Bagratashen – Sadakhlo crossing

Do I need Georgian car insurance at the Sadakhlo border?

Yes. A car with Armenian plates needs Georgian compulsory third-party liability insurance (APPA) from the moment it crosses at Bagratashen–Sadakhlo, and Armenian compulsory insurance is not valid in Georgia. Buy it online before the trip and the policy is registered against your plate before you arrive, or buy it from a booth on the Georgian side of the crossing. Cover must last for the whole time the car is in Georgia.

Buy car insuranceAdd travel medical insurance

3

Crossings from Armenia

100–200 GEL

Administrative fine for driving uninsured

What is checked at the crossing

  • Armenian exit formalities, then Georgian passport control.
  • Travel medical insurance: since 1 January 2026 most foreign visitors must hold cover with an insured sum of at least GEL 30,000 for the whole stay.
  • The vehicle is registered into the Georgian system against the driver, so it has to leave the country with the person who brought it in.
  • Compulsory third-party insurance is verified by number plate — an electronic policy is enough, there is nothing to stamp.

Why Armenian insurance does not carry over

Armenian compulsory motor insurance is written for use inside Armenia. Georgia is not part of the Green Card system, so neither an Armenian policy nor a Green Card issued elsewhere covers third-party liability on Georgian roads.

That leaves a gap that only a Georgian policy fills. It covers damage you cause to other people and their property while driving in Georgia — not damage to your own car, which is what many drivers assume they are buying.

The three crossings from Armenia

  • Bagratashen – Sadakhlo: the main crossing on the Yerevan–Vanadzor road, open around the clock and busiest on Friday evenings, Saturday mornings and holidays.
  • Bavra – Ninotsminda: the convenient route from Gyumri and the Shirak region, continuing towards Akhalkalaki and Batumi.
  • Gogavan – Guguti: the quietest of the three, via Tashir — a useful alternative when Bagratashen is backed up.

Questions Armenian drivers ask

Can I buy the policy at the Sadakhlo border?

Yes, there are booths on the Georgian side. In season the queue is long and the card terminals are unreliable, which is why most drivers buy online before leaving and cross without stopping.

I cross into Georgia every month. Which policy is cheaper?

The current one-year price is $150.00, compared with $20.00 for 15 days. Compare the dates and total cost of your planned trips; whether annual cover saves money depends on how often you visit.

Does the policy have to start on the day I cross?

It has to be in force for every day the vehicle is in Georgia. You choose the start date when you buy, so a policy bought a week ahead can still start on the morning you travel.

What if my trip runs longer than the policy?

Buy a further policy before the first one expires. A vehicle in Georgia with lapsed cover is uninsured for the purposes of the law even if it never leaves the parking space.

Do my passengers need anything?

Since 1 January 2026 most foreign visitors need travel medical insurance for the whole stay, with an insured sum of at least GEL 30,000 — children included. Georgian citizens and residence-permit holders are exempt. Vehicle insurance does not cover the people in the car.

Cross without stopping at the booth

Buy online, get the PDF by email, and drive through with the policy already on your plate.

Choose the cover that fits you. Prices are per policy.

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