Author: Nodar, Car Select expert · October 10, 2026 · 5 min read
Which Cars Are Worth Importing from the US to Georgia in 2026
In short
Cars up to six years old pay least: in 2026 that means model year 2020 or newer. Their excise is 1.5 GEL per cc, older cars pay 4.5 GEL. A left-hand-drive hybrid up to six years old pays 0.6 GEL per cc, a left-hand-drive EV pays nothing, and right-hand drive triples the rate. For a 2.5-litre engine, the gap between a 2021 and a 2019 car is 7,500 GEL in excise alone.
Since April 2, 2026, Georgia's car excise depends on age, and the six-year line is worth thousands of lari: with a 2.5-litre engine, a 2019 car pays three times the excise of a 2021 one.
Since April 2, 2026, an amendment to Georgia's Tax Code replaced the planned ban on cars over six years old with a triple excise. The maths is simple: engine size in cc times the rate, and the rate depends on age, engine type and steering side. The numbers below match our customs calculator.
Excise rates in 2026
- Petrol engine, car up to six years old: 1.5 GEL per cc
- Over six years old: 4.5 GEL per cc
- Left-hand-drive hybrid up to six years old: 0.6 GEL per cc; no discount after six years
- Left-hand-drive electric car: no excise
- Right-hand drive: three times the rate at any age
- Classic car under the Law on Motor Transport (over 30 years old and recognised as a classic): 1 GEL per cc
What that means in lari: a 2.5-litre engine
- 2021 petrol car: 3,750 GEL
- 2019 petrol car: 11,250 GEL
- 2022 hybrid: 1,500 GEL
- 2019 hybrid: 11,250 GEL
- Electric car: 0 GEL
- 2021 petrol car with right-hand drive: 11,250 GEL
That's excise only, without fees or shipping. The calculator gives the full figure for a specific car.
What's worth importing
- Model year 2020 and newer: in 2026 they still get the low rate
- Left-hand-drive hybrids up to six years old: a rate 2.5 times lower than petrol
- Left-hand-drive electric cars: no excise at all
- Smaller engines: excise follows displacement, so a 1.6-litre costs half as much as a 3.2-litre
What isn't
- Cars over six years old with big engines: triple excise, which on an old V6 can exceed the lot price
- Hybrids over six years old: the discount no longer applies
- Right-hand-drive cars: triple rate at any age
- Flood cars and heavy damage: repairs eat the price difference and hidden problems surface later (choosing a Copart or IAAI lot)
Think about who you'll sell it to
If you plan to resell in Georgia, how fast a car sells matters too. AutoBridge data for June 2026 put the median time until a listing comes down at 8 days for cars under $5,000, 14 days for $5,000 to $15,000 and 22 days above $40,000.
How Car Select helps you choose
Before you bid, Car Select works out the full cost of the lot: price, auction fees, shipping to Poti and excise for the car's age and engine type. It's part of our US car import service. Send us the lot link and we'll tell you whether it pays off with every cost included.
Would rather not do this yourself?
We'll inspect a specific car or source one for your budget, with a written report.
See also
Related services
What is usually needed alongside this. Each page has the price and a request form.
from $500
Car import from the US
Car Select delivers cars from US lots and auctions, turnkey. A car from the US can come out up to 30% cheaper than on the local market.
Online, free
Georgia car import cost calculator 2026
Excise of 1.5 or 4.5 GEL per cc, VAT and fees: work out what it costs to clear a car through Georgian customs under the rules in force since 2 April 2026.
from $100
Import, export and legalization support
Car Select helps and advises on any legal or registration procedure involving a car in Georgia.
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