Driving in Israel with your own rental car is really problem-free and totally easy. During our Israel road trip we fell in love with this unique country. We have rarely experienced such a huge variety of magnificent landscapes and people. In this article we have summarized information and tips for a relaxing road trip through Israel.

What else you should know:

  • What else you should know:
  • Driving in Israel is very easy
  • Rental car stations in Tel Aviv and Eilat
  • Navigation & useful apps
  • Road conditions
  • Parking in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem
  • Fighting tickets in Israel
  • Tolls & fees
  • Speed limits in Israel
  • Fueling & gas stations
  • No-go zones

Driving in Israel is very easy

…if it weren’t for the temperamental drivers. On Israel’s roads, every second counts! At least when driving, Israelis are absolutely impatient, assertive, and unyielding. You’ll often get honked at from behind, even though the traffic light hasn’t even turned from red to orange yet. Just like that, as a precaution, just to be on the safe side. It also seems as if letting someone ahead or through can be interpreted as a personal weakness – which is why almost nobody does it there.

Should you, for example, drive 5 km/h slower than the speed limit because you’re unfamiliar with the area… wow. Stay strong! And that’s the best tip we can give you: Stay calm, don’t let yourself get rattled, don’t take it personally. Focus on your lane and don’t let the street fighting around you influence you. Outside of towns, however, it’s really totally relaxed.

So don’t let the previous lines intimidate you. Just be a little forewarned and bring an extra dose of indifference with you. By the way: As a German citizen, you don’t need an International Driving Permit in Israel. A valid EU driving license is sufficient.

Rental Car Locations in Tel Aviv and Eilat

We strongly recommend booking your car in advance through one of the well-known comparison sites. This gives you a much better overview of prices, and the prices are even better than on-site. We always use the comparison site Billiger-Mietwagen.de and have always been very satisfied. We also use the site for spontaneous bookings directly on-site.

Simply enter your desired pickup location there and the offers will be displayed. In Tel Aviv, there are various rental car companies located directly at the airport, so you can pick up your car directly at the airport. In addition to the locations at the airport, there are also several rental car locations in the city itself.

The situation is somewhat different in Ovda. At that time, the airport was used exclusively for military purposes, so the options for air travelers are generally very limited. Therefore, there is no possibility of renting or picking up a rental car there. Anyone landing in Odva and wanting a rental car will have to make a detour to Eilat.

The rental car companies are located near the city airport in Eilat. Getting there without a car is no problem; public buses and private shuttle providers run directly from the airport to Eilat. The buses to Eilat are number 392 and cost approximately 22 shekels (€5).

Because we weren’t aware of the public bus service, we organized the transfer in advance via eilatshuttle.com and were very satisfied. This shuttle takes you directly to your desired destination, allowing you to be driven right to the door of your hotel or rental car station. You can also book a similar service through Ryanair: ryanair.plusairportline.com.

Navigation & Useful Apps

You have the rental car keys in your hands? Perfect! Your Israel road trip can begin! But which route is the right one? Renting a navigation device from the rental car company doesn’t make sense given the extra cost – a better alternative are free navigation apps for your smartphone or tablet!

Whether Iceland, Morocco, Israel, or Mauritius… we always use the “Maps.me” app for navigation. The app is completely free, and you can easily download maps of the various countries and regions (note: countries are sometimes divided into multiple regions) for free within the app. We highly recommend the app.

The “WAZE” app is also very popular in Israel. We haven’t used it, so we don’t have any experience with it. However, it was recommended to us many times in Israel, which is a clear plus for the app. If you have any experience with the app, please feel free to share your feedback in the comments.

It is also possible to use the maps (not navigation!) from Google Maps offline. This is done as follows: Open Google Maps > click on Options in the top left (icon with three bars) > select “Offline Maps” > click on “Custom Area” > select a map section by panning and zooming and click “Download”. Please note: The maps are only valid for 4 weeks before they become unusable.

Condition of the Roads

In general, the main roads are in very good condition. Even Germany could take a leaf out of their book. We only had to drive on an unpaved road to the Red Canyon once; otherwise, all the roads were in excellent condition. In the Negev Desert, roads can flood after heavy rainfall. If it’s raining heavily, please check whether the roads are clear before setting off.

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Parking in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem

Driving in Israel isn’t a problem, but parking is – at least in major cities. Generally, you can tell whether parking is permitted or not by the color of the curb. For example, a red-and-white curb indicates no parking, while yellow-and-red curbs allow only taxis and buses to stop.

You can park with a parking ticket at blue-and-white curbs. It’s actually quite easy, if it weren’t for the parking ticket issue. In the major cities of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, conventional parking ticket machines were largely removed in September 2017. From now on, parking tickets must be purchased digitally via an app.

That’s not really a problem, but the necessary apps like “Pango” only work with Israeli SIM cards. There’s no way for foreigners without a local SIM card to buy a parking ticket! (as of January 2018). A traffic warden confirmed this to me personally with a silly shrug. Accordingly, you have to drive to parking garages or guarded parking lots (listed on Maps.me).

Tel-Aviv-Sehenswuerdigkeiten-Strand-Israel

Exception: As in Germany, you no longer need to buy a parking ticket after a certain time (e.g., paid parking only between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.). After this time, vacationers can of course also park for free without an app.

While you can easily read this time on a sign, additional information is unfortunately only in Hebrew. It can happen that only residents are allowed to park on one side of the street, or that you are only allowed to park there on certain days. Fortunately, the people in Israel are super helpful. So we simply waited for passersby who were happy to translate the parking signs for us. By the way, there were still parking meters in Eilat!

Parking Tickets in Israel

Parking tickets can be paid at any post office. You can simply ask passersby where the nearest branch is; the people there are really happy to help! Alternatively, the parking ticket can also be paid through the rental car company, but there are usually additional processing fees. But it’s best not to get a ticket in the first place anyway.

Tolls & Fees

There are only three toll roads in Israel, but you can easily avoid them. Be aware that in addition to the tolls, rental car companies usually also charge processing fees. The longest toll road is Highway 6, which begins near the city of Beersheba and runs almost all the way to Haifa in the north. Fees vary depending on the number of sections traveled. Using the road from start to finish costs approximately 34 ILS (€8-9). You can easily bypass the road via Route 40 or, from Tel Aviv, via Highway 4.

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The Carmel Tunnels run underground across Haifa (from west to east). Driving through the tunnels can save you a considerable amount of time, especially during rush hour. The ticket costs approximately 15 ILS (3-4€). However, when traffic is light, you can also take a leisurely drive along the coast on Highway 4. On the way from Tel Aviv Airport to the city center, you have the option of using the so-called Fast Lane.

This will help you get through heavy traffic more quickly. We didn’t use the fast lane and made good progress, even during the evening rush hour. The cost of using the fast lane varies depending on the time of day. The respective price is displayed on signs at the entrance to the fast lane.

Speed Limits in Israel

“And how fast can you drive here?” was probably the most frequently asked question during the entire trip. Only at the end of our trip did a host enlighten me: The maximum speed limit in the city is 50 km/h. Outside of town, the speed limit is 90 km/h, unless otherwise posted (speed signs are rare outside of town, though). The highways are much better signposted, with the speed limit fluctuating between 90 and 110 km/h.

Fueling & Gas Stations

You don’t have to fill up your car yourself in Israel either. There are attendants at most gas stations. Just tell them how many liters and what type of fuel you want. A small tip is gratefully accepted. Otherwise, gas stations in Israel look almost like those in Europe. There’s usually a shop where you can buy newspapers, food, and drinks.

Restricted Zones

Many rental car companies prohibit entry into certain Palestinian territories. This applies particularly to the Gaza Strip, the regions around Jericho, Hebron, Bethlehem, and the northern areas of the West Bank between the cities of Tul Karm, Nabu, Tubas, and Jenin. These areas belong to what is known as Zone A. Zones or “Areas” B and C are usually safe to drive through. Unless the conflict between the parties escalates again, in which case additional areas can be closed off at short notice.

Anyone planning a trip through the West Bank should definitely discuss this with the rental car company! The important Highway 1 from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea, and Highway 90 along the Dead Sea to Eilat, are easily accessible! Occasionally, you have to pass checkpoints, but as tourists, we were always waved through.

We highly recommend a road trip through Israel. Aside from the Israelis’ brisk driving style, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with renting a car in Israel. You get from A to B easily, you’re flexible, and you can travel around this wonderful country as you please.