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When it comes to driving in Israel, there are a few things to know. Of course, you are going to be just as safe traveling here as you are in your hometown or country. Therefore, you shouldn’t be worried about issues. Still, it can help to know as much as possible so that you are prepared and don’t risk getting pulled over by the authorities. If that was to happen, you could probably explain the situation without a violation, but it’s best to avoid it when possible.
In almost every case, there are no places where you shouldn’t drive your rental car. Of course, you can’t drive on pathways that aren’t considered roads, and most of these are marked with signage. However, you don’t have to worry about being turned away on specific roads or not allowed to go through because there isn’t a lot of construction areas or issues. If there is a road that is closed, signage explains this and gives you plenty of time to turn off and find an alternate route.
Israeli drivers are similar to South American and Mediterranean drivers because they don’t see red lights and stop signs as the rule. They often don’t stop at them, and if you do so, you’re going to stick out as a tourist. The issue becomes the 400 to 500 deaths per year on Israeli roads, and you’re not likely to want to be part of that statistic.
Since you’re using a rental car, it’s ideal to follow all of the rules of the road. You can look them up for Israel, but many of them are the same as for the US and other countries.
Some people worry about getting into an altercation and being shot at, but Israel has a strict gun law, which is actually more stringent than that of the US.
The only rules to drive a rental car in Israel is to have a driver’s license from your country, and it must be valid. This means that the address is the same, and all the information is correct. You don’t require an international license, though you do need to be 21 years old or older to rent a car and be a named driver.
Rental locations put an age limit on people, so you can’t be older than 75 years. There can be a surcharge for people who are under age 25. Regardless, you need to have a valid driver’s license for your country, and it has to be a year old. If you’re traveling with children, you must have a child seat in the car if your child is under four years old.
When it comes to traveling, many people flock to Israel. Though it can be easy to travel by airplane, you don’t want to be at the mercy of taxi cabs the entire time. Therefore, it’s a good idea to rent a car while you’re there so that you can travel when the mood suits you.