The only land crossing between Russia and Georgia is Verkhny Lars — Dariali on the Georgian Military Road, about 200 km from Vladikavkaz to Tbilisi. Queues there run to many hours in season, and Russian OSAGO is not valid in Georgia. Buy your Georgian policy online while you wait — or better, before you set off.
1
land crossing: Verkhny Lars
200 km
Vladikavkaz to Tbilisi
24 h+
queues in peak season
Winter
road closes for avalanches
All road traffic between Russia and Georgia goes through Verkhny Lars — Dariali. In summer and on holidays the queue can take from several hours to more than a day, and in winter the Military Road sometimes closes for avalanches. Check the road status before you go.
Russian OSAGO covers only Russia, and Georgia is not part of the Green Card system at all. Every Russian-plated vehicle needs Georgian compulsory insurance for the entire stay — police check it electronically by plate.
After many hours in the Lars queue, the last thing you want is another line at an insurance kiosk. The online policy arrives by email in minutes and is accepted everywhere in Georgia. Since 2026 you also need travel medical insurance — add it in the same checkout.
Check the Georgian Military Road status and the weather before setting off — in winter the road closes for avalanche control, sometimes for days.
Fill the tank and stock water and food in Vladikavkaz: services inside the Dariali gorge are scarce and the queue can outlast your plans.
Buy your Georgian policy online before the gorge — mobile signal at the border itself is patchy, and the kiosk queue comes on top of the border one.
Plan to drive the Military Road in daylight: hairpins above Gudauri, fog at the Cross Pass and no lighting at night.
Choose the cover that fits you. Prices are per policy.
Yes — the whole purchase works from a phone and takes about 3 minutes. Mobile coverage in the gorge can be patchy, so it is safer to buy before you leave, but many drivers complete it right in the queue.
Policies come in 15-day, 1-month and 1-year versions. For stays over two months the annual policy is usually the cheapest per day — and you will not need to renew mid-stay.