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Car rental in Kutaisi works as the western gateway to Georgia, and almost every trip starts at KUT airport. The terminal is a hub for Wizz Air and Ryanair flights from Eastern and Central Europe, and most passengers arrive at night — between 02:00 and 04:00 local time. Hosts at KUT operate 24/7 with no night-pickup surcharge.
The Kutaisi fleet is smaller than in Tbilisi only on paper: most cars are delivered from the capital to match your flight, and on hires of seven days or more delivery from Tbilisi is usually free. So this isn't a small local fleet — it's the same Tbilisi fleet picked up from a different airport.
A couple landed on a Wizz flight at 03:40, met the host at the arrivals exit, signed at the kerb and were on the E60 in seven minutes. No queue, no shuttle to a remote depot.
Prices and seasonality in Kutaisi
Kutaisi prices sit slightly above Tbilisi due to the delivery logistics, but below Batumi in summer. Low season — economy from $25 a day, crossover from $32. High season (June–September) — the same cars climb to $40–55. The seasonal swing is gentler than in Batumi but heavily tied to the Wizz schedule: on big arrival days from Poland and Hungary the fleet can sell out.
When to book
For summer, book 3–5 weeks ahead. For ski-season trips (Bakuriani, Gudauri), 2–3 weeks. For East European school holiday peaks, plan 6 weeks ahead — the local fleet is genuinely limited.
A solo traveller with one cabin bag took the Georgian Bus to Tbilisi for 25 GEL instead — the maths only stops working at two passengers and luggage, when a car wins on the first day.
Subaru Forester in Georgia
It's everything ok 👍🏻
Toyota Rav4 in Georgia
Car is great, new model and perfect on the hills. Sandro was also very cool, and offered his help not only woth car car related stuff but also with our trip. Definitely recommend 👍✌️
Subaru Forester in Georgia
Booked a car delivery for 12:00. at 11:30, I called them and they said the car is at the car wash, they will be 20 minutes late. at 12:30 the car is not there, it turned out that they had not familiarized themselves with the delivery point in advance and we are picking up the car not in Kutaisi, but in a neighboring village, which is still 15 minutes away, but if I'm not mistaken it cannot be selected on the map. As a result, the car was brought to us only by 13.00. everything was ok with the car itself, the service was not so good.
Subaru Forester in Georgia
Everything was perfect! Car was clean and in a good state, the car was at our apartment in time and return was extremely easy!
Nissan X-Terra in Georgia
It went well overall. The owner was 2 hours late when he dropped the car off and 40 minutes late for pickup. The car was good, but had some issues. Most important one was with the headlights, which gave very little light, so driving in the dark was dangerous. Other issues were minor. Overall, we had great time thanks to the car, it never let us down. Thank you!
Toyota Prius in Georgia
Loved everything, very good service👍
Jeep Renegade in Georgia
Best experience and best car ever. The owner was always very responsive. We will definitely come again.
Jeep Renegade in Georgia
Thanks for the convenience and affordable price for such a machine! Everything was a pleasure. Special thanks to Tamaz!
Toyota Prius C in Georgia
The one I choosed was already rented so we get camry
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport in Georgia
Thank you everything was good car is good
Jeep Renegade in Georgia
everything was ok
Hyundai Elantra in Georgia
everything is fine
Nissan Quest in Georgia
All was ok 👌🏻
Pickup at Kutaisi airport (KUT)
KUT is compact and runs 24/7. Cars aren't kept on-site in large numbers — your host meets you in the arrivals hall by flight number and hands over the car right at the exit. The handover takes about five minutes, which matters most on overnight Wizz and Ryanair arrivals: you drive off straight to Kutaisi or directly to Borjomi or Svaneti without waiting for daylight.
Night arrivals and flight tracking
If your flight is delayed, the host watches the airport's flight board and adjusts. There's no night-pickup surcharge at KUT, unlike at some global chains. Late drop-off for early-morning departures works the same way: park at an agreed spot, keys go in a safe or office.
A family on a 03:30 Wizz from Budapest dropped the keys back at KUT five days later at 05:10 for an early Ryanair to Krakow — agreed parking spot, keys in the safe, no morning queue.
Canyons and caves — the main day trip from Kutaisi
Kutaisi is the base for four signature natural sites of Imereti: Prometheus Cave, Sataplia, Okatse canyon and Martvili canyon. All four sit within an hour's drive and combine into one long day on the road.
Distances
Prometheus and Sataplia are around 20 km from Kutaisi — 30 minutes to Sataplia, 35 to Prometheus. Okatse is 40 km / 50 minutes, with a 2.5 km walk from the visitor centre to the canyon bridge or a 15 GEL jeep shuttle instead. Martvili is 45 km / about an hour to the north-west, with boat tours along the canyon running April to October.
A couple did Prometheus and Sataplia in one morning, left Kutaisi at 9 a.m., and were back for Imeretian khachapuri on Tamar Mepe by 13:30. No SUV needed — tarmac the whole way.
Roads and parking
The Okatse and Martvili roads are sealed tarmac and signposted from the E60 turn-off. Parking at the visitor centres is free; tickets sell at the gate or online. Prometheus is a large illuminated cave — go in the morning before tour-bus queues form. For Okatse, the canyon bridge sits 2.5 km past the visitor centre: walk it in roughly an hour through forest, or pay 15 GEL for the jeep shuttle. None of these four sites needs ground clearance — a saloon copes everywhere.
Rates in Kutaisi vary throughout the year depending on the season and the rental length.
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How expensive is renting a car in Kutaisi: average daily rates for a one-week car rental, across all car classes.
Why book in Kutaisi with us
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Round-the-clock pickup with no night surcharge
Wizz and Ryanair often land at 03:00–04:00 — we meet by flight number and skip the night fee that some chains add.
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Free car delivery from Tbilisi on hires of 7 days or more
The same Tbilisi fleet, no inflated "KUT-only" pricing in the listing.
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One-way to Tbilisi or Batumi with transparent fee
Pick up in Kutaisi, drive across Georgia, fly out from a different airport — the fee is shown on the car card.
Long-distance routes from Kutaisi
Kutaisi is the best starting point for Svaneti and a strong one for cross-country road trips. Mestia is around 220 km and 5 hours via Zugdidi. Since 2024 the route via Lentekhi and the Zagaro Pass to Ushguli has been sealed — and the drive from Kutaisi is now shorter and more scenic than from Tbilisi.
Svaneti — no 4×4 needed
After the 2024–25 resurfacing, Mestia–Ushguli is fine in a saloon, and so is the Lentekhi–Zagaro Pass route. AWD helps in winter and beyond Ushguli but isn't mandatory. Tusheti is reached only via Tbilisi and rentals are explicitly banned on those tracks by most hosts.
One-way road trip
The classic Wizz scenario: arrive at KUT, road-trip across Georgia, fly out from TBS or BUS. Kutaisi → Tbilisi one-way is around $80–100, Kutaisi → Batumi around $70–90. Flag this at booking.
A traveller arrived on a Wizz flight at KUT, drove Lentekhi–Ushguli–Mestia over three days, then dropped at TBS for the flight home. One-way fee was $85; the car went back with a host driver.
Frequent Questions
In low season, from $25 for an economy car and $32 for a crossover. In high season (June–September), the same cars run $40–55, with short spikes on big Wizz arrival days. Kutaisi sits slightly above Tbilisi for delivery reasons but stays below Batumi in summer.
Yes — KUT runs 24/7, and most hosts meet by flight number even at 02:00–04:00 without a night surcharge. If your flight is delayed, the host tracks it and adjusts. This matters most for global chains Wizz and Ryanair routes that almost always arrive overnight.
24 km / 25–30 minutes along the E60 motorway. Alternatives are the Georgian Bus shuttle at 25 GEL (~$9) or a Bolt taxi for 30–40 GEL (~$11–15). If you're a solo passenger heading on to Tbilisi without luggage, the shuttle can beat a rental on price.
Yes — that's a typical scenario. To Mestia: 220 km / 5 hours via Zugdidi. To Tbilisi: 230 km / 3.5 hours along the E60. Many guests take the car at KUT and drive past Kutaisi without stopping — quicker than checking in for the night.
Kutaisi → Tbilisi is $80–100 (220–280 GEL), Kutaisi → Batumi is $70–90 (200–250 GEL). The car returns with a host driver. Flag the option at booking so the host can prepare the logistics.
Sataplia is 12 km and 25 minutes north of Kutaisi; Prometheus is 20 km and 35 minutes. Both fit a half-day. Parking is free at the entrance; tickets sell online or at the gate. Prometheus is a large illuminated cave — best done in the morning before queues.
Okatse is 40 km / 50 minutes, Martvili is 45 km / about an hour. Inside the Okatse park, the canyon bridge sits 2.5 km from the visitor centre — walk in 1 hour or take a 15 GEL jeep shuttle. Martvili offers boat tours along the canyon from April to October.
For Prometheus, Sataplia, Okatse and Martvili — no, all tarmac. For Svaneti (Mestia–Ushguli) after the 2024–25 resurfacing a saloon is fine. An SUV only makes sense in winter or for tracks beyond Ushguli.
For a single passenger without luggage, the Georgian Bus at 25 GEL to Tbilisi can be cheaper than a rental. With two passengers and luggage, a car pays off in two days. If you're transiting KUT with no plans for Imereti, book the rental straight to your final airport.
May to October is the sweet spot. December to March, Mestia stays open as a ski resort, but winter tyres and sometimes chains are needed; tyres are mandatory on mountain roads from 1 December to 1 March. Summer is peak for both scenery and crowds.
Borjomi is 130 km / 2 hours east on the E60 — realistic in a day with a park walk. Bakuriani is 155 km / 2.5 hours, and as a ski resort it works better as an overnight stay. Winter tyres are mandatory on the mountain stretch.
Central Kutaisi has zoned paid parking via an app, but enforcement is lighter than in Tbilisi. Free alternatives sit near Kolkhida Park and behind the bazaar. Most central hotels offer their own car park.
Yes — KUT operates year-round. Wizz typically flies 4–6 winter routes versus 12–14 in summer. Rental prices drop 30–40% and the fleet has plenty of capacity. Ryanair runs a thinner winter schedule but keeps London and Dublin flying.
Yes — long-term hire is a separate segment, with monthly rates of $400–650 depending on car class. Kutaisi attracts remote workers who find Tbilisi's summer too hot or its rents too high. Most hosts add discounts beyond a month.
Yes — there are ATMs in the arrivals hall accepting most international Visa and Mastercard cards. Lari and US dollars are dispensed. Hosts in KUT typically accept cash in either currency for the balance after the prepayment.