Parking in Tbilisi: Zones, Costs & How Not to Get Towed
How parking works in Tbilisi: zonal system, 1 GEL/hour rate, the Tbilisi Parking app, fines up to 50 GEL, and when a parking pass actually saves you money.
Parking in Tbilisi is straightforward once you understand the basics. The city centre runs on a paid zonal system at 1 GEL per hour (~$0.37), you pay through an app or a street terminal, and skipping payment costs you a 50 GEL fine — or worse, a tow. Outside the centre, most neighbourhoods still have free street parking.
Three Types of Parking in Tbilisi
Before you leave the car, figure out which zone you're in:
1. Free street parking. This covers most residential neighbourhoods and districts outside the centre. No markings, no zone signs — you can park as long as you don't block driveways, entrances, or pedestrian crossings.
2. Paid zonal parking. The central streets — Kote Abkhazi, Abanotubani, Rustaveli Avenue and surrounding lanes. Look for blue «P» signs on poles with a code like A722 — that's your zone number. Payment is required here.
3. Private and covered car parks. Underground lots and guarded parking at shopping centres and hotels. You pay on entry or exit.
How Much Does Parking Cost in the Centre
In practice, the entire paid zone in central Tbilisi operates at a single rate: 1 GEL per hour. Zones B and C with higher rates (2–3 GEL) were part of the original plan but are not applied in practice. Budget 1 GEL/hour for any zonal spot and you'll be right.
The first 15 minutes are free in every zonal area. After that, the clock runs. Unlike many European cities, Tbilisi's zonal parking operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — there is no free window at night, on weekends, or on public holidays.
The zone type and rate are always shown on the sign beneath the «P» — check the pole before you walk away.
How to Pay for Parking
Three options, all available to foreigners:
- Tbilisi Parking app (App Store / Google Play) — download, enter your licence plate and the zone code from the pole, top up your balance with a card. Works with both Georgian and foreign plates.
- parking.tbilisi.gov.ge — same process, in a browser.
- Street payment terminals — within 50 metres of any paid zone, accept cash and cards.
Enter your licence plate in Latin characters. Foreign plates are charged exactly the same rate as Georgian ones — there are no tourist exemptions.
To check whether you already have an outstanding fine, enter your plate number at parking.tbilisi.gov.ge.
Parking Passes: When They Actually Make Sense
Tbilisi has two types of parking passes, and they're commonly confused.
The municipal pass covers regular marked parking spots across the city — anywhere you see a «P» sign without a zone code on the pole. Prices: 50 GEL per year, 25 GEL for six months, or 4 GEL per week. You can buy it through parking.tbilisi.gov.ge or at any street terminal.
The catch: this pass does not cover zonal spots in the centre — the ones with an A722-style code on the pole. You still pay 1 GEL/hour separately for those. The municipal pass is for non-central neighbourhoods where there's parking markings but no hourly rate.
The all-inclusive zonal pass covers everything — central zonal spots included. Prices: 800 GEL per year, 500 GEL for six months, 300 GEL per month, 100 GEL per week, 20 GEL per day.
When a pass is worth it
Quick math: the daily all-inclusive pass costs 20 GEL. At 1 GEL/hour, it only pays off if you're parked in zonal spots for more than 20 hours in a single day — not realistic for a tourist.
The weekly pass at 100 GEL starts to make sense if you're staying two weeks or more, driving every day, and parking in zonal areas for 5–6 hours daily.
For most visitors with a rental car — 3 to 10 days — no pass is needed. Just pay as you go through the app.
The one exception: if you're staying outside the centre but driving into central areas every day, the 4 GEL weekly municipal pass for non-zonal spots is worth it.
The Guys in Vests: To Pay or Not to Pay
All over Tbilisi — near markets, hospitals, restaurants and tourist spots — you'll see people in orange or green vests waving you into spaces. These are informal parking attendants, a long-standing fixture of the city.
Their services are entirely optional and unregulated: they have no legal right to charge you, and the spots where they work are usually free. Most drivers hand over 0.50–2 GEL as a courtesy, especially if the attendant helped navigate a tight space. Declining is fine.
One thing to know: the presence of an attendant does not mean the spot is paid or that you owe anything. If there's no zonal sign on a nearby pole, the spot is free.
Fines and Towing
The enforcement system is more efficient than it looks:
- 50 GEL — for an unpaid zonal spot or parking in a prohibited area
- 100 GEL — for parking in a public transport lane
- Towing — around 200 GEL on top of the fine. Tbilisi has three municipal impound lots, and retrieving your car on a weekend is a genuine ordeal
Inspectors work in plain clothes with tablets, checking plates against the payment database without warning. The "maybe they won't notice" approach doesn't hold up in central Tbilisi.
Where to Find Free Spots
Free parking exists in Tbilisi — you just need to know where to look:
- Sololaki and Mtatsminda side streets — 10–15 minutes on foot from most tourist spots, no zonal signs in the residential parts, parking in courtyards is generally fine (watch for no-parking signs)
- Districts outside the centre — Isani, Chugureti, Nadzaladevi: free parking is the norm beyond the paid zones
- A hotel with its own parking — the most convenient option if you're staying several days. Ask in advance: many small guesthouses in the Old Town have no parking of their own
Local tip: ask your apartment host about the nearest free spots — Tbilisi locals know low-key spaces that never make it into any guide.
Parking With a Rental Car
The rules are the same for rental cars as for everyone else — foreign and Georgian plates are treated identically, and the Tbilisi Parking app works with any licence plate.
One thing worth checking before you book: some car rental companies include the municipal parking pass in the rental price, meaning you don't pay separately for non-zonal spots across the city. Ask about this upfront to avoid paying twice.
With MY.DRIVE, everything included in your rental is clearly listed before you confirm — no surprises. If you have questions about parking, neighbourhoods, or driving in Tbilisi, the support team is at go.mydrive.club/en/support.
If you're planning to explore beyond Tbilisi — Mtskheta, Kazbegi, or Vardzia — a rental car gives you far more flexibility than taxis. Routes and practical driving guides are in the Journal; common questions are answered in the FAQ.
Bottom Line
Tbilisi's parking system is logical once you get it: 1 GEL/hour in the centre, 24/7, with a free 15-minute window, payment through the app or terminal. Outside the centre, most areas are free. Fines are real — 50 GEL for a missed payment and 200+ GEL for a tow is reason enough to check the pole before walking off. For most visitors with a rental car, the app covers everything; passes only make sense for longer stays or heavy daily driving.
