Car Hire in Israel - Visiting the Holy Land in Style

In order to be eligible to hire a car in Israel, you must be at least 21 years old (please note that this only applies to the vehicle suppliers Avis and Thrifty). The remaining car hire company (Hertz) stipulates an age requirement of 23 and upwards. It’s important to be aware of the fact that drivers under the age of 26 may incur what is known as a Young Driver Surcharge which is paid to the local supplier when the driver arrives to pick up their car.

To check the terms of this locally-charged fee and other car hire age requirements, just click on the blue and white info icon (i) in the car details after making a quick search through the Auto Europe booking engine. The same information is also included in the terms and conditions of the car rental voucher sent by e-mail once the reservation has been confirmed. Please note that the correct age of the primary driver needs to be registered at the time of making a booking with Auto Europe in order for us to be able to inform them of any restrictions that might apply to their car rental in Israel. Please follow the link for more tips if you are novice driver and booking your first car hire.

Yes. Domestic one-way car hire in Israel is available between selected locations on payment of an additional fee. Minimum hire durations may apply, although it is usually a minimum of just one full day. Please note that International one-way car rentals are not permitted in Israel. The one-way car hire fee (without VAT) is clearly stated in the booking engine results below the car rate. The same info is also communicated to customers once the reservation has been confirmed. One-way fees are paid locally to whichever car rental company has been selected during the booking process. Although Auto Europe does not receive or profit from one-way fees at all, we feel that it is of paramount importance to inform our clients of all the fees included in their booking in order to help them make the best choice. Each supplier determines its own fees independently of one another. This means that for the same given pick-up and drop-off location, one car hire company may charge far less than another, while some may not permit the rental at all. Every supplier has their own office and rental location, thus allowing them to offer different terms and options. Please be aware that travelling across borders is not permitted with any of the car providers operating in Israel, which includes the West Bank and Gaza Strip. To know all about any travel restrictions relating to your booking, just click on the blue and white info icon (i) when making a quick search in the Auto Europe booking engine, the same details of which are also written on the voucher once the reservation process has been finalised.

Yes. In order to rent a car in Israel, travellers are required to present a valid credit card (in the name of the main driver) along with their other documents at the time of collecting the vehicle. The reason for this is because the local rental car company will need to place a hold on the value of the deductible for the vehicle they hire to the customer whilst driving in Israel, the amount of which is promptly refunded once the car has been returned undamaged. It often comes as quite a surprise to some drivers that cash or a pre-paid or debit card cannot be accepted to pick up a car in Israel, in which case it is important to be absolutely sure that the credit card has enough available credit prior to arriving at the pick-up point. Please note that when booking a premium- or luxury-category car, the supplier may request a second major credit card (ie Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Diners) also in the name of the main driver.

All the necessary info relating to credit cards and which type of card is accepted can easily be found when making a quick search in the Auto Europe booking engine. You just need to choose the car hire category/supplier and then click on the blue and white info icon (i) and the details will pop up. Please check our related blog post if you require more information on credit card and deposit requirements when picking up a car hire in Israel and other countries around the world.

There’s quite a lot to take into account when planning a trip to Israel because the country has a bad record for traffic accidents which means that you’ll need to be cautious when driving around, especially on desert roads where there is no barrier to protect you against oncoming traffic. Congestion in Tel Aviv can be a problem during the rush hour, so make sure you allow plenty of extra time to reach your destination. The first thing to remember is that the speed limit is 50kph in built up areas, 80kph on outer city roads which do not have a lane barrier, 90kph on outer city roads which do have a lane barrier and 110 or 120kph on some parts of Trans-Israel Highway 6 which runs across the country from north to south. Please note that on roads where the speed limit is 60kph or higher, green lights will flash before they turn yellow. When a red and yellow lights flash together, this means that the light is about to turn green. Like most places, drinking and driving is a serious issue in Israel and drivers cannot exceed a BAC of 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. Auto Europe therefore strongly recommends that you don't drink and drive in Israel, particularly in light of the poor driving standards shown by many of the country’s motorists. If You are stopped under the influence of alcohol, you are likely to have your licence taken away on the spot for 30 days, with 10 points added to your licence. Israel has been a political hotspot since it gained statehood and its borders remain quite volatile, especially along the Palestinian border, some of which is located inside Israel. When touring around with a low-cost car hire in Israel, drivers can quickly find themselves at a border checkpoint without knowing it, especially in places like East Jerusalem. Tourists are allowed to pass through these checkpoints (although you should make sure you know where you're going), so you must make sure you have your passport and visa (a small slip of paper given to you at the airport when your passport is stamped) with you at all times just in case. As noted above, most cars rented in Israel are not allowed to be taken into areas under Palestinian control, so it is usually easier to hire a taxi near the border to take you across, or go with an authorised tour company. Please note that throughout Israel and the Palestinian territories, the location of these checkpoints may be moved without warning or new ones set up at a moment’s notice, so travellers can expect delays in these areas.

Yes. There are three toll roads to look out for when driving your car rental in Israel, the main one being the Highway 6 (otherwise known as the Trans-Israel Highway, which is completely electronic with no toll-booths. After leaving the motorway, a bill is sent to the licence plate holder, so in the case of a rental car company you will be charged after having returned the car. The Carmel Tunnels in the north of the country is a series of four tunnels with tollbooths payable with cash, plus there’s a high-speed toll lane on Highway 1 between Ben Gurion International Airport and Tel Aviv. To pay this toll, you can either pull off at a toll-booth to pay in cash or choose to be charged electronically (the price fluctuates according to traffic, so check the signs). It is free for cars with at least four occupants but you must pull off at a toll-booth to verify your vehicle number plate or you will still be charged electronically. For up-to-date information on driving in America, please consult the respective Israel travel page on the UK government website.

All the rates quoted on the Auto Europe website include the minimum amount of legally-required car hire coverage, comprising CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) either with or without excess depending on the car rental company and TP (Theft Protection), also with or without excess depending on the car rental company. For a small additional fee, many drivers opt for Auto Europe’s popular Full Damage & Theft Protection product which covers most parts of the vehicle, including glass, wheels, roof, undercarriage, etc. Please note that the price of this coverage may vary depending on the location, rental duration, car category and supplier. You can check the coverage details relating to your cheap car rental in Israel quickly and easily through the Auto Europe booking engine. Just make a quick search and click on the blue the white info icon (i) to see the amount of CDW, TP and Liability Insurance included in the rate. The same information is included in the Terms and Conditions supplied either when making an initial enquiry and/or finalising the booking. Please be aware of the fact that it is sometimes customary at the time of picking up the vehicle that the local car rental company might offer you extra coverage (including but not restricted to PAI (Personal Accident Insurance), PEC (Personal Effects Coverage), Super CDW, Seguro Relax Insurance, Road Assistance etc). Unfortunately, Auto Europe cannot offer a refund for any locally-purchased insurance charges/fees, even if the coverage is deemed surplus to your requirements once the vehicle has been dropped off at the end of the rental period.

In the event of the client needing to make a claim, they must pay the car rental supplier first then claim back the amount from Auto Europe. It is important when making a claim with Auto Europe that you provide all the required documents to receive your refund as quickly as possible.

Yes. All of the available suppliers (including some of the world’s most popular brands) accept UK driving licences when providing drivers with a low-cost car hire in Israel. Customers must, however, present a valid driving licence printed in the Roman alphabet and have held it for a minimum of 1-2 years (depending on the terms of the local supplier). Please note that you will also be required to present an International Driving Permit (IDP) International Driving Permit (IDP) is your home driving licence is not printed in the Roman alphabet. Please note that some vehicle rental firms have been asking drivers for their DVLA code prior to picking up their vehicle. The DVLA code is the online counterpart of the photo-card driving licence which is needed to access the DVLA database for your driving licence records to see if you have any penalty points and/or endorsements.

Yes, definitely! You can easily add an extra driver to your car hire in Israel during the booking process. Some car rental companies include the additional driver fee in the price, while others will charge you a daily fee when you arrive to collect your vehicle, the amount of which is established by the local supplier. In any case, additional drivers always need to be officially included on the rental agreement and will need to present exactly the same documents as the primary driver at the pick-up point (ie their driving licence plus International Driving Permit if required their and passport/personal ID). It’s also possible to add the name of an additional driver to the rental contract when making a booking with Auto Europe (please follow the link to find out how to add more drivers free of charge when booking your cheap car hire in Israel with us.

It’s easy to find out the cost of adding an extra driver when making a search through the Auto Europe booking engine. All you need to do is select your preferred supplier and car category before clicking on the blue and white info icon (i) in the search results (please note that the same information is clearly stared in the T&Cs of the car rental voucher). It’s important to remember that if a friend or family member not included in the rental contract decides to drive the car at any time during the rental period, they will automatically be excluded from all the insurance coverage, thus making them liable for the total amount of any damage caused in the event of a collision or theft. Therefore, it’s essential to properly authorise all additional drivers before leaving the pick-up point.

No you may not. Travel into the West Bank and Gaza Strip is strictly prohibited by all of the suppliers offering car rental in Israel, namely Hertz, Avis and Thrifty.