UK Licence in Georgia 2026: Valid a Year, Keep Right, 0.03%

A UK driving licence is valid in Georgia for up to one year, according to GOV.UK, so a two-week holiday or a three-month trip both fall well inside the limit. That is Georgia the country, in the Caucasus between the Black Sea and the Caspian, not the American state. The two things to sort before you go are the hire firm’s view on an International Driving Permit, and getting used to traffic that runs on the right.

The hire firm decides on the permit

Georgian law is relaxed about your photocard. Rental companies are less predictable. GOV.UK’s advice is to check with the hire company before you travel whether it will accept the UK licence alone or wants a 1968 IDP. That timing matters because an IDP cannot be bought outside the UK. If the company’s answer is vague, buy the permit anyway; it is cheaper than a cancelled booking. Global Affairs Canada mentions a notarised Georgian translation as a further option.

Planning a longer stay, say three months moving between Tbilisi, Kakheti and the mountains? The one-year allowance covers it. Keep the licence, permit if you have one, and passport together for the whole trip, and carry them on every drive, however short.

Right-hand traffic, British reflexes

Britain keeps left and Georgia keeps right. You sit on the left, change gear with your right hand, and give way to the left at roundabouts that turn anticlockwise. Expect the first slip on an empty road, when nothing reminds you where to be. GOV.UK also notes that road markings and right of way can be confusing and that driving can be erratic, so leave a large gap to the car in front while you read the local flow. Construction around central Tbilisi adds diversions; start outside the centre if you can.

A much lower alcohol limit

WHO lists Georgia’s limit as 0.03%, for new and experienced drivers alike. England, Wales and Northern Ireland allow 80 mg per 100 ml, Scotland 50. Georgian wine and chacha are part of most trips; GOV.UK warns that drink-driving punishments can be severe, and Canada describes zero tolerance with fines, detention and licence bans. On driving days, have none.

What the roads are like

GOV.UK lists the hazards plainly:

• roads outside city centres are often badly lit and poor quality;
• stray livestock wander onto the carriageway;
• many cars are poorly maintained;
• heavy rain, flooding and snow at higher altitudes can cut roads and bridges, especially in remote areas;
• landslides are common.

For trips beyond Tbilisi, particularly into remote areas, GOV.UK advises a vehicle suitable for off-road driving and checking the weather locally. Canada recommends not driving after dark at all.

A mountain day, planned

The high routes are why many British drivers come. Book a four-wheel drive if remote valleys are on the list, not a small saloon. Check the forecast the night before and again in the morning. Start early, so that any landslide delay still leaves you arriving in daylight. Carry water and warm layers. GOV.UK points out that medical facilities in remote areas are limited and may lack modern equipment, which is one more reason to drive conservatively on mountain roads.

Taxis and trains as backup

If you would rather not drive in Tbilisi, GOV.UK’s taxi advice is simple: do not flag cars in the street, book through an app, and check the seatbelts work. There is also a daily train between Georgia and Azerbaijan, useful if your trip continues east and you would rather not take a hire car across the border.

Emergencies

One number covers everything: 112. Canada notes that the 112 Georgia app reaches emergency services in English, which is worth installing before your first mountain drive.

The Georgia driving guide has more on local rules, and the Driving Permit Checker covers Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Sources

• GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Georgia safety and security (UK licence up to one year; hire firms and the 1968 IDP; IDP only bought in the UK; lower alcohol limit; road conditions; off-road vehicles; taxis; rail): gov.uk
• Global Affairs Canada, Georgia travel advice (notarised translation; zero tolerance; avoid driving after dark; 112 and the 112 Georgia app): travel.gc.ca
• WHO Global status report on road safety 2023, Georgia profile (0.03 g/dl general and novice): who.int
• GOV.UK, drink-drive limits (80 mg in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; 50 mg in Scotland): gov.uk
• UN Treaty Collection, 1968 Convention on Road Traffic (Georgia 1993, United Kingdom 2018): treaties.un.org