FAQ

Starcar adheres to the guidelines established by Georgian law: a person renting a vehicle needs to be at least 20 years old, have a valid driver's license in the suitable category for a minimum of 1 year, and have driving experience for a minimum of 1 year.

In the best-case scenario, you’ll book your car at least 24 hours before picking it up. You can try to rent on the spot, but your choices may be limited and you’ll have to communicate with the operator on the fly.

The minimum rental period in our company is 3 days.

You can browse our selection and book a vehicle through our website. It allows you to choose the most optimal location (at Tbilisi, Batumi, or Kutaisi Airports, or Starcar’s Kutaisi office), the optimal pickup and return times, and the price is automatically calculated once you’ve finished logging in your information. You can get in contact with our operator via WhatsApp.

Payment is made at the time of the vehicle pick-up. In airports, you can only pay in cash, either in EURO, USD, or GEL (using the exchange rate valid on the payment day). Payment by card is possible only at the Kutaisi office, where a commission of 2% is added.

Our company offers 2 types of car insurance: third party insurance and full insurance. Full insurance is an optional service you can ask the operator to add to your contract for an additional price. The price is calculated individually for each case.

We offer cancellation without fines only to those customers who’ve reserved a car far in advance. The reservation should be canceled no less than 10 days before the set date otherwise, you’ll have to pay a fine that will be calculated individually based on your specific case.

Starcar does not limit the number of drivers that can take the wheel after the agreement has been made.  If there are several drivers in your party, you’re free to allow either of them to drive.

However, do keep in mind that, in the event of an accident, the driver signing the contract is the one responsible to the company or other parties, whether they were the one behind the wheel or not.

Renting a car in Georgia is recommended when planning to explore rural areas, visit remote monasteries, or tour several regions one after another. The option is well-suited for travelers seeking flexibility in their itinerary or those wanting to reach off-the-beaten-path destinations not easily accessible by public transport. 

Rental services can also be highly beneficial for groups or families, making it more cost-effective than organized tours and more logistically convenient than trying to move around using public transportation. 

On the other hand, it may not be particularly useful for those staying and moving solely between major cities or are planning to visit Georgia’s remote mountainous regions and have little experience driving on unpaved, steep, winding, and/or narrow roads characteristic of these areas.

Certain sections of the mountainous terrains in Georgia could be dangerous to drive about for newbie drivers, drivers not used to driving around rocky terrain, and even experienced drivers without a suitable vehicle.

Some such locations include Tusheti, Khevsureti, Svaneti, Vashlovani Park, and Goderdzi Pass. These routes require a driver who has a few years of driving on rocky terrains under their belt and knows how to choose and deal with a suitable vehicle.

Even still, opting for local guidance would be better. And if you’re determined to drive yourself and have faith in your abilities, exercise caution, and try to be in contact with at least one person who’d be able to contact the authorities on your behalf if the contact is suddenly lost.

3 days is the minimum rent period at Starcar. If the guest wants to rent for only 1 or 2 days, they are free to bring the vehicle in early, but the contract will still be 3-days-long and the price will be calculated accordingly.

If you’re bringing in the rental vehicle late, contact the operator. Each case is calculated individually based on circumstances and how late the vehicle was returned. You might have to add an extra day to your contract.

Yes, the rates at Starcar change depending on the seasons. The default prices set by the company are for the summer season. 

We offer discount rates on other seasons: spring is 15% off, autumn is 15% off, and winter is 20% off. If you think something is amiss when calculating your rates, get in touch with our operator.

In most cases - yes. You pay in full at the airport or our office, when picking your car up.

But there are some cases where you’ll be asked to put down a deposit to lock the booking in. It’s usually necessary after reaching a certain threshold (either you’re booking long-term, are booking several vehicles at the same time, etc.). 

Cases requiring a deposit are highly individual. The operator you’re working with will inform you if your case has reached a certain limit and requires a deposit, as well as calculate how much that deposit amounts to.

Starcar doesn’t count daily mileage when renting out the cars. Once the vehicle is in your possession, you can use it to cover as much distance as you need - there's no limit on distance during your rental period.

The amount of fuel varies by the vehicle at the time of the pickup. You'll find the initial fuel level marked on your rental agreement.

When you bring the vehicle back at the end of your rental period, we kindly ask that you return it with the same amount of fuel in the tank as when you first picked it up. This helps us prepare the vehicle quickly for the next customer and ensures a fair experience for everyone.

If you’re picking up your rental vehicle at one of the Georgian airports, you will need to provide the operator with information about your flight and the time it’s scheduled to arrive (you’ll be able to align the approximate times using our website as well).

By the time you go through all of the procedures required to enter the country, our operator should be waiting for you at the exit door near the end of the neutral zone of the airport. They’ll be holding an A4 board with our company logo on it

You can use our car to cross the borders with Azerbaijan and Armenia, but only after preparing and filling out the Power of Attorney document. It takes time so inform the operator about your plans at least 7 days in advance.
It is possible to prepare POA forms in less than a week, and our operator will do their best to accommodate you - but the process will be more costly and complicated, so please do try to plan (and inform us) in advance. 

Yes, we ask all our customers to have the rental washed before returning it to us.

If the client is unable to have the car washed before bringing it in due to time constraints or other unexpected complications, they will be asked to cover the washing fee as calculated by the company.

Using services of a reliable car rental in Georgia is highly recommended. It’s quite budget-friendly, saves time, and provides flexibility. Inter-city travel here can be inconvenient unless a visitor is already familiar with local transport. The train network does not cover many prominent touristic locations, and while marshrutka minivans and taxis are available, they often don't adhere to specific schedules. Additionally, remote areas, especially those away from urban centers, are difficult to access without a car, making it challenging to explore the country's full range of attractions.

Yes, you need to have at least third party insurance when renting a car. No reliable car rental in Georgia will work with you otherwise. Some may not mention it outright, but the terms and the costs should be in your contract. Check, before you sign.

Our company offers 2 types of car insurance: third party insurance and full insurance. Full insurance is an optional service you can ask the operator to add to your contract for an additional price. The price is calculated individually for each case.

No. Non-residents can drive in Georgia with a valid foreign driver's license, provided it covers the category of vehicle they wish to rent (such as B, C, etc.). The driver’s license needs to be valid for a minimum of 1 year to come. The person who will be renting the car must have driving experience of 1 year, minimum, under their belt. 

That said, the driver’s license must contain information in English, so that the local authorities can check it if need be. If a prospective renter isn’t from an English-speaking country, and their driver's license is only in their native languagey, they must have it translated into English and notarized before traveling to Georgia

Yes, renting a car is worth it for travelers who want the flexibility to explore at their own pace. While the city center itself is relatively walkable, reaching more remote or off-the-beaten-path areas can be time-consuming and/or expensive if you don’t have access to a private vehicle. Having a rental car also allows you to conveniently travel outside the city, reaching nearby attractions like Tbilisi National Park or the historic town of Mtskheta.

To rent a car with Starcar, you must be at least 20 years old with a valid driver’s license you’ve held for at least one year. If your license is in English, it’s generally enough. However, if your driver’s license is in a language other than English, you will need to prepare a notarized English translation. You’ll also need your passport for identification and, sometimes, your visa.  Make sure your driver’s license covers the specific category of vehicle you plan to rent, such as category B for standard passenger vehicles.

The cost depends on the type of vehicle you need. A standard sedan typically costs around $25-30 per day, while an SUV costs $50 on average, and larger vehicles like minivans can cost up to $75 or higher per day. Prices also vary based on the seasons, with summer the most expensive and winter the most affordable time to hire a vehicle.

Yes, tourists can drive anywhere across Georgia using their valid foreign driver’s license. As long as the license covers the correct vehicle category and is in English, you do not need an international driver’s permit.

Driving around the capital city can be challenging, especially for those not used to local driving habits. Georgian drivers can be unpredictable, traffic congestion is common during rush hours, and pedestrians have haphazard ways of walking. However, all in all, Georgia’s capital is not much different from other megapolises - as long as you’re patient, attentive, and follow the rules, the roads are perfectly manageable.