Driving in Georgia: Fines, Cameras & Practical Tips
Essential driving knowledge for tourists: physical license rules, section speed cameras, non-penalized tolerance +15 km/h, avoiding cascading fines, parking apps, and mountain road safety.
Average Speed Cameras: Danger of 3–4 Fines in 5 Minutes
How it works: Georgia uses extensive Section Control systems on highways. Cameras do NOT just record your speed at a single point. Camera A records entry time, and Camera B records exit time. The system calculates your average speed across the entire sector (typically 2 to 6 km).
⚡ Cascading fines: These sectors are often chained back-to-back without gaps! If you cruise with excessive speed, you will trigger multiple sectors in a row, receiving 3–4 separate fines (50–300 GEL each) within just 5 to 7 minutes of driving!
🛑 Why braking before the camera fails
Many drivers slow down right under the camera pole and immediately accelerate again. For section cameras, this is useless: the system calculates your average travel time across the whole several-kilometer distance.
📍 High-risk road stretches
Highway Tbilisi — Batumi: Khashuri bypass, Zestafoni bypass, Kutaisi bypass, Kobuleti bypass, and access routes near tunnels. Navigators (Waze, Yandex) frequently miss recently installed sectors.
Turn on Cruise Control at the speed limit (+10 km/h margin) and relax. You save money and travel safely.
Strictly Physical Original License (No photos or apps!)
No digital or electronic licenses accepted: The Georgian Patrol Police categorically rejects digital driver’s licenses in government mobile applications, smartphone photos, or scans. Foreign visitors must have their physical original license (plastic card or official paper document) physically present with them.
⚡ Financial risk ~1,500 GEL + vehicle impound: Driving without the physical document leads to severe penalties (~1,500 GEL total with towing/impound), and the police have the authority to leave you on the roadside and tow the car away.
👥 Passenger with an original license saves the car
If another person in the car has an original physical license, the vehicle will NOT be impounded or towed — police will permit handing over the steering wheel so you can continue your journey. However, the unlicensed driver will still receive the fine.
💡 Lifesaver: 10 days to cancel fines!
You have 10 days! If the driver presents the original physical driving license at a Georgian police precinct within 10 days of the stop (for example, if you left it at the hotel and bring it in), the issued fines can be officially cancelled.
Never leave your physical driver’s license in the hotel safe or luggage. Always keep it on you alongside your passport.
Non-Penalized Speed Tolerance: +15 km/h
In Georgia, the non-penalized speed tolerance is strictly +15 km/h above the posted sign. Any speed at +15 km/h or higher triggers an automatic video fine (from 50 to 300 GEL depending on speed excess). Notice: the non-penalized tolerance is strictly +15 km/h — exceeding by 15 km/h already triggers a fine!
Up to 74 km/h: 0 ₾ (No fine)
From 75 km/h: fine from 50 ₾
Up to 104 km/h: 0 ₾ (No fine)
From 105 km/h: fine from 50 ₾
Up to 124 km/h: 0 ₾ (No fine)
From 125 km/h: fine from 50 ₾
⚡Speeding fines in Georgia: From 50 to 300 GEL depending on how much the limit is exceeded (50 GEL for moderate speeding, up to 300 GEL for heavy speeding).
💡Speedometer tip: Vehicle speedometers show 2–3 km/h higher than true GPS speed. Setting cruise control to 70 km/h in 60 zones or 100 km/h in 90 zones gives complete peace of mind.
Checking Fines: protocols.ge
In Georgia, the fastest and most convenient portal to check administrative protocols and video fines is protocols.ge (also available via police.ge). Directly on the site, you can view the fine itself along with attached photo and video evidence, verify the exact location and timestamp, and immediately pay online with a bank card with an automatic 20% discount.
Open protocols.ge
Open the specialized official portal protocols.ge (or police.ge). The interface is fast, clear, and available in Georgian and English.
Enter Plate & Tech Pass
Input the vehicle plate number and the technical passport / registration certificate (provided by us in WhatsApp upon rental pickup).
View & Pay by Card (-20%)
View the fine details, inspect the attached photo and video footage, and pay directly on the site with a bank card. During the first 10 days, an automatic 20% discount applies!
Where to find Vehicle Number & Tech Passport Number
1. Vehicle Plate Number (Car No.)
Where on certificate: Row (A) / "სარეგისტრაციო ნომერი / Registration number"
Example on card: BO090OK
Field on protocols.ge: «ავტომობილის ნომერი / Car No.»
2. Tech Passport Number
Where on certificate: Bottom-left corner above MIA issuance text
Example on card: AJA10131235
Field on protocols.ge: «ტექ.პასპორტის ნომერი / Tech Passport»
Step-by-step on protocols.ge: Select tab «Vehicle» (ავტოსატრანსპორტო საშუალება) → check «Without receipt no.» (ქვითრის ნომრის გარეშე) → enter Car No. and Tech Passport No. → click «Search» (ძებნა).
We never add processing surcharges for fines. You pay the exact official sum with the 20% discount directly on protocols.ge or via your bank.
Livestock on Roads, Tunnels & Serpentine Safety
🐂 Cows on highways & turns
In Georgia, cows, horses, and dogs freely wander across highways, especially around Khashuri, Surami, Kakheti, Svaneti, and Adjara. They frequently lie down directly on warm asphalt.
⚠️ Cows do not fear cars or horns! Honking is useless. Slow down before blind curves and carefully bypass them.
💡 Mandatory headlights in tunnels
Georgia has numerous long tunnels (Rikoti pass, Military Georgian Road). Driving without low-beam headlights in tunnels is strictly prohibited and captured by automatic cameras at tunnel portals.
⛰️ Engine braking on long descents
On steep mountain descents (Gudauri, Kazbegi, Mestia, Goderdzi), do not ride your brakes continuously! Shift transmission to Manual (M), Low (L/2), or Brake mode (B on hybrids) to brake with the engine and avoid overheating brake pads.
⛔ Solid line overtake ban
Crossing single or double solid lines to overtake is strictly forbidden and heavily fined (from 100 GEL). Never overtake on blind turns on mountain serpentines.
Parking in Batumi, Tbilisi & Strict Towing Rules
🌊 Batumi Parking
Included with FleetMunicipal street parking is already paid: all marked street bays (white road markings) throughout Batumi are fully covered and paid by us for our entire rental fleet. You do not need to pay anything extra for municipal street parking!
Private barrier-gate lots: parking areas behind boom barriers (shopping malls, private commercial lots, hotels) are paid, and drivers pay them independently on-site upon entry/exit.
In the city, you will often encounter street attendants (with vests/whistles) collecting cash, even on public municipal spots. While technically unofficial, a local custom has long developed not to dispute or argue with them: it is standard to give 1–2 GEL for directing you into a spot or helping you merge into traffic. It keeps things calm and saves your nerves.
🏛️ Parking in Tbilisi
Tbilisi Central Hourly Zones: in the historic center and main avenues (Zones A, B, C), parking costs 1–3 GEL per hour.
Outside Hourly Zones: outside central zones in Tbilisi, standard municipal subscription rules apply.
App limitation: In the Tbilisi Parking app, registration is only possible if you hold a Georgian personal ID. For international tourists without a local ID, the app will not work.
Website payment: You can pay online via the official municipal portal parking.tbilisi.gov.ge. The site is in Georgian, but you can easily translate it using your browser's auto-translator (Chrome or Safari). To pay, you need to enter 3 details: the parking zone number (displayed on the street parking sign), the parking duration (how long you want to park), and the vehicle plate number, then pay by bank card.
🏰 Parking in Kutaisi
Mostly FreeEasy free parking: In Kutaisi, parking is significantly more relaxed than in Tbilisi or Batumi. Along the vast majority of streets, residential neighborhoods, and near most hotels, you can easily find free parking spots without paying municipal fees.
Central paid zones & low tariffs: Municipal paid parking applies only on key central streets (around the Colchis Fountain, central square, and bazaar). Tariffs are very affordable: ~2 GEL per day or ~5 GEL for 1 week.
If you have an account with Bank of Georgia or TBC Bank, open the mobile app: go to Payments → Transport / Parking → "Kutaisi Parking" (Parking Service), enter the car plate number, and pay for 1 day (2 GEL) or 1 week (5 GEL) in two clicks.
Tourists without a local bank account can pay cash in GEL at any orange or blue PayBox / TBC Pay terminal on the street. Select "Kutaisi Parking", enter the license plate, and insert cash GEL. No Georgian ID or local account needed!
Critical Warning: Immediate Towing, Impound Lots & Weekend Risk
Please read carefully to avoid major financial and time losses
Never park in bus stops (BUS LANE, yellow zigzag road lines) or blue wheelchair disabled spaces. Towing services at bus stops operate with zero tolerance — vehicles are removed in 2–3 minutes flat!
If you see many cars lined up in an unauthorized area, it does NOT mean it is permitted. Tow trucks in Georgia frequently arrive in teams and tow away every single vehicle in that line one by one in a single sweep.
If an improperly parked car is towed on Friday evening, impound facilities often do not release cars until Monday! In this scenario, you will be liable for the fine, towing/impound fees, AND all extra rental days over the weekend. Check signs carefully: properly parked cars are NEVER towed.
Please keep your phone active! When a parked car causes a minor obstruction, police often call the vehicle owner (our rental office) asking us to contact the driver to move it. If you answer our call, the situation is resolved in 2 minutes without towing or fines. But if you are unreachable, police immediately dispatch a tow truck after unsuccessful attempts.
Which Fuel to Use & Where to Refuel
🛢️ Fuel Type
Depending on the vehicle model, cars run on petrol (95 or 100) or diesel on specific models. We never use 92 Regular. Please always confirm the exact fuel type for your car with the manager upon pickup.
🏪 Trusted Fuel Chains
Refuel only at major reliable chain stations with quality fuel: Gulf, Wissol, Rompetrol, Socar, Connect. Avoid unbranded small pumps in mountain villages.
Phone in Hand, Seatbelts & Turn Signals
Georgian police patrol cars actively monitor moving traffic in cities and on highways. Officers pay extraordinary attention to three infractions that frequently catch foreign tourists by surprise:
📵 Phone in Hand
Holding a phone while driving (even when stationary at a traffic light or in a jam) is strictly prohibited. You may only use hands-free, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, or a dash mount.
💺 Seatbelt Required
Mandatory for both driver and front-seat passenger. Controlled by officers in unmarked/marked patrol cruisers and high-resolution overhead smart cameras.
💡 Turn Signals
Failure to signal before lane changes, roundabout exits, or turns. Patrol cars trailing behind in traffic immediately flash emergency lights and issue a 100 GEL ticket.
Alcohol Behind the Wheel: 0.3 ‰ Limit & Breathalyzers
🚨 Frequent Police Breathalyzer Raids
Patrol police in Georgia frequently conduct massive anti-drink-driving raids. Officers block lanes and systematically test all drivers with breathalyzers — especially during evenings, weekends, on Batumi/Tbilisi seaside boulevards, near restaurant zones, and at city exits.
Up to 0.30 ‰
0 GEL • No penalty
Up to 0.30 per mille in breath/blood is considered within the permissible physiological margin under Article 116 of the Code of Administrative Offenses.
From 0.30 to 0.70 ‰
6-month license suspension
Suspension of driving privileges for 6 months (or replacement penalty), plus complete forfeiture of insurance.
Over 0.70 ‰ or Refusal
1-year suspension + fine/arrest
Refusing the breathalyzer test automatically equates to severe intoxication (1-year license ban + up to 3,000 GEL fine or administrative arrest).
Practical recommendation: 0.3 per mille is a very narrow threshold that a single glass of wine can easily exceed. In case of any alcohol-related accident, insurance (CDW/TPL) is completely voided. City taxis (Bolt, Yandex Go) cost only 3–8 GEL — don't risk your vacation!
Questions on the road? We are here 24/7
If a fine notification arrives, a parking situation arises, or you need route advice — reach out to us directly anytime. In emergency cases: call 112 for national emergency services.