Why the rental car can't cross

The terms on the rental marketplace we work with don't allow cars to leave Georgia, and owners don't offer a permit for Turkey, even for an extra charge. Taking the car across would break the rental agreement. So plan Turkey as a separate outing, and keep the car for Adjara and the rest of Georgia.

A day in Turkey without the car

  • Leave the car in Batumi, at your hotel or in a car park, and get to the border by public transport or taxi. Marshrutkas marked "Sarpi" and city buses run from central Batumi, and the trip takes about half an hour.
  • Cross on foot. The checkpoint works around the clock, with separate lanes for pedestrians, cars and buses. On an ordinary day, walking through doesn't take long.
  • Carry on from the Turkish side. Minibuses wait beyond the Turkish post for Hopa, about 20 km away, and for towns further along the coast.
  • Bring the right documents. Most visitors need a passport; Turkish and Georgian citizens can use a national ID card. Coming back into Georgia, you'll also need health and accident insurance covering at least 30,000 GEL, compulsory for visitors since 1 January 2026.

Queues are longest in July and August, on Friday evenings and weekend mornings, and around Turkish public holidays, when shoppers cross in both directions.

Arriving from Turkey and renting in Batumi

Crossing from Turkey on foot and collecting a car on the Georgian side is easy to arrange if you plan it:

  • Choose where to collect the car. Batumi airport, 14 km from the border, is a pickup point for many cars. Owners offering delivery can bring it to a Batumi hotel, and a few might meet you close to the checkpoint; check this before booking.
  • Check your documents. Owners ask for a passport and a driving licence at handover. Turkish licences are printed in Latin letters, which is what owners need to see. If you entered Georgia with a Turkish ID card rather than a passport, ask the owner before booking whether it will be accepted.
  • Have lari or a bank card. Fuel stations and parking in Georgia take lari or cards only, not Turkish lira.

Georgian road rules to know

If you're used to driving in Turkey, keep these in mind on the Georgian side:

  • Limits: 60 km/h through towns and villages, 90 km/h on the open road, 110 km/h on motorways.
  • Drinking: the legal maximum is 0.3 per mille, which in practice means not drinking before you drive.
  • Camera fines are sent to the owner, and there's no online payment for foreign drivers, so clear them before you head back to Turkey.
  • Parking in Batumi is bought as a pass for a day or longer, not by the hour.
  • Some mountain roads are banned for rental cars, including the Goderdzi Pass between Batumi and Akhaltsikhe.

Our driving and parking guide explains each of these in more detail.

Sarpi as a trip in its own right

You don't have to cross the border to enjoy Sarpi. The village, home to the Laz community, has a pebble beach about 3 km long with remarkably clear water, right beside the checkpoint. At the end of August or in early September it hosts Kolkhoba, a Laz festival that stages the myth of the Argonauts. Gonio fortress is 7 km back towards Batumi, so the two make an easy half day: see our day trips from Batumi.

Returning the car before you cross back

If you're leaving Georgia through Sarpi, hand the car back first. Arrange the return with the owner in advance: owners who deliver often collect cars from hotels too, or you can drop the car at the airport, 14 km from the border, and take a taxi from there. Refuel and settle any fines before the handover, so nothing follows you over the border.

Find a car for the Georgian part of your trip, or arrange a pickup at Batumi airport.

FAQ

Is Sarpi beach within reach of the rental car?

Yes. Sarpi is in Georgia, 20 km south of central Batumi, and its beach lies right next to the checkpoint. You just can't drive on through the border into Turkey.

Is the Sarpi border open at night?

Yes. The checkpoint works 24 hours a day, every day. Expect longer queues in July and August, on Friday evenings and weekend mornings, and around Turkish public holidays.

Can you walk across the border at Sarpi?

Yes. Pedestrians have their own lanes, and minibuses to Hopa wait on the Turkish side. Bring your passport, or a national ID card if you're a Turkish or Georgian citizen.

I entered Georgia with a Turkish ID card. Can I still rent a car?

Owners usually ask for a passport at handover. Before you book, ask the owner whether your ID card will be accepted instead, and bring a driving licence printed in Latin letters.