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        "slug": "which-currency-is-best-for-renting-a-car-in-georgia-exchange-rates-where-to-exchange-money-and-card-payments",
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        "title": "Which Currency Is Best for Renting a Car in Georgia? Exchange Rates, Where to Exchange Money, and Card Payments",
        "subtitle": "What to bring to Georgia, where to exchange it, and when cash still matters on the road.",
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        "author": "Legacy Bent",
        "excerpt": "If you are planning car rental in Georgia, the practical setup is simple: bring dollars or euros, exchange part into lari after arrival, use cards in bigger cities, and keep cash for smaller places.",
        "body": "<p>Georgia is one of those countries that feels better by car. Long intercity drives, mountain roads, wine regions, small towns, and scenic stops all become much easier when you are not tied to fixed schedules. Renting a car gives you that freedom.</p>\n\n<p>Before the trip starts, though, there is one practical thing worth sorting out in advance: money.</p>\n\n<p>What currency should you bring to Georgia? Where is the best place to exchange it? Can you rely on your card, or is cash still necessary?</p>\n\n<p>If you are planning car rental in Georgia, here is what you actually need to know.</p>\n\n<h2>What currency is used in Georgia?</h2>\n\n<p>The official currency in Georgia is the Georgian lari, or GEL.</p>\n\n<p>All everyday payments inside the country are made in lari. You will see:</p>\n\n<ul>\n  <li>1 and 2 lari coins</li>\n  <li>5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 lari banknotes</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>Smaller change is called tetri:</p>\n\n<ul>\n  <li>1 GEL = 100 tetri</li>\n  <li>tetri coins come in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 tetri</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>So even if you arrive with dollars or euros, your local spending in Georgia will still happen in lari.</p>\n\n<h2>What currency should you bring to Georgia?</h2>\n\n<p>The most practical options are:</p>\n\n<ul>\n  <li>US dollars (USD)</li>\n  <li>euros (EUR)</li>\n  <li>Russian rubles (RUB)</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>These are the currencies most commonly exchanged in Georgia, both in banks and in exchange offices. Other currencies may be harder to exchange, or the rate may simply be worse.</p>\n\n<p>For most travelers, the easiest setup is simple: bring USD or EUR, then exchange part of the amount into lari after arrival.</p>\n\n<p>If you are renting a car in Georgia, you do not need to arrive with a huge amount of cash in local currency. You just need enough flexibility for fuel, small purchases, rural areas, and backup spending.</p>\n\n<h2>How much does car rental in Georgia cost?</h2>\n\n<p>Car rental prices in Georgia usually range from around $20 to $85 per day, depending on:</p>\n\n<ul>\n  <li>vehicle class</li>\n  <li>brand</li>\n  <li>season</li>\n  <li>demand</li>\n  <li>rental duration</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>Compact cars usually cost less. SUVs and larger crossovers usually cost more, especially during busy travel periods.</p>\n\n<p>That is why booking in advance is usually the better move. It gives you better choice, clearer pricing, and less stress after arrival.</p>\n\n<h2>Exchange rate in Georgia</h2>\n\n<p>The Georgian lari exchange rate is not fixed. It changes regularly, so it is worth checking the current rate before your trip or right after arrival.</p>\n\n<p>A good reference point is the official website of the National Bank of Georgia: www.nbg.gov.ge</p>\n\n<p>That gives you a clean benchmark before exchanging money at a bank, exchange office, or airport.</p>\n\n<h2>Where to exchange money in Georgia</h2>\n\n<p>You usually have three options:</p>\n\n<ul>\n  <li>banks</li>\n  <li>exchange offices</li>\n  <li>airport exchange points</li>\n</ul>\n\n<h2>Banks</h2>\n\n<p>Banks are the safest and most predictable option.</p>\n\n<p>The best-known banks in Georgia include:</p>\n\n<ul>\n  <li>Bank of Georgia</li>\n  <li>TBC Bank</li>\n  <li>Liberty Bank</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>To exchange money at a bank, you will usually need your passport.</p>\n\n<p>Typical working hours are around:</p>\n\n<ul>\n  <li>weekdays: 9:00 to 18:00</li>\n  <li>weekends: often closed or limited, depending on the branch</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>Banks are reliable, but they do not always offer the best rate.</p>\n\n<h2>Exchange offices</h2>\n\n<p>Exchange offices often give better rates than banks and are easy to find in:</p>\n\n<ul>\n  <li>city centers</li>\n  <li>shopping areas</li>\n  <li>tourist districts</li>\n  <li>transport hubs</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>Many work from morning until evening, and some are open 24/7.</p>\n\n<p>This is often the most practical option, but use common sense:</p>\n\n<ul>\n  <li>do not rush into an exchange just because the rate looks unusually good</li>\n  <li>count the money carefully</li>\n  <li>check the notes before leaving</li>\n  <li>avoid suspicious places with rates that look too perfect</li>\n</ul>\n\n<h2>Airport exchange</h2>\n\n<p>Airport exchange is the easiest option, but usually the worst financially.</p>\n\n<p>The rate is often weaker than in the city, and commissions can be higher. It makes sense to exchange only a small amount at the airport for your first expenses, then change the rest later in the city.</p>\n\n<h2>Can you pay by card in Georgia?</h2>\n\n<p>Yes, in most major cities you can.</p>\n\n<p>In Tbilisi, Batumi, and Kutaisi, card payments are common in:</p>\n\n<ul>\n  <li>hotels</li>\n  <li>restaurants</li>\n  <li>supermarkets</li>\n  <li>malls</li>\n  <li>many regular businesses</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>But once you move into smaller towns, villages, mountain areas, or more local roadside places, cash becomes more important. Sometimes cards are not accepted. Sometimes terminals work inconsistently. Sometimes it is simply faster to pay in cash and move on.</p>\n\n<p>That is why it is smart to keep some lari with you even if you mostly use a card.</p>\n\n<h2>Which bank cards work in Georgia?</h2>\n\n<p>International Visa and Mastercard cards are generally the safest choice.</p>\n\n<p>If your card is issued by a foreign bank and works normally abroad, you will usually be fine in Georgia too.</p>\n\n<p>For most travelers, that is enough: a working international card plus some local cash.</p>\n\n<h2>Do you need a Georgian bank card?</h2>\n\n<p>For most tourists, no.</p>\n\n<p>If you are visiting Georgia for a short trip and renting a car for a few days or weeks, there is usually no need to open a local bank card. That only starts to make sense if you stay longer, visit often, or need local banking for everyday life.</p>\n\n<p>For a normal rental trip, it is unnecessary complication.</p>\n\n<h2>Final thoughts</h2>\n\n<p>If you want the simplest answer, here it is:</p>\n\n<p>Bring dollars or euros. Exchange part of the amount into lari after arrival. Avoid changing too much at the airport. Use your card in bigger cities, but keep cash for smaller places, fuel stops, and unexpected situations.</p>\n\n<p>That setup works well for most trips.</p>\n\n<p>Georgia is one of the best countries in the region to explore by car. Sort out the currency side in advance, and the rest of the trip becomes much easier.</p>\n\n<h2>Note on rates and banking details</h2>\n\n<p>Exchange rates, banking conditions, branch hours, and card-related details can change over time. The practical information in this article reflects the situation at the time of the latest content update.</p>\n\n<p><strong>Last update for exchange-rate and banking reference details: May 2023.</strong></p>",
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    {
        "id": 359,
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        "slug": "best-mobile-internet-for-a-georgia-road-trip",
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        "title": "Best mobile internet for a Georgia road trip",
        "subtitle": "Which SIM card to buy so you don't get lost in the mountains",
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        "author": "Legacy Bent",
        "excerpt": "Forget expensive roaming. If you are renting a car in Georgia, here is which local SIM card gives you the best coverage in the mountains and on the road.",
        "body": "You need mobile data in Georgia. If you are renting a car, do not rely on offline maps alone. You want live traffic, speed camera warnings, and a connection if something goes wrong in the mountains.\n\nForget roaming. It is expensive and pointless. Buy a local SIM card right after you land.\n\n## Which operator to choose?\nThere are three main players in Georgia:\n- **Magti:** The absolute best for a road trip. It has the strongest coverage in the mountains and remote regions like Svaneti or Kazbegi. If you are driving out of the cities, grab Magti.\n- **Silknet:** Solid in Tbilisi, Batumi, and on the main highways. It is a good backup, but Magti beats it in the wild.\n- **Beeline (Cellfie):** The cheapest option, but the coverage outside major cities is spotty. Do not rely on it if you are heading into the mountains.\n\n## How much does it cost?\nSIM cards are cheap. You can get one at the airport, but buying it at a carrier's official shop in the city is usually a bit cheaper. \nFor about 10-15 USD, you can get an unlimited data package for a week or two. That is more than enough for Google Maps, Spotify, and uploading videos.\n\n## What you need to buy a SIM\nJust your passport. Walk into the shop, pick a data package, hand them your phone, and they will set everything up in five minutes.\n\n## Which maps work best?\n- **Google Maps:** Great for cities and finding restaurants, but it sometimes suggests terrible dirt roads in the countryside.\n- **Waze:** Perfect for the highways. It warns you about speed cameras, police, and potholes. Highly recommended.\n\nGet a Magti SIM, download Waze, and you are ready to drive.",
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        "id": 354,
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        "slug": "how-to-rent-a-car-in-georgia-from-booking-to-drop-off",
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        "title": "How to rent a car in Georgia: from booking to drop-off",
        "subtitle": "No stress, no scams. Just the steps you actually need.",
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        "category": "Articles",
        "author": "Legacy Bent",
        "excerpt": "The exact steps to rent, pick up, and return a car in Georgia without losing your mind or your deposit.",
        "body": "Skip the long intros. You want a car in Georgia. Here is the exact process from booking it to handing the keys back.\n\n## 1. Book it early\nDo not just show up at an office in July and expect a good deal. Book online. Pick your dates, choose a car that fits your route, and check the insurance rules. \n\n## 2. Have your stuff ready\nAt the desk, you need your passport, your driver's license (Latin letters are fine), and a credit or debit card for the deposit hold. That is it.\n\n## 3. Picking up the car\nTake five minutes to actually look at the car. Take a video of the outside and inside. Note every scratch and dent on the handover paper. Check the fuel level. If you skip this, you might pay for someone else's bad driving later.\n\n## 4. On the road\nDrive normal. Speed limits are strictly enforced by cameras. Do not drink and drive. Zero tolerance is a real thing here. If you hit something or someone hits you, do not move the car. Call the police immediately. Your insurance is useless without a police report.\n\n## 5. Dropping it off\nBring the car back on time with the same amount of fuel you started with. Take all your trash and chargers out. The manager will check the car. If it is clean and damage-free, your deposit gets unblocked.\n\nSimple process. Treat the car right, follow the rules, and enjoy the trip.",
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        "id": 339,
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        "slug": "what-you-actually-need-to-rent-a-car-in-georgia",
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        "title": "What you actually need to rent a car in Georgia",
        "subtitle": "Documents, age limits, and driving rules",
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        "author": "Legacy Bent",
        "excerpt": "No fluff. Just the exact documents, age limits, and rules you need to rent a car in Georgia without getting stuck at the desk.",
        "body": "Forget the endless lists of rules. If you want to rent a car in Georgia, here is exactly what you need to hand over at the desk.\n\n## The basic documents\n- **Your passport.**\n- **A valid driver’s license.** It must have your name in Latin letters. You do not need an International Driving Permit (IDP) if your regular license meets this rule.\n- **A credit or debit card** in the main driver's name for the deposit. \n\n## Age and experience\nMost rental companies in Georgia require you to be at least 23 years old with a minimum of 3 years of driving experience. Some places will rent to 21-year-olds, but expect to pay a \"young driver\" fee and face higher insurance deposits.\n\n## Insurance rules you shouldn't ignore\nStandard insurance usually covers the body of the car but skips the tires, undercarriage, and glass. If you plan to drive up to Kazbegi or Svaneti, do yourself a favor and get the full coverage. \n\nAlso, if you scratch the car or get into a fender bender, you must call the police and the rental company immediately. If you move the car without a police report, your insurance is void. Period.\n\n## Where you can't go\nRental cars are for public roads. Do not try to take a standard sedan to Ushguli, Omalo, or Tusheti. Those routes require serious 4x4s, and most companies strictly ban their standard fleets from going there. If you break the car on a banned road, you pay for the whole rescue operation and the repairs.\n\nKeep your documents ready, respect the mountain roads, and get the right insurance. It makes the whole trip much easier.",
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        "id": 379,
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        "contentKey": "news_rentalcars_marketplace_closing_2025",
        "locale": "en",
        "slug": "what-happened-to-rentalcars-com-and-why-you-pay-more-now",
        "publicSlug": "what-happened-to-rentalcars-com-and-why-you-pay-more-now",
        "path": "/news/what-happened-to-rentalcars-com-and-why-you-pay-more-now",
        "title": "What happened to rentalcars.com and why you pay more now",
        "subtitle": "The end of the Marketplace and what it means for your wallet",
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        "category": "Articles",
        "author": "Legacy Bent",
        "excerpt": "The rentalcars.com Marketplace closed for local suppliers. Here is an inside look at why your choices shrank, why prices jumped, and how to find the right car now.",
        "body": "Here is an inside look from an independent supplier who worked through the rentalcars.com Marketplace for years. We explain why the choices suddenly shrank after summer 2025, why prices went up, and what you can do about it.\n\n## The short version: Where did the cars go?\nUntil recently, rentalcars.com ran a Marketplace model. Alongside the massive global brands, local companies could list their cars. For you, the customer, this meant real competition. You saw standard corporate sedans right next to 4x4s, premium SUVs, and flexible deals from local players. That mix kept prices honest. The market regulated itself.\n\nOn August 31, 2025, suppliers received notices: the Marketplace is closed to independent companies. Only the global networks stay. To the user, it looks simple: fewer cars, higher prices, and everything looks the same. But behind that simplicity is a massive shift in how the platform makes money.\n\n## Why did they kill it?\nRunning a marketplace with thousands of local fleets is hard. Tracking availability and dealing with local blockages is a headache. One bad local supplier ruins the platform's reputation. \nBy sticking only to global networks, the platform gets uniformity. Standard insurance, standard cancellation policies, predictable margins. It makes their life easier, but it limits your options.\n\n## Why prices went up\nWhen the Marketplace died, real competition died with it. Global networks have massive overheads and sell mostly standardized cars. The local guys used to cap the prices. You could look and say, \"For this money, I get a premium SUV from a local company, or a basic compact from a global one.\" \n\nThat anchor is gone. Now, the average price goes up, while the class of car you get for that money goes down. \n\n## What the customer lost\n- **Route-specific cars:** Finding a proper 4x4 for the mountains or a large minivan for a family road trip just got much harder on aggregators.\n- **Flexible terms:** Local companies often threw in extra gear, better insurance terms, and personal support that big networks just do not offer.\n- **Fair pricing:** Without locals undercutting the big guys, peak season prices now skyrocket with nothing to hold them down.\n\n## What you should do now\n1. **Book early.** With fewer cars on the main aggregator, the good ones vanish fast.\n2. **Look for direct sites.** If you need a specific car class like a real 4x4 or a premium SUV, you will likely only find it by booking directly with local companies.\n3. **Check the total cost.** A low daily rate from a global network often hides massive deposit requirements and expensive insurance add-ons. \n4. **Talk to humans.** The biggest advantage of local rentals is direct contact. If something goes wrong on a mountain pass, you want a direct line to the garage, not an automated call center in another country.\n\nWhen the aggregator cuts options, the price goes up. But the cars are still here. You just need to know where to look.",
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