Rental Conditions

VAT: Holders of an Israeli passport are required to pay 18% VAT, including dual citizens. Only tourists with a B2 or B3 visa are exempt. To claim exemption, you must show your B2 or B3 visa at the rental location.

Airport tax: a one-time fee of $90 is charged when picking up or returning the car at Ben Gurion Airport (Tel Aviv) and Ramon Airport (Eilat).

One-way rental: FREE between all locations. Exception — rental to/from Eilat (city of Eilat and Ramon Airport): 1–2 days — $200, 3 days or more — FREE.

Damage Waiver (CDW/LDW): covers vehicle damage, except for the minimum deductible depending on the car category.

Theft Waiver (THW): covers vehicle theft, except for the minimum deductible depending on the car category.

Liability Insurance (LIA): Mandatory for clients who decline CDW and THW, provided they are covered by a credit card. CDW and THW can only be declined if sufficient coverage exists through a US-issued World MasterCard or Canadian-issued Gold/Platinum Visa/MasterCard. Written confirmation from the credit card company is required to verify valid damage and theft coverage for car rentals in Israel. Maximum security guarantee covers the full vehicle value.

Deductible: ranges from $500 to $1500 in case of damage or theft, depending on the car type. CDW/LDW does not cover tires, windshield, roof, or undercarriage.

Super CDW/LDW: additional option reducing renter's responsibility to zero in case of damage. Can only be purchased with CDW/LDW and THW. Does not cover tires, glass, or roof.

Super THW: additional option fully waiving responsibility in case of theft. Can only be purchased with CDW/LDW and THW.

Delivery and return: up to 15 km — $15, up to 30 km — $25, over 50 km — $40. Available on request and require confirmation.

Car models: shown for example — a similar car may be provided.

Minimum rental period: 24 hours.

Late return: delay up to 1 hour — free, over 1 hour — charged as a full day.

Deposit: approximately $700 + rental cost is blocked on the card (e.g., rental $300 → $1000 blocked). Deposit released within 2–3 business days after car return. Debit cards may take longer.
Accepted cards: must be strictly in renter's name. Debit cards must be non-Israeli and must not display “Debit” and must show Visa or Mastercard logo.

Rental payment: made at the end of the rental by any card or cash in shekels at the current USD rate.

Car use: entirely the renter's responsibility. All additional drivers must be listed in the contract. Leaving Israel, including Palestinian territories, is strictly prohibited.

Fuel: car is delivered full and must be returned full. 40% surcharge for non-full return.

Early return: charged according to actual rental period.

Fines and tolls: 50 NIS service fee for unpaid fines. Toll roads (Highway 6, Carmel tunnels) paid at standard rate + service fee.

Free Sale (no confirmation needed): applies to categories: B (EBMR), Q (EBAR), C (ECAR), D (CCAR), E (CDAR), F (IDAR), I (SDAR), IW (CWAR), H (FDAR), M (PDAR). Other categories require confirmation.

No Show and cancellations: free and possible anytime before car pick-up.

Minimum age and requirements: minimum driver age 18, minimum driving experience 1 year. Valid driving license and passport required. International license not required if national license contains Latin letters.

About Traffic Rules in Israel

• The local driving population is quite temperamental and impatient. To avoid accidents, you should yield and follow traffic rules.

• All passengers must wear seat belts without exception.

• For children under 8 years old or depending on the child's height, a child seat or booster seat must always be used. The penalty for carrying a child without a child seat is very high.

• The maximum allowed speed in the city is 50-60 km/h, on country roads 90-100 km/h, on highways 100 km/h, and on some sections, 110 km/h is allowed.

• Some rules may differ from those you are used to in your country. Pay attention to traffic signs placed correctly to aid understanding.

If the Police in Israel Stop You

• The Israeli police do not accept bribes. If you offer a bribe to a police officer, they may arrest you on the spot and impose a hefty fine.
At the same time, the Israeli police are quite lenient toward tourists. If you behave calmly, smile, and are friendly, you are most likely to be let off on the spot. This applies if you caused a minor traffic incident that did not result in personal injury or property damage.

• If you receive a fine from a police officer, you must pay it immediately. An unpaid fine starts to accumulate interest after 3 months. This will be recorded in the computer system, and during your next visit to Israel, the fine will be enforced with interest.

• Driving under the influence of alcohol is a very serious offense in Israel. Please note that the Israeli police often set up checkpoints near entertainment centers, clubs, and restaurants to check every driver.
According to the latest laws, it is completely forbidden to consume alcohol while driving, even beer or light wine.

• If an accident involving a tourist driver leads to a court case (e.g., a fatal accident), you will be required to attend court. Hiding is not an option, as the accident information is immediately entered into the computer database, and you can be stopped at the border, airport, or any national border.

Parking in Israel

In major cities like Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, finding a parking spot, especially a free one, is very difficult. Parking fees can range between $5 and $20 per day. If you park in a pay-by-hour zone, payment is made with coins at the machine.

Parking rules in Israel depend on the curb color:
- Red and white curb - Parking is prohibited.
- Red and yellow curb - Bus stop; picking up or dropping off passengers is allowed.
- Blue and white curb - Parking is paid (usually a parking meter should be nearby).
To purchase a parking ticket, place it visibly under the windshield. Often, parking conditions in this zone vary by city. In some cities, this zone becomes free after 7:00 PM, but these details must be checked on signs.
- Unpainted curb (gray) - Parking is allowed (if no prohibition sign is present).
- Disabled parking spots in Israel are marked with a blue square featuring a white wheelchair symbol on the asphalt. Violating this rule will result in your vehicle being towed immediately, and you will incur a very high fine.

Customer Reviews

Below are reviews from our customers about service quality, booking convenience, and vehicle condition.

Natasha

Once again, I would like to recommend Maxim! I rented a car in Milan; this time the provider was Locauto with zero deposit! And with a debit card. Important: The provider wanted to sell full insurance at the counter, but you don’t need to take it. Full insurance is already included in the rental price!

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Tatiana

My husband and I booked a car for an 8-day trip in Germany. The pick-up was at Munich Airport. Everything went smoothly and quickly! Many thanks to HolylandCars for the fast and high-quality work!

Alexey

I rented a car from the company and am very satisfied! They helped me choose, solved the problem with my debit card, and upgraded the car to a better model. Thank you! I will contact you again!