Do you need winter tyres or snow chains in Georgia?
Dates, road sections, tyre requirements and the fine.
Short answer
From 1 December to 1 March, winter tyres are required on the road sections set by a government decree, and police may also require chains on the driving wheels. The fine for breaking the rule is 100 GEL. For cars the tyre must carry the snowflake symbol and have a tread of at least 3 mm.
Why
- The requirement was introduced by amendments to the road traffic law and applies from 1 January 2024.
- A government decree published on matsne.gov.ge sets the list of roads and places where tyres or chains are required, and the technical requirements.
- The fine for missing winter tyres or chains where they are required is 100 GEL (Article 119 of the Administrative Offences Code), and 5 points are also deducted from the driving licence.
Details
The tyre must carry the snowflake symbol, with a tread depth of at least 3 mm for cars and trucks (N1, N2, N3) and at least 4 mm for minibuses and buses, and no more than 10 years may have passed since the tyre was made. The manufacture date must be readable on the tyre.
Chains must be factory-made, fit the tyre size and be used only on roads covered with snow or ice. If a violation makes the vehicle dangerous to others, it may be temporarily placed in a protected parking lot, and the driver may be barred from the road section. For mountain conditions in winter, see our answer on winter weather in Georgia.
Tip
Before a mountain trip after 1 December, check the tyres for the snowflake symbol and the manufacture date, and when renting, ask the company which tyres are fitted.
What may differ
The government decree sets the list of road sections and it may change. Requirements for buses and heavy trucks differ: they may use winter tyres without the snowflake symbol, but then police may require a chain. Police decide on chains depending on the weather.
Common misconception
Winter tyres are mandatory on all roads in Georgia all winter.
What actually happens
The requirement applies from 1 December to 1 March and only on the sections and places named in the government decree, while chains are required by police depending on the weather.
People also ask
- Are winter tyres mandatory in Georgia?
- Do you need snow chains in the Georgian mountains?
Sources
The list of road sections is not given here, take it from the government decree on matsne.gov.ge. This answer is for reference.
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