Shipping a car from Georgia to Kazakhstan: the Caspian route, transit and timelines

Georgia is one of the main hubs for moving US cars to Central Asia. According to Geostat, in January–September 2026 Georgia re-exported more than 21,000 cars to Kazakhstan — the largest number of any country. Below: how a car makes this journey from Poti or Batumi to Kazakhstan.

Why via Georgia

• Transit without Georgian customs clearance. A car bound for Kazakhstan is not released into free circulation in Georgia — no Georgian excise or VAT. Georgia's new 2026 excise rates do not apply to transit.
• Two ports. Poti and Batumi receive containers from Savannah, Houston and Los Angeles.
• The Trans-Caspian route. Georgia → Azerbaijan → Caspian → Kazakhstan — the «Middle Corridor», one of the main routes for cars heading to Kazakhstan.

The route, stage by stage

1. USA → Poti or Batumi

The car is loaded into a container at a US port. The ocean leg usually takes 3–5 weeks. You can follow the ship in our container tracking.

2. Transit through Georgia

After unloading, the car stays in transit status. We prepare the transit/re-export paperwork and hand the car over to you or your carrier in Poti or Batumi. If the car is driven out, transit number plates are issued for the exit; damaged cars travel on a car carrier.

3. Georgia → Azerbaijan

The road to the Azerbaijani border (the «Red Bridge» crossing) and on to Alat port near Baku. As a rule, cars move by car carrier truck or by rail.

4. The Caspian ferry: Alat → Aktau or Kuryk

Ferries have no fixed schedule: departure depends on load and weather. The crossing itself takes about 18 hours in good weather. Waiting at the port is usually 1–2 days, and up to a week or more at peak times. A storm on the Caspian can delay departure.

5. Across Kazakhstan to your city

From Aktau or Kuryk, cars go by car carrier or rail to Almaty, Astana, Shymkent and other cities. Customs clearance takes place at a Kazakh customs post / temporary storage warehouse.

Timelines

• USA → Poti/Batumi: usually 3–5 weeks.
• Poti → Kazakhstan: depends on the ferry queue and Caspian weather.
• Customs, СБКТС and registration in Kazakhstan: usually a few working days — with documents ready.

In total, from the auction purchase to registration in Kazakhstan, allow roughly 2.5–4 months. In winter, plan with extra time for Caspian storms.

Documents on the way

• Auction invoice and Title.
• Bill of Lading.
• Georgian transit documents.
• CMR — the carrier's consignment note.

Driven or on a car carrier

Auction cars are often damaged or non-running, so they usually travel on a car carrier. Driving the car yourself is only possible with a roadworthy car — and only if the current border-crossing rules on the route allow it. Check them before you set off.

What we do, and what you or your carrier do

• We: buy on Copart/IAAI, deliver to Poti or Batumi, prepare the Georgian transit documents, and hand over the car and paperwork.
• You or your carrier: delivery from Georgia to Kazakhstan, customs clearance and registration in Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan's 2026 import rules — in our article car customs in Kazakhstan. Our service for Kazakhstan — on the cars from the USA to Kazakhstan page.