Rain and Fog on Georgia's Roads: Preparing Your Rental Car and Journey

Rain can change an otherwise straightforward travel plan. Windows may mist up, markings become harder to see and spray from trucks can obscure the road. Before setting off in a rental car in Georgia, learn how to operate the lights and ventilation. Simple controls in an unfamiliar vehicle should not distract you once you are driving.

Check visibility before moving

At collection, ask the representative to show you the dipped headlights, wipers, washers, windscreen demisting and rear-window heating. Find the fog-light controls for that particular car. Adjust the seat and mirrors while parked. Check that the wipers clear the screen without leaving streaks and that the glass is clean inside and out.

If the windscreen mists up, use its demisting setting and the climate system according to the vehicle instructions. Do not wipe it by hand while driving. If visibility does not improve, find a permitted safe place to stop and resolve the problem. Even an experienced driver needs time to learn unfamiliar controls when renting a car in Georgia.

Allow more space in wet conditions

Increase the gap to the vehicle ahead on wet roads and reduce speed to match the distance you can see clearly. Avoid abrupt steering, acceleration and braking. Do not cross a large puddle of unknown depth: its surface cannot reveal holes or damage beneath the water.

In fog, do not follow another vehicle's rear lights closely as a guide. Maintain your own safe gap and use appropriate lighting. Main beam can make visibility worse. Use fog lights for their intended purpose and switch them off when conditions improve so they do not dazzle other drivers.

Choosing a premium car

The fleet includes the Mercedes C300 4Matic, a sedan to consider for agreed journeys on paved roads. Ask about the equipment on the actual vehicle you will receive. A model name alone does not establish which driver assistance systems are fitted.

All-wheel drive and a premium badge do not remove the need to slow down. Do not assume an assistance system will detect every obstacle when the view is poor. For your Georgia car rental, choose a vehicle you can control comfortably, with a seating position and view that suit you.

Change the schedule before departure

• Compare the forecast for the start and destination; conditions may differ.
• Postpone difficult approaches and exposed viewpoint stops in poor weather.
• Choose a break location ahead of time instead of searching for parking at the last moment.
• Tell your hotel and rental company if arrival or return times change.

Leave spare time and daylight in the plan. Heavy rain may be a reason to shorten the route to a nearby town or postpone the drive. If you are unsure whether a section is safe, stop in a suitable place and check conditions. An existing hotel booking is not a reason to continue along an uncertain road.

Questions for the rental manager

Before booking, confirm the approved route, contact details and what to do if the vehicle develops a problem. The rental conditions provide the main requirements. If your car rental in Georgia falls on rainy days, ask for a demonstration of the relevant controls at collection and allow a slower schedule. You can then keep your attention on the road when the weather changes.