Car Rental in Israel

Israel is a great country to explore by car. From fun cities Haifa and Tel Aviv on the coast to timeless Jerusalem in the center and the Dead Sea and Negev Desert in the south east, its surprising diversity is best explored if you have your own ride. 

• Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport: By far the busiest airport in the country, Ben Gurion handled almost 25 million passengers in 2019. The airport offers flights to and from plenty of destinations in the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
• Ramon Airport: Primarily serving the resort city of Eilat in the far south of the country, Ramon Airport is especially active during the tourism season when it has flights by around ten different airlines. During this time, there are connections with countries like Germany, Russia, the Netherlands, and Finland.
• Haifa Airport: A small international airport serving the coastal northern city of the same name, Haifa Airport offers a domestic connection with Eilat, as well as flights to nearby Cyprus and seasonal flights to the Greek island of Rhodes.

• Tel Aviv: Posh, cosmopolitan, and modern, Israel’s largest city is a true metropolis. Whether you explore the old port area of Jaffa, visit the city’s many museums and cultural institutions, dive into the crazy night life or simply hit the extensive city beaches, you’re likely to have a good time.
• Jerusalem: Sacred to three of the world’s most notable religions, Jerusalem is a city like no other. Most of Jerusalem’s attractions are connected to religion and can be found within the confines of the Old City walls. Despite its international reputation being connected to conflict, the city actually lives at a notably slower, more relaxed pace than Tel Aviv.
• Eilat: Located on the Red Sea near the borders with Jordan and Egypt, Eilat is one of the most popular beach holiday destinations in all of the Middle East. In addition to great diving and other water sports, Eilat is just a short day trip away from plenty of interesting attractions in the Negev Desert to the north.

The most popular rental car in Israel is the Citroen Jumpy, but travelers also like the Hyundai i20 and the Kia Sportage.

• Israel recognizes valid foreign driver’s licenses that if you’re visiting for a shorter period than 12 months.
• If you’re in Israel for longer than 12 months or live there permanently, the law requires you to obtain the local driver’s license
• Israel also recognizes International Driving Permit (IDP). However, even if you have an IDP, you must also carry your original driver’s license as you might be required to present both.
• You must carry your driver’s license, not a copy, with you at all times. 
• You need to have had your driver’s license for at least two years.
• Some rental car suppliers charge a young driver fee for drivers between the ages of 22 and 25 and a senior driver fee for drivers over the age of 65.
• There may be additional requirements depending on the car supplier and category, so make sure to check the terms and conditions before booking.

The land borders with Jordan and Egypt are open, but it is not possible to visit any of the neighboring countries with a rental car. It’s quite common to visit one of the other countries from Eilat and you can pick up a new rental car in the Jordanian city of Aqaba that’s just 15 km (9 miles) from Eilat. However, you should make sure whether you need a visa to visit any of them as each country has its own unique visa policy. Also, keep in mind that the Sinai region of Egypt which borders Israel and especially its northern area can be dangerous for foreign visitors, so do your research of the latest situation in advance.

The land borders with Lebanon and Syria are closed. Israel has hostile relations with both countries and visiting the border areas in Israel’s north might be dangerous, so if you plan to travel in the area, make sure to check the latest security forecast in advance. 

The Golan Heights is a disputed territory between Syria and Israel. The part controlled by Israel can be accessed from anywhere else in the country and actually has a reputation for its scenic beauty, but the security situation is somewhat volatile, so make sure to check the security forecast before your visit.

Visiting the West Bank: The rules are somewhat murky for picking up a rental car in Israel and driving to the West Bank. Although all of the West Bank is under Israel’s control, on the ground level some parts are controlled by the Israeli forces while others are controlled by the Palestinian Autonomy. Most rental car companies permit visiting the former, but not the latter. You should ask your rental car company in advance about specific locations that you’d like to visit.

The security situation does not permit visiting the Palestinian Territory of Gaza with a rental car.

The most popular car type in Israel is a fullsize, but luxury and compact are also popular.

• Haifa. A lovely city on the country’s northern Mediterranean coast, Haifa is considerably less busy and more serene than Tel Aviv, but has just as amazing beaches. In addition to plenty of culture and landmarks, Haifa also offers access to some of the greenest nature areas that can be found in Israel.
• Dead Sea. Nearly 400 m (1,315 feet) below sea level, the Dead Sea is the lowest point in the world. This extreme setting means that the area is home to absolutely fascinating, otherworldly caves, cliffs, and landscapes, not to mention the hyper salinated waters of the sea itself. It takes only about an hour to get here from Jerusalem and two from Tel Aviv.

You can do a number of things to get a good car rental deal in Israel:

• Compare rates of different rental car providers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit on the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Israel is the cheapest in October when renting a car is about 25% cheaper than the yearly average and about 40% cheaper than renting a car in Israel in November.