Full UK/EU driving licence plus 1949 IDP
RequiredIsrael recognises foreign licences for up to one year, but police and rental firms expect a 1949 International Driving Permit alongside your national licence if it is not in English or Hebrew.
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Country driving guide · 2026
Driving in Israel
Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into Israel: 9 legal requirements + 8 other things worth knowing.
9
Required
2
Recommended
6
Good to know
Tick before you go
Pre-departure checklist for Israel
9 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.
Full UK/EU driving licence plus 1949 IDP
Israel recognises foreign licences for up to one year, but police and rental firms expect a 1949 International Driving Permit alongside your national licence if it is not in English or Hebrew.
Passport with 6 months validity
Carry your passport in the vehicle at all times. It is routinely checked at internal security checkpoints, especially approaching Jerusalem, the Dead Sea and northern borders.
Rental agreement and insurance certificate
Most UK/EU drivers will rent locally as bringing your own car is impractical; ensure the rental contract explicitly covers the West Bank if you plan to drive there, as standard policies often exclude it.
Warning triangle and hi-vis vest
A reflective warning triangle and a high-visibility vest must be carried in every vehicle and the vest worn before exiting on any road after a breakdown.
Drive on the right
Israel drives on the right; overtaking is on the left and most junctions outside cities use roundabouts or signalised intersections. No right-on-red is permitted.
Speed limits 50 / 80-90 / 110 km/h
Urban areas 50 km/h, rural/inter-urban roads 80-90 km/h, and motorways (Routes 1, 2, 4, 6) up to 110 km/h; limits are heavily camera-enforced.
BAC limit 0.24 mg/L breath (~0.05% blood)
The legal alcohol limit equates to roughly 0.05% BAC for experienced drivers and effectively zero for new drivers, professional drivers and under-24s.
Headlights on inter-urban roads Nov-Mar
Dipped headlights are mandatory on all inter-urban (non-city) roads from 1 November to 31 March, day and night; fines apply for non-compliance.
Handheld phones banned, seatbelts for all
Handheld mobile phone use while driving is prohibited, seatbelts are compulsory for every occupant and children under 8 require an appropriate child seat.
Documents
Passport with 6 months validity
RequiredCarry your passport in the vehicle at all times. It is routinely checked at internal security checkpoints, especially approaching Jerusalem, the Dead Sea and northern borders.
Rental agreement and insurance certificate
RequiredMost UK/EU drivers will rent locally as bringing your own car is impractical; ensure the rental contract explicitly covers the West Bank if you plan to drive there, as standard policies often exclude it.
Emergency number 100 (police), 101 (ambulance)
Good to knowDial 100 for police, 101 for Magen David Adom ambulance and 102 for fire; 112 also works from mobiles and connects to the appropriate service.
Required equipment
Warning triangle and hi-vis vest
RequiredA reflective warning triangle and a high-visibility vest must be carried in every vehicle and the vest worn before exiting on any road after a breakdown.
Driving rules
Drive on the right
RequiredIsrael drives on the right; overtaking is on the left and most junctions outside cities use roundabouts or signalised intersections. No right-on-red is permitted.
Speed limits 50 / 80-90 / 110 km/h
RequiredUrban areas 50 km/h, rural/inter-urban roads 80-90 km/h, and motorways (Routes 1, 2, 4, 6) up to 110 km/h; limits are heavily camera-enforced.
BAC limit 0.24 mg/L breath (~0.05% blood)
RequiredThe legal alcohol limit equates to roughly 0.05% BAC for experienced drivers and effectively zero for new drivers, professional drivers and under-24s.
Headlights on inter-urban roads Nov-Mar
RequiredDipped headlights are mandatory on all inter-urban (non-city) roads from 1 November to 31 March, day and night; fines apply for non-compliance.
Handheld phones banned, seatbelts for all
RequiredHandheld mobile phone use while driving is prohibited, seatbelts are compulsory for every occupant and children under 8 require an appropriate child seat.
Tolls
Route 6 (Kvish 6) free-flow toll road
RecommendedThe main north-south Route 6 uses automatic licence-plate recognition with no booths; rental cars are billed via the agency (typically NIS 30-50 / EUR 7-12 per typical segment plus a small admin fee).
Carmel Tunnels and Tel Aviv Fast Lane
Good to knowThe Haifa Carmel Tunnels charge around NIS 8-15 (EUR 2-4) per passage and the Tel Aviv Highway 1 Fast Lane uses dynamic pricing: both bill rentals automatically by plate.
Emissions / low-emission zones
No formal low-emission zones
Good to knowIsrael has no LEZ sticker scheme like France or Germany, though Haifa and Tel Aviv operate restricted-entry zones for heavy diesel trucks that do not affect tourist rentals.
Environment
Shabbat closures and desert heat
RecommendedMany roads in religious neighbourhoods of Jerusalem and Bnei Brak close from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset; in summer carry extra water for Negev and Dead Sea routes where temperatures exceed 40 C.
Avoid Areas A of the West Bank and Gaza envelope
Good to knowIsraeli law and FCDO advice prohibit Israeli-plated and most rental cars from entering Palestinian Authority Area A (red signs); avoid the Gaza periphery and Lebanese/Syrian borders entirely.
Money
Currency NIS, fuel ~EUR 1.80/litre
Good to knowThe shekel (NIS / ILS) is the only accepted currency; 95-octane petrol runs around NIS 7.3/litre (~EUR 1.80), card payment is universal at fuel stations and tipping attendants is not expected.
Cash declaration NIS 50,000 at border
Good to knowAmounts exceeding roughly NIS 50,000 (~EUR 12,500) in cash or equivalent must be declared on arrival; contactless card payment works everywhere including tolls handled via rental agency.
Plan your Israel road trip
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Don't get caught out
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Drive on the right
RequiredIsrael drives on the right; overtaking is on the left and most junctions outside cities use roundabouts or signalised intersections. No right-on-red is permitted.
Speed limits 50 / 80-90 / 110 km/h
RequiredUrban areas 50 km/h, rural/inter-urban roads 80-90 km/h, and motorways (Routes 1, 2, 4, 6) up to 110 km/h; limits are heavily camera-enforced.
BAC limit 0.24 mg/L breath (~0.05% blood)
RequiredThe legal alcohol limit equates to roughly 0.05% BAC for experienced drivers and effectively zero for new drivers, professional drivers and under-24s.
Headlights on inter-urban roads Nov-Mar
RequiredDipped headlights are mandatory on all inter-urban (non-city) roads from 1 November to 31 March, day and night; fines apply for non-compliance.
Handheld phones banned, seatbelts for all
RequiredHandheld mobile phone use while driving is prohibited, seatbelts are compulsory for every occupant and children under 8 require an appropriate child seat.