Do you need to rent a car in Israel
If you are visiting Israel, renting a car is a great way to get around in comfort and at your own leisure. Whether planning a sightseeing tour of Jerusalem and Eilat, or planning a business trip to Tel Aviv, Israel is sure to have have a vehicle to suit your requirements. Let us do the hard work and search the market to save you time and money on your next rental car in Israel from any of the leading international rental agents like
Alamo,
Hertz,
Thrifty and
Sixt in addition to local rental agents like Cal Auto and Eldan, both offering great value and equally high standards.
Most popular pick-up locations for car hire in Israel
Most Popular Rental Cars in Israel
Rental Agent
Make / Model
Seats
Luggage
Type
Thrifty
Nissan Micra
5
2
Economy
Hertz
Hyundai i20
5
2
Compact
Alamo
Subaru Impreza
5
3
Standard
Alamo
Fiat Tipo
5
2
Compact
Avis
Mazda 6
5
3
Full Size
Hertz
Toyota Avensis
5
3
Full Size
Europcar
Mazda 5
7
4
7 Seater
Hertz
Hyundai i800
9
4
9 Seater
Need help booking car hire in Israel
Our customer service team are on hand to answer any questions and provide support throughout the booking process. Use our live chat facility to contact a member of the team if you cannot find the answer you need from our frequently asked questions, or you can drop us an e-mail or call our customer service team.
Israel Mini Guide
Israel occupies a long narrow stretch of land at the south-eastern corner of the Mediterranean. This hilly country has as its natural eastern boundary the Great Rift Valley, the great fault which split the earth's surface from Syria to Africa millions of years ago. The valley contains the River Jordan, which flows first through subtropical vegetation, then arid wasteland to the Dead Sea, 394 m (1293 ft) below sea level. The triangular wedge of the Negev Desert ends at the Gulf of Aqaba, at the head of which is Israel's southern outlet, the small port of Eilat.
Israel's northern half is temperate and fertile, while the south is arid and barren. Most of the country's estimated 7.7 million citizens live on the coastal plain bordering the Mediterranean, where Tel Aviv is the leading commercial city. The greenest part is Galilee, though here, as in all Israel, no rain falls in summer. The Sea of Galilee, lying among the northern hills, is Israel’s main reservoir of fresh water. This is piped to the Negev - the desert and semi desert home of wandering Bedouin Arabs - and it is the Israelis' proud boast that they have 'made the desert bloom' with sunflowers, sugar beet and other crops.
In the 40 years since modern Israel was founded, large numbers of them have left Europe, North America, the Middle East and Africa to make new lives in their historic homeland. The Jewish population was 650,000 in 1948; today it is near 6 million which accounts for nearly a third of the world's Jews. The second largest ethnic group are Arabs, comprised of both Muslim and Christian faiths.
Israel is a young country with about one third of the population is under 14. The people are highly educated; many of those who flocked to Israel brought with them a wealth of skills and it is not uncommon for, say, a truck driver to have a degree. It is also one of the most polyglot societies on earth; there are, for instance, Iraqi, Ethiopian, Moroccan and Russian Jews, and many others.
Facts about Israel
- Israel has one of the highest life expectancies in the world.
- The currency in Israel is the Shekel (ILS).
- Israel harvests the power of the sun to its advantage, making it the leading nation in solar energy.
- The two official languages in Israel is Hebrew and Arabic, with Hebrew being the primary language.
- The national emblem of Israel is an Escutcheon which contains a Menorah in its middle, two olive branches on both sides of the Menorah and at the bottom the label 'Israel'.
Is it safe to drive in Israel?
If you've visiting Israel for the first time and renting a car, there isn't much to be concerned about aside from usual anxieties around driving in a different country. It is safe to drive in Israel, roads are generally in excellent condition and road signs are Hebrew, Arabic and English, but you'll recognise most anyway as Israel has adopted internationally standardised road signs.
Rental cars in Israel are all new and low mileage, current model year vehicles so the car itself shouldn't be any cause for concern either. If you are not satisfied with the the rental car provided by the rental agent on your arrival, simply ask for an alternative or consider an upgrade.