Car rental Kutaisi International Airport (KUT)

Why collecting wheels at KUT just makes sense

Kutaisi International Airport lies only 20 km west of Kutaisi city centre, yet most visitors skip town altogether. Budget airlines funnel travellers straight into Georgia’s heartland; the savviest pick up their keys at Arrivals and aim for Tbilisi (about 230 km), Batumi (roughly 150 km) or the switchback roads of the Greater Caucasus. A hire car means no timetable juggling, no bargaining with taxi touts, and total freedom to stop when the first snow-capped ridge appears.

A quick personal story to put you in the driver’s seat

Last April a British couple, Anna and Tom, booked through carsandrooms.ge on a whim. Their flight from Luton landed at 03:10. By 03:40 they were rolling east, heater on, Google Maps whispering “Next stop: Borjomi.” At dawn they sent me a selfie by the mineral springs—still wearing airline wristbands! Meanwhile, the first Kutaisi-Tbilisi bus had yet to leave the depot. Those extra hours became memories of steam, pine scent and zero queuing.

What makes carsandrooms.ge different?

• Zero-deposit option – keep your card limit for khinkali, not holds.
• 24/7 WhatsApp support – I once coached a guest through a flat-tyre change at 2 a.m.; he still sends Christmas cards.
• Clear fuel policy – collect full, return full, nothing sneaky.
• Traveller-favourite fleet – nippy hybrids for city hops, sturdy AWDs for Svaneti passes, all under five years old.

Yes, you may find street-corner rentals, but you often trade paperwork clarity for “cash only, cross your fingers.” Your trip, your call.

Step-by-step: how to rent a car in Kutaisi airport

1. Book online before you fly

Searching “Car rental Kutaisi International Airport (KUT)” lets you pick a supplier showing real photos, not glossy stock shots. Early booking secures automatic gearboxes—Georgian hills punish clutches.

2. Land, clear passport control, follow the green steering-wheel sign

KUT’s arrivals hall is cosy; the rental desks appear within seconds. Present passport, licence (UK photocard or IDP + paper licence) and voucher. Paperwork rarely breaks the five-minute mark.

3. Inspect the vehicle

Use your phone torch if it’s dark. Film a slow walk-round. Our team hands you a checklist; note every scratch and upload the video to the cloud right away.

4. Grab the free local SIM trick

Little hack: we pop a prepaid Magti SIM into your hand. Insert it, open Waze, and you’re online even in valleys where roaming fails.

5. Set sat-nav to your first fuel stop

Petrol stations dot the Kutaisi–Tbilisi motorway every few kilometres, though only some accept foreign cards. I favour the well-lit Socar on the eastbound E60 near Zestafoni—bright forecourt, spotless loos, hot lobiani.

Understanding costs without surprises

You’ll notice I’m avoiding numbers—that’s deliberate. Georgian rental prices move with season, demand and car type, and a figure printed today might mislead tomorrow. Instead, keep four levers in mind:

1. Seasonality – late spring and midsummer see the highest demand; autumn is gentler on the wallet.
2. Vehicle class – hybrids sit mid-range; AWD SUVs carry a premium for mountain security.
3. Rental length – daily rates usually drop once you cross the three-day mark.
4. One-way option – returning in Tbilisi or Batumi costs extra convenience, though still cheaper than a round-trip bus ticket plus lost time.

Book early, compare like-for-like insurance cover, and read the fuel policy in full—those steps matter more than chasing the very lowest advertised figure.

Common questions first-timers ask

Is driving left- or right-hand?

Cars are left-hand drive, and traffic keeps to the right—just like mainland Europe.

Can I drop off in Tbilisi?

Yes. One-way returns are available; check the fee during booking so it doesn’t appear as a surprise at the desk.

What about insurance?

Standard cover carries an excess. If you aim for gravel mountain lanes, consider the full waiver for peace of mind.

Do I need snow chains?

From November to March, yes above 1 800 m. We supply them free—just tick the box at checkout.

The local’s mini-route planner (my personal favourite)

1. Day 1: Land at KUT, drive to Martvili Canyon. Quick swim if the guards look away.
2. Day 2: Dawn climb towards Ushguli—Europe’s highest village—via Mestia. Pause for kubdari (meat bread) in Lentekhi.
3. Day 3: Cruise palm-lined roads to Batumi. Hand back keys, sip coffee at the Alphabet Tower while the Black Sea glitters below.
   Three days, roughly 650 km, zero timetable stress.

Tiny pitfalls—and how to dodge them

• Police speed traps hover near Zestafoni. Stick to posted limits in villages.
• Cows own the asphalt. They lick salt in the evening; honk gently and they’ll shuffle.
• Google Maps optimism. Georgian locals add ten km/h everywhere; you likely won’t—pad your ETA generously.

Ready to beat the marshrutka?

Remember that opening image? If you’d rather breathe pine-sweet air than queue under fluorescent lights, picking up a car at Kutaisi International Airport is the straight road to freedom. Book ahead, film your walk-round, pocket the free SIM, and let the E60 ribbon pull you east, west, or straight into the clouds.

See you on the road. And if a silver Outlander flashes by with a cheeky “carsandrooms.ge” sticker, that’s me—wave and I’ll toot back.