So when I’m driving in Israel with my guests all over the Holy Land. Usually at some point during our trip, I hear from them “Thank God you’re the one in the driver’s seat”. So on your next trip to Israel, consider renting a car so you can get around easily. But you should be aware that despite the modern road network; Israel is a still Middle Eastern country, and the driving culture may be different from what you are used to at home. Here are some tips and rules to make your driving-in-Israel experience run a little smoother. First, you should know that all the highways are signed in English next to Arabic and Hebrew. That already a great relief, right?
Moreover, You can rent a car in all of Israel’s major cities and most easily at Ben Gurion Airport once you land. All the major car rental agencies like Avis, Budget, and more! the different branches are to be found throughout the country so you can find a convenient location to pick up or drop off your car. Also if you do decide to rent a car you should add insurance without a deductible, since people in Israel don’t care about their cars and might do some small dents or damage to your rental car and it’s worth saving you the hassle when you return it to worry about it.
Parking in Israel
Parking in Israel is fairly simple. My recommendation is that if you’re big cities, parking the car in a parking lot would be the best solution. This way you won’t have to figure out if you can park in a certain spot or not, and might get a ticket placed on your window. And trust me you will pay it in one way or the other, especially if it’s a rental car. This is especially true in cities like Tel Aviv or Jerusalem.
You Should Note That the General Rule is:
Curbs with Red and white markings: parking is generally not allowed.
Curbs with Red and Yellow markings: parking is generally not allowed.
Blue and white markings: parking is allowed if you buy a parking permit. Today there are apps for that like Pango. These apps are super easy to use and better than running to kiosks trying to find parking permits.
I know it obvious but you can see it done in Israel and might think it’s okay. But it’s NOT! So Never park over at the side of the road, in a handicapped bay, or over a driveway. You will get fined.
So in terms of where to park: red & white stripes on the curb are forbidden, blue & white stripes require a fee and gray color curbs are open to all. The easiest way to figure this out (without receiving a ticket) is to download the application Pango and pay parking fees through this.
Talking on the Phone While Driving in Israel
Talking on a cellphone without a hands-free system (such as Bluetooth) is against the law in Israel. You will be stopped and possibly ticketed if seen holding your cellphone. I recommend you to connect your mobile phone to the Bluetooth of the vehicle and save you the anguish when a police officer will stop you and fine you with a 500USD ticket.
