Complete Guide: Car Rental in Israel 2025
Everything you need to know to rent a car in Israel: licence, insurance, prices, practical tips
Why rent a car in Israel?
Israel is a relatively small country but extremely rich in sites to discover. Renting a car offers unrivalled freedom to explore the country at your own pace.
Advantages of renting
- • Total freedom of movement
- • Savings on transport
- • Access to remote sites
- • Flexible schedules
- • Comfort with air conditioning
- • Ideal for families
Accessible destinations
- • Tel Aviv (2h30 from Jerusalem)
- • Dead Sea (1h from Jerusalem)
- • Eilat (4h from Jerusalem)
- • Haifa and the North (2h)
- • Negev and desert
- • Archaeological sites
Public transport in Israel is limited, especially during Shabbat (Friday evening to Saturday evening) when most buses do not run. The car then becomes essential to explore the country freely.
Documents required to rent a car in Israel
Mandatory documents to present:
1. Valid driving licence
A French driving licence is sufficient and valid in Israel. It must be:
- Currently valid
- Held for at least 1 year (2 years for certain vehicles)
- In plastic card format (new format)
International licence: Not mandatory for French nationals, but recommended if your licence is not in Latin characters or to ease checks.
2. Valid passport
Your passport must be valid for the entire duration of your stay in Israel. It will serve as identification when picking up the vehicle.
3. International bank card
A bank card in the name of the main driver is mandatory for:
- Payment of the rental
- The deposit (bank pre-authorisation temporarily blocked)
Deposit amount: Between €1000 and €3000 depending on the vehicle. The deposit is released when the vehicle is returned undamaged (bank processing time: 7-30 days).
Tip: Visa Premier and Mastercard Gold cards often include vehicle rental insurance that can save you on additional insurance.
4. Booking voucher
The booking voucher we send you by email after confirming your reservation. Print it or keep it on your phone.
Minimum age and conditions to rent
Standard conditions
Minimum age:
21 years minimum (18 years in some cases)
Licence seniority:
At least 1 year of licence required
Young driver surcharge:
€10-15/day for 18-24 year olds. See our complete young driver guide for more details on conditions and tips.
Specific conditions
Luxury vehicles/SUVs:
23-25 years minimum depending on the model
9-seater vehicles:
25 years minimum + 2 years of licence
Maximum age:
Generally 75 years (depending on the rental company)
Additional drivers
You can add additional drivers to your contract:
- Cost: About €5-10/day per additional driver
- Must meet the same conditions (age, licence)
- Must be present at pick-up
- Spouse often free depending on the rental company
Insurance: a complete guide to understanding
Insurance explained simply
The question of insurance is often a source of confusion. Here is everything you need to know to make the right choice and travel with peace of mind. For an even more detailed guide with comparisons and expert advice, see our complete car rental insurance guide.
Basic insurance INCLUDED
CDW/LDW - Collision Damage Waiver
Included in all our rentals
This insurance covers damage to the vehicle in the event of an accident, but with an excess payable by you.
Typical excess:
- • Small car: €1000-1500
- • Mid-size car: €1500-2000
- • SUV/Premium: €2000-3000
Example: For €500 of damage, you pay €500. For €2500 of damage with a €2000 excess, you pay €2000 maximum.
TPL - Third Party Liability - Premier Insurance
Civil liability - Mandatory and included
Covers damage caused to third parties (other vehicles, people, property). Coverage amount:
You refuse the rental company's insurance and are covered only by your bank card.
In the event of an accident: you must pay 100% of the repairs, then request a refund from your bank.
A much higher deposit is blocked (about +$1000 compared to the standard deposit).
Theft Protection
Generally included
Covers theft of the vehicle with an excess. Important: theft is only covered if you have the keys and the vehicle's documents.
RECOMMENDED additional insurance
SCDW - Super CDW (Strongly recommended)
Our number 1 recommendation to travel with peace of mind
This insurance reduces or completely removes the excess of the basic insurance.
Indicative price:
- • €10-20/day depending on the vehicle
- • Decreasing for long-term rentals
Advantages:
- ✓ Excess reduced to €0 or very low (€200-500)
- ✓ Total peace of mind during the trip
- ✓ No nasty surprise on return
- ✓ Essential if you are not used to driving in Israel
Windscreen and tyre protection
Price: €3-8/day
Covers damage to windows, windscreen and tyres that are often excluded from the basic insurance.
Recommended if you plan to drive in the desert or on secondary roads.
Undercarriage protection
Price: €5-10/day
Essential if you go into the Negev desert or on unpaved tracks. Undercarriage damage is very costly and often not covered.
Your bank card insurance (Visa Premier, Gold, Platinum)
Important: Many premium bank cards include vehicle rental insurance that can cover the excess.
Usual conditions:
- ✓ The vehicle must be paid for with the card
- ✓ Maximum rental of 30-60 days
- ✓ Passenger vehicle only (not commercial)
- ✓ You must refuse certain insurance from the rental company
- ✓ Excess covered up to €3000-5000 generally
⚠️ Be sure to check the exact conditions and exclusions with your bank BEFORE you leave.
Our Elynor Tours recommendation
Economy option:
If you have a Visa Premier/Gold that covers rentals well: Basic insurance only
Peace-of-mind option (recommended):
Super CDW + Windscreen protection if you go into the desert
All-inclusive option:
Super CDW + Windscreen + Undercarriage protection for total peace of mind
Prices and rates for car rental in Israel 2025
Indicative rate grid per day
| Category | Example | Low season | High season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini/Economy | Hyundai i10, Kia Picanto | €25-35 | €45-60 |
| Compact | Hyundai i20, Mazda 2 | €30-40 | €50-70 |
| Intermediate | Hyundai i30, Mazda 3 | €35-50 | €60-85 |
| Family | Skoda Octavia, Mazda 6 | €45-60 | €75-100 |
| Compact SUV | Hyundai Tucson, Mazda CX-5 | €50-70 | €85-120 |
| 7-seater SUV | Hyundai Santa Fe, Mazda CX-9 | €70-90 | €110-150 |
| 9-seater minivan | Hyundai H1, Ford Transit | €80-100 | €130-180 |
| Luxury/Premium | Mercedes, BMW, Audi | €100-150 | €180-250 |
*Indicative all-inclusive prices with basic insurance. Prices vary depending on duration, season and availability.
Tips to save money
- ✓ Book as early as possible (3-6 months ahead)
- ✓ Long rentals = decreasing price
- ✓ Avoid July-August and Jewish holidays
- ✓ Choose manual transmission (if available)
- ✓ Same agency for pick-up/return = cheaper
- ✓ Avoid airport fees if possible
Possible additional fees
- • Young driver: €10-20/day
- • Additional driver: €5-10/day
- • GPS: €5-10/day (use your smartphone!)
- • Baby/booster seat: €5-8/day
- • Return in another city: €50-150
- • Airport fees: €10-20
Highway code in Israel: what you need to know
Essential rules
Direction of traffic
Same as France: on the right
Speed limits
- • In town: 50 km/h
- • Secondary road: 80 km/h
- • National road: 90 km/h
- • Motorway: 110-120 km/h
Drink-driving
Limit: 0.05g/l (as in France)
Frequent checks and severe penalties
Seatbelt
Mandatory in the front and the back
Phone
Prohibited (except hands-free kit)
Children
Car seat mandatory up to 8 years or 145cm
Dipped headlights
Not mandatory during the day (except in bad weather)
Particularities to know
- Roundabouts: The outer lane has priority (the opposite of France). Be careful!
- Horn: Widely used in Israel, do not take it badly, it is cultural
- Parking: Respect the markings (red/white = forbidden, blue/white = paid)
- Speed cameras: Numerous and automatic, fines sent to the rental company then to you
- Driving style: More aggressive than in France, stay courteous and patient
Common fines
• Speeding: 250-1000 NIS (€60-240)
• Illegal parking: 100-250 NIS
• Phone while driving: 1000 NIS (€240)
• Seatbelt: 500 NIS (€120)
• Red light: 1000 NIS (€240)
• Alcohol: up to 5000 NIS + suspension
Fines are debited from your deposit or sent by the rental company with handling fees.
Fuel, tolls and road costs
Fuel in Israel
Indicative prices (2025):
• Petrol (95, 98): 6-7 NIS/L (€1.50-1.75)
• Diesel (Solar): 6-7 NIS/L
Prices similar to or slightly higher than in France
Service stations:
Numerous, modern, often 24/7
Main brands: Sonol, Delek, Paz, Ten
Payment:
Bank card accepted everywhere
Full service or self-service available
Tolls and roads
Tolls:
Very few tolls in Israel
• Route 6 (Highway 6): electronic toll
• Tunnels in Haifa: about 7-10 NIS
Tolls are automatically charged to the rental company
Parking:
• Blue/white zones: paid (Pango app)
• Public car parks: 5-30 NIS/hour
• Shopping centres: often free
Vehicle fuel policy
Full to Full - Standard
The vehicle is provided with a full tank, you must return it full. The most economical solution.
Prepayment option: Some rental companies offer to buy the full tank at departure. Not recommended because you will probably not use the whole tank.
Driving during Shabbat and public holidays
What is Shabbat?
Shabbat is the Jewish day of rest which begins on Friday evening at sunset and ends on Saturday evening at nightfall (about 25 hours later).
Impact on car rental
✓ You CAN:
- • Drive freely during Shabbat
- • Use your rental car normally
- • Travel throughout the country (except ultra-Orthodox neighbourhoods)
✗ Be careful:
- • Rental offices generally close
- • Public transport very limited or non-existent
- • Some roads in religious neighbourhoods may be closed
- • Shops and restaurants closed (except Tel Aviv and tourist areas)
Our recommendations:
- • Plan your pick-up before Friday 2pm
- • Or after Saturday evening 8pm
- • Contact us for pick-up outside opening hours
- • Fill up before Shabbat (stations closed in some areas)
- • Avoid Mea Shearim in Jerusalem and B'nei Brak during Shabbat
Jewish public holidays:
The same rules apply during the major Jewish holidays:
- • Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year - September)
- • Yom Kippur (very strict day - September/October)
- • Passover (Jewish Easter - March/April)
- • Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles - October)
Yom Kippur: A day when even the motorways are empty. Avoid driving.
Practical tips for driving well in Israel
✓ Do
- Use Waze (local app, better than Google Maps)
- Photograph the vehicle from all angles at pick-up
- Always keep the vehicle's documents with you
- Check the condition of the vehicle before leaving
- Download Pango for parking
- Carry plenty of water (hot climate)
- Save our emergency numbers in your phone
✗ Avoid
- Leave NOTHING visible in the car (theft risk)
- Do not forget to lock it (frequent theft)
- Avoid driving in ultra-Orthodox neighbourhoods during Shabbat
- Do not venture near border areas without information
- Avoid unpaved roads without undercarriage protection
- Do not return the vehicle without having its condition recorded
Emergency numbers in Israel
Police: 100
Ambulance: 101
Fire brigade: 102
Yedidim roadside assistance: *3773
Elynor Tours: +33 1 82 83 67 29
WhatsApp: +972 58 414 04 89
Car rental by city in Israel
Tel Aviv
Modern city, beaches, nightlife. Free hotel delivery.
See the rates→
Jerusalem
Holy city, history, spirituality. City centre and hotels.
See the rates→
Ben Gurion Airport
Pick-up on arrival. The most convenient and economical.
See the rates→
Eilat
Red Sea, diving, sun all year round. Seaside resort.
Rates on request
Haifa
Northern Israel, Bahai Gardens, port, beaches. Cosmopolitan city.
Rates on request
Dead Sea
Lowest point on Earth. Spas, luxury hotels. A unique experience.
Rates on request
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