars older than 6 years pay a higher excise: 4.50 GEL per cm³ instead of 1.50 GEL for cars up to 6 years old inclusive (Tax Code article 188, Law No. 1477-Vმს-XIმპ). Age is the difference between the year the customs declaration is registered and the year of manufacture.

The emissions requirement remains: since 1 January 2024 only passenger cars meeting at least Euro 5 (petrol) or Euro 5b (diesel) can be registered. The limit is tied to the emission class, not the model year — many cars built before 2013 do not meet it, so check the specific car's documents. It does not apply to cars already registered in Georgia, historic vehicles, transit or re-export.

Checked against the published acts on matsne.gov.ge on 25 Sep 2026. The rules changed several times in 2026 — before buying, confirm the current status with a licensed broker or the Revenue Service (rs.ge).

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.