Driving Permit for Israel
Driving in Israel with a foreign licence? Israel drives on the right and recognises the 1968-convention IDP. See licence validity, rental age rules, Route 6 tolls, and why an IDP is recommended.
- Drive on
- Right
- Convention
- 1949 + 1968
- IDP validity
- 12 months
- Processing time
- 24-48 hours
Do you need an IDP to drive in Israel?
Israel is a contracting party to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic and recognises the International Driving Permit issued under it. Visitors can drive on a valid foreign licence for up to 12 months from arrival, and government advisories — including Canada's — recommend carrying an IDP alongside your home licence. The UK Foreign Office goes further, telling British drivers to carry the 1968 IDP together with their licence. If your licence isn't printed in Latin characters, an IDP is effectively essential: it provides the certified translation Israeli authorities and rental firms rely on.
In practice, renting a car in Israel is straightforward for most visitors. Desks at Ben Gurion Airport and city branches routinely accept national licences printed in English, together with your passport. The minimum driving age is 17, but rental companies generally require drivers to be at least 21, and young-driver surcharges are common. Traffic drives on the right, intercity roads are modern and well signposted, and enforcement is active — speed cameras are widespread and police carry out regular checks.
A few local rules catch visitors out. Route 6, Israel's main north–south tollway, and Haifa's Carmel Tunnels use electronic free-flow tolling: there are no booths, your plate is photographed, and rental firms bill the toll plus a handling fee. From November to March, headlights must be on when driving intercity roads even in daylight. Every car must carry a high-visibility vest and warning triangle, and the vest must be worn if you step out on a roadside. Drink-driving limits are strict, with near-zero tolerance for new and young drivers, and most rental contracts bar travel into Palestinian Authority-controlled areas.
Israel recognises the IDP under both the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Conventions.
Israel is a signatory to both the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Conventions. In practice, an IDP issued by another signatory country is recognised for your permitted visitor stay — in Israel, plan on 12 months.
What you need to drive in Israel
Have these ready before you pick up the keys.
Valid national driving licence — accepted for up to 12 months from entry
1968-convention IDP recommended, and effectively required if your licence isn't printed in Latin characters
Minimum driving age is 17; most rental firms require drivers to be 21+ and may add young-driver surcharges
Carry your passport (or entry slip), licence, and rental/insurance documents when driving
Israel drives on the right, with overtaking on the left.
Speed limits are typically 50 km/h in towns, 80–90 km/h on non-urban roads, and up to 110–120 km/h on major highways such as Route 6.
Route 6 and the Carmel Tunnels are electronic toll roads with no booths — cameras read your plate and rental companies pass the toll on with a handling fee.
In winter (November–March), headlights must be switched on when driving on intercity roads, even during the day.
A high-visibility vest and warning triangle must be kept in the car, and the vest must be worn if you exit the vehicle on a roadside.
Most rental agreements prohibit taking the car into Palestinian Authority-controlled areas, and standard insurance may not cover the West Bank.
What to know before you turn the key
Israel drives on the right — the driver sits on the left, and roundabouts flow anti-clockwise.
Carry your IDP and your original license together — rental desks and police checks will ask for both documents.
Rental desks routinely accept national licences printed in English; bring an IDP if your licence uses a non-Latin script
Tolls on Route 6 and the Carmel Tunnels are billed by number plate — expect the charge plus a service fee from your rental company
Check your rental contract before driving into the West Bank — insurance cover there is limited or excluded
Enforcement is active: speed cameras and police patrols issue fines for speeding, handheld phone use, and seatbelt offences, and serious violations add penalty points or licence suspension. Drink-driving brings suspension and heavy penalties, and driving without acceptable licence documents can void your rental insurance.
Local rules to watch in Israel
Low-emission zones, tolls, and city-specific rules that catch visiting drivers out.
Tel Aviv: heavy congestion and scarce parking — blue-and-white kerb markings mean paid parking (usually via the Pango or CelloPark apps); red-and-white means no stopping.
Jerusalem: avoid driving near the Old City — streets around the light-rail line are restricted, and some neighbourhoods close roads during Shabbat from Friday sunset to Saturday night.
Haifa: the Carmel Tunnels toll route is billed electronically by plate; the city's steep hillside streets make public transport a handy alternative downtown.
Signs you'll meet on the road
Eight internationally recognised signs — including which side of the road Israel keeps.
Common questions about driving in Israel
Drive Israel, confidently.
Apply online in minutes and get instant digital access to your IDP translation — with an IDP PVC card option if you want one in your wallet.