Since 2 April 2026, excise on cars older than 6 years has risen to 4.5 GEL per 1 cm³, and for cars 7–10 years old it is 4 to 5.6 times higher. So a customs-cleared car made in 2019 or earlier is now clearly a better deal than the same car that has not been cleared.
The key numbers
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| VAT on importing a passenger car into Georgia | not charged | Tax Code of Georgia, Article 168 |
| Import tax | 0.05 GEL per 1 cm³ + 5% of that amount for each year of the car's age. For a 2.0 L car made in 2018: 140 GEL | Tax Code of Georgia, Article 197 |
| Excise since 2 April 2026 | 1.5 GEL per 1 cm³ up to 6 years old, 4.5 GEL per 1 cm³ older than 6 years | Law No. 1477 |
| Passenger car imports into Georgia in 2025 | $3.87 billion, 20.9% of all the country's imports | Geostat |
| Share of the USA in passenger car imports | 59% by value in 2025 (184,427 cars); 76.5% by number of cars in the first half of 2026 | Geostat |
| Passenger car exports from Georgia in 2025 | $2.81 billion, 38.6% of all exports, the No. 1 product | Geostat |
| Half of the cars on Autospot.ge cost no more than | $9,000 | Autospot listings, 14.11.2026 |
| Prices on Autospot.ge start from | $1,000 | Autospot listings, 14.11.2026 |
Reason 1. Customs clearance costs several times less than in neighbouring countries
In Georgia, no VAT is paid when a passenger car is imported. The import tax is calculated from the engine volume and for an ordinary car is 100–150 GEL. The main payment is excise; it also depends only on the volume and the age, not on the price of the car.
Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan apply the rates of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). For a private person, a car older than 5 years with a 1.8–2.3 L engine is charged duty of €4.8 per 1 cm³.
Example: a 2.0 L petrol car made in 2018, imported in 2026
| Country | Duty and excise | Approx. in US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia before 2 April 2026 | excise 1,600 GEL + import tax 140 GEL | about $670 |
| Georgia since 2 April 2026 | excise 9,000 GEL + import tax 140 GEL | about $3,520 |
| Russia, private person | 2,000 cm³ × €4.8 = €9,600 | about $10,660 |
National Bank of Georgia rate on 13 November 2026: $1 = 2.5935 GEL, €1 = 2.8793 GEL. The table does not include clearance fees, registration or delivery. Work out the full amount for your car in the customs calculator.
Reason 2. Cars from the USA, often from auctions
More than three quarters of the cars imported into Georgia come from the USA: in the first half of 2026 that was 76,936 of 100,616 cars (Geostat). The average declared value of a car from the USA at import is $11,924, which is less than the average for all countries ($16,051).
Many cars are bought at insurance auctions, Copart and IAAI, after accidents, shipped by sea to Poti and repaired in Georgia. Repairs here are cheaper than in the USA, so a repaired car costs less than the same car that was never damaged.
That is why, before buying, check the history by VIN: a Carfax or AutoCheck report shows the auction, the damage and the mileage.
Reason 3. Georgia is a transit hub for the whole region
Cars are brought into Georgia not only for Georgia itself. In 2025 Georgia exported passenger cars worth $2.81 billion, which is 38.6% of all the country's exports and first place among goods (Geostat). Cars are not made in Georgia, so what is exported is what was imported from the USA, Japan, Korea and China.
Most cars go to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, followed by Iran, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan and Armenia. For a buyer in Georgia this means a large choice: dealers bring cars in batches for the demand of the whole region.
In the first half of 2026, exports fell by 21%: 38,759 cars against 49,122 a year earlier. How to take a car out of Georgia to your own country is covered in the article "How to export a car from Georgia in 2026".
What changed in 2026
A new excise has been in force since 2 April 2026 (Law No. 1477):
| Car age | Before, GEL per 1 cm³ | Now, GEL per 1 cm³ |
|---|---|---|
| 0–2 years | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| 3 years | 1.4 | 1.5 |
| 4 years | 1.2 | 1.5 |
| 5 years | 1.0 | 1.5 |
| 6 years | 0.8 | 1.5 |
| 7–8 years | 0.8 | 4.5 |
| 9 years | 0.9 | 4.5 |
| 10 years | 1.1 | 4.5 |
| 12 years | 1.5 | 4.5 |
| older than 14 years | 2.4 | 4.5 |
Right-hand drive: the rate is 3 times higher. A left-hand-drive hybrid up to 6 years old gets a 60% discount.
Age is counted as the year of registration minus the year of manufacture. Customs clearance became most expensive for cars 7–10 years old: 4 to 5.6 times higher. For cars older than 14 years the rate rose 1.9 times.
What this means for a buyer:
- A customs-cleared car made in 2019 or earlier is a better deal: its excise has already been paid, and the buyer does not pay it.
- A car older than 6 years that has not been cleared will cost more by the amount of the new excise. For 2.0 L that is 9,000 GEL instead of 1,600 GEL.
- A car made before 2013 cannot be registered in Georgia for the first time: since 1 January 2024 the Euro 5 emission standard is required. Such cars are bought to be exported to other countries.
Car prices in Georgia: Autospot data
The figures below are prices in Autospot.ge listings as of 14.11.2026. Listings older than a year without confirmation from the seller are not counted.
Prices by age
| Year of manufacture | Typical price (25–75 %) | Half cost no more than |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 and newer | $14,900–$31,300 | $20,600 |
| 2015–2019 | $8,500–$15,000 | $11,300 |
| 2010–2014 | $5,500–$10,500 | $7,200 |
| 2005–2009 | $3,300–$6,000 | $4,500 |
| 2004 and older | $2,200–$4,100 | $3,000 |
The most common makes
| Mark | Typical price (25–75 %) | Half cost no more than |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota | $6,300–$15,900 | $10,700 |
| Mercedes-Benz | $7,100–$22,000 | $12,800 |
| BMW | $7,200–$18,300 | $12,700 |
| Ford | $5,200–$11,300 | $7,000 |
| Hyundai | $6,500–$12,300 | $9,400 |
| Volkswagen | $6,100–$12,000 | $8,500 |
| Nissan | $3,800–$8,900 | $6,300 |
| Chevrolet | $5,100–$10,100 | $7,000 |
| Lexus | $10,000–$25,000 | $14,800 |
| Honda | $3,400–$7,700 | $5,000 |
Customs-cleared and not cleared
| Customs clearance | Typical price (25–75 %) | Half cost no more than |
|---|---|---|
| Cleared | $5,000–$13,800 | $8,300 |
| Not cleared | $7,900–$18,000 | $11,500 |
Cars that have not been cleared are more expensive in the listings because on average they are newer: they were recently brought from auctions. Prices by make and model are on the page "Car prices in Georgia".
How to buy a car in Georgia for less: 5 steps
- Compare one model on several sites. The same car may be sold on different sites at different prices.
- Choose a customs-cleared car if it is older than 6 years. Autospot.ge has a "Customs cleared" filter.
- For a car that has not been cleared, work out the excise in advance. The Autospot customs calculator handles both the new and the old scale.
- Check the history by VIN. A Carfax or AutoCheck report shows the auction, accidents and mileage.
- Check the legal status and transfer ownership at the Service Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. A certificate of legal status shows seizure or pledge; the transfer costs 200 GEL.
For more on buying, checks and ownership transfer, see the guide "Where to buy and sell a car in Georgia".
Before the deal, see the car in person and check the documents.
