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SUV and 4x4 rental in Georgia
Ten of our eleven cars have four-wheel drive. Here is which one each mountain road needs, from the paved Military Highway to the track over the Abano Pass.
- 10 of 11 cars with 4WD
- Body-on-frame 4x4s: Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser Prado
- Insurance valid on gravel and mountain roads
- Tusheti only in a 4Runner or Prado
Which car for which road
Most of Georgia is paved, including the roads to Kazbegi, Mestia, Borjomi and Kakheti. A crossover such as the Subaru Forester or Jeep Renegade handles them in any season and copes with gravel side roads. The real off-road routes are a different matter.
| Road | Surface | Cars allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Tbilisi to Stepantsminda (Kazbegi) | Paved, mountain pass | Every car; 4WD advised in winter |
| Mestia and Ushguli, Svaneti | Paved, with gravel side roads | SUV or 4x4 |
| Juta and Truso valleys | Gravel and dirt tracks | Forester, Renegade, 4Runner or Prado |
| Abano Pass to Omalo, Tusheti | Unpaved mountain track | Toyota 4Runner or Land Cruiser Prado only |
| Khevsureti and Vashlovani | Unpaved | Toyota 4Runner or Land Cruiser Prado only |
Off-road rules and insurance
Insurance covers damage on every official road in Georgia, including mountain, gravel and dirt roads, and punctures from a nail or screw. It does not cover driving off official roads, across fields or through rivers, or a tyre cut on rocks.
Tusheti, Khevsureti and Vashlovani are allowed only in the Toyota 4Runner or Land Cruiser Prado. Taking another car there carries a €500 penalty, because those cars are not built for those tracks.
Winter driving
Every car gets winter tyres in season at no charge; snow chains are not used in Georgia. The Jvari Pass on the way to Gudauri and Kazbegi sometimes closes for a few hours after heavy snow. Check the road before you leave and allow extra time.
4x4 and SUV rental cars
4x4 questions
Do I need a 4x4 for Kazbegi?
Not in summer: the road is paved all the way. From November to March a car with four-wheel drive and winter tyres is the safer choice, and every one of our SUVs has both.
Which car for Tusheti?
Only the Toyota 4Runner or the Land Cruiser Prado. The Abano Pass is an unpaved mountain track, open from about June to early October.
Is a 7-seat 4x4 available?
Yes: the Toyota 4Runner 2020–2025, the Toyota Highlander and the Mitsubishi Outlander each seat seven.