At today’s government session, a decree was adopted under which, starting April 1, the import, initial registration, and temporary registration of M1 category vehicles older than six years will be prohibited in Georgia.
Motor vehicles are a significant source of atmospheric air pollution, particularly in terms of particulate matter and nitrogen oxides. In Georgia, high levels of transport-related air pollution are largely caused by the age of the vehicle fleet and, consequently, the technical condition of vehicles.
According to data from the National Statistics Office (Geostat), in 2024, 1.814 million motor vehicles were registered in Georgia, the absolute majority of which (85.7%) are passenger cars. Of the registered vehicles, 80.6% are more than 10 years old.
The new regulation prohibits the import, initial registration, and temporary registration of M1 category vehicles older than six years in Georgia, in accordance with the emission standards (Euro 5/V) defined by the relevant decree. This restriction will contribute to modernizing the vehicle fleet—especially passenger cars—representing another important step toward improving air quality and, consequently, protecting public health.
“Although the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture has implemented a number of significant measures in recent years to improve air quality, it is important to introduce additional steps to further enhance the situation. Ultimately, this is crucial for the health of each of us and our children. This measure aims to gradually rejuvenate the vehicle fleet, introduce higher-quality vehicles with lower emissions, and reduce air pollution,” stated First Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture Nino Tandilashvili.
The regulation will enter into force on April 1, 2026. Exceptions apply to M1 category vehicles whose transportation began before April 1 or that have already entered Georgia’s customs territory. The initial registration of such vehicles will be carried out under the conditions in place prior to April 1.
