Is it difficult to drive from Tbilisi to Stepantsminda (Kazbegi) on the Georgian Military Highway without prior driving experience in Georgia?

A driver on their second self-drive trip around Georgia notes that overall driving is manageable, but locals honk a lot and often don't yield to pedestrians. Speeding is risky: the tolerance threshold is low, cameras are widespread and read foreign plates too, and fines are steep. In Tbilisi, driving in bus-only lanes carries a very high fine.

If you are planning to continue beyond Kazbegi toward the Lars crossing, keep in mind that cars with Georgian plates may face extra scrutiny on the Ossetian side. In that case, it can be more practical to book separate transport each way through services like Unitiki instead of relying on one rental car for the whole trip.

Drivers say the road from Tbilisi to Stepantsminda can feel difficult if you have no experience driving in Georgia. Even though it is a well-known route, local traffic habits and pace may be challenging for first-timers.

If you have already driven in large, busy cities, adapting to Tbilisi is usually easier. Kazbegi is generally reachable in a standard passenger car, but Tusheti is a different story: a low-clearance car is not suitable there, and many rental companies explicitly forbid that route.