By car in Israel
At first glance, traffic in Israel seems similar to that in Ukraine: right-hand traffic, familiar road signs, and markings. But in practice, there are important nuances that may surprise or even confuse drivers, especially if this is their first experience traveling in the Middle East.
Speed limits: formally and in practice
The legal speed limits in Israel are as follows: 50 km/h within city limits, 80–90 km/h on interurban roads, and up to 120 km/h on highways. However, many local drivers consider these limits to be “recommendations.” This does not mean that you should ignore them — the country has an active system of automatic speed cameras that do not forgive even a 10 km/h excess. The fine will be sent either to the car owner's address or directly to the rental company, which will deduct the amount from your card with a commission.
For example, if you are driving from Tel Aviv to Haifa on Route 2 and “keeping up” with traffic traveling at 130–135 km/h, you are taking a risk. The camera will catch you, not those in front of you. Therefore, always check the speed limit on your GPS or Waze and do not trust the “general pace.”
City driving: traffic, stress, and habits
In large cities — especially in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem — traffic is heavy, drivers are often not very polite, and they honk even when there is no real need to. For example, you may hear a honk just 0.5 seconds after the traffic light turns green — this is typical.
Many drivers also fail to keep their distance, maneuver closely, and motorcyclists and scooter riders freely weave between lanes — this takes some getting used to, especially on narrow lanes or when changing lanes.
If you have no experience driving in heavy city traffic, it is better to drive early in the morning or in the evening when the roads are less congested.
Pedestrians, traffic lights, signs
Pedestrians have the right of way in Israel, but not always. Many people cross the road in unauthorized places or ignore traffic lights. By law, you must stop before a crosswalk if a pedestrian intends to cross, even if they are only standing at the crosswalk. Road signs are often duplicated in English and Arabic, so they are easy to understand.
However, there are situations where the rules seem “unwritten” — for example, in courtyards or shopping center parking lots, there are often no clear signs, and you have to act intuitively.
Parking: what to look out for
- 🔵 Blue lines — paid parking (payment via the Pango, Cellopark apps or a parking meter)
- 🔴 Red and white lines — no parking
- 🟡 Yellow line — for special transport or public transport only
The most common violations are parking in a prohibited area or an inactive session in the parking app.
Use of lights, seat belts, and child restraints
From November 1 to March 31, it is mandatory to use low beams during daylight hours. This applies to all types of roads, regardless of weather conditions. Most drivers forget about this, especially tourists — the fine for violation is over 250 shekels.
Seat belts are mandatory for all passengers. Israeli police often stop drivers in random checks just to check that rear seat passengers are wearing seat belts.
Regarding children: if you have a child under the age of 8, they must be in a special seat or booster seat appropriate for their age and weight. Most rental companies provide these seats for an additional fee (approximately 25–37 shekels/day). They must be ordered in advance, otherwise there may be none available on the day you pick up the car.
The fueling system in Israel is reliable, modern, and fairly straightforward. However, it has its own peculiarities that differ from what Ukrainians are used to. For example, there are often semi-automated gas stations, sometimes with limited service, and not all types of payment are accepted equally. If you don't know a few things in advance, you can waste time or get confused at the pump.
How Israeli gas stations work
Gas stations are located regularly in cities and along major highways. The largest chains are Paz, Sonol, Delek, Ten, and Dor Alon. Most of them are open 24/7, but on Saturdays, during Shabbat, some stations close completely or switch to self-service mode when there is no staff.
At the entrance, you will see a board with prices for gasoline and diesel. Fuel prices are fixed by the government on a monthly basis, so they do not vary much between chains. For example, in July, a liter of 95 octane gasoline cost an average of about 6.8 shekels (≈$1.8), and diesel was slightly cheaper.
When approaching a pump, be careful: not all gas stations have staff. Often, you will need to fill up yourself using the terminal located next to each pump. The terminal menu is usually in Hebrew, but some stations have an English interface — not everywhere.
Payment: card, cash, problems
The most convenient way is to pay by bank card directly at the terminal near the pump. But there is a caveat: Israeli POS terminals may not support Ukrainian or international debit cards, especially if they have limited access to online payments. In this case, the system either displays an error or “blocks” the amount but does not allow you to refuel.
The best option is a credit card with online payment support and a PIN code. If the terminal asks for “Teudat Zehut” (this is the equivalent of an identification code in Israel), just enter any 8-digit number — this is a workaround for foreigners.
Another option is to pay at the cash register. If the gas station is staffed (not on Shabbat), you can tell the operator how many liters or how much you want to fill up. In this case, you can use cash or the same card without any errors.
Rental cars usually require a full tank upon return, so it is better to allow extra time for your last refueling stop before the airport in case of queues, terminal malfunctions, or payment errors.
What fuel to use
Most rental cars in Israel run on 95 octane gasoline (Regular). Before leaving, be sure to check the sticker on the fuel tank cap or ask a rental company employee. Filling up with diesel (or vice versa) is a common mistake among tourists and is not covered by insurance.
Sometimes diesel fuel nozzles look the same as gasoline nozzles, so don't just look at the color of the handle — read the label on the nozzle itself: דיזל (Diesel) for diesel, בנזין 95 (Benzin 95) for gasoline.
Getting into a traffic accident is not the most pleasant thing, especially abroad. But it is important to understand that the accident response system in Israel is quite clear and well-established. If you follow the correct procedure, you will be able to handle the situation without any unnecessary problems — even without perfect knowledge of Hebrew.
Initial response: what to do immediately after an accident
- After a collision, even a minor one, be sure to stop and turn on your hazard lights.
- Exit the car carefully, if it is safe to do so, and check if anyone else has been injured.
- If there are injuries, call an ambulance at 101 and the police at 100.
If there are no injuries, but there is damage to the vehicles, you should still not leave the scene — this could be interpreted as fleeing the scene of an accident.
Contact with other participants
Communicating with the other driver is one of the most important parts. Even if it is a rental car, you are required to exchange contact information, take photos of documents (driver's license, vehicle registration, or rental confirmation), and take videos of the scene from different angles. Israeli drivers often act emotionally and may immediately admit fault, but an hour later denies everything — documentary evidence of your position will be critical.
If there is a language barrier, you can use a translator on your phone or even gestures — locals usually understand basic English but do not always want to speak it. Be restrained but clear: you do not need to figure out who is at fault — that is what the police and insurance are for.
Police: when to call
If people are injured, there is serious damage to the car, or the drivers cannot agree, be sure to call the police. This is also worth doing if the other party does not have insurance or refuses to show their documents. The police may take up to an hour to arrive — be patient. You will be given a case number (mispar tik), which you will need later for your insurance or rental company.
If the circumstances are minor, both parties acknowledge the damage and do not want to call the police, you can draw up a “joint statement” signed by both drivers (forms are often available in the glove compartment of local cars), or simply record everything on photo/video with mutual consent.
If you are driving a rental car
In the event of even minor damage to a rental car, immediately notify the company. The rental agreement usually includes a contact number for such situations (available 24/7). Even if you think the dent is “minor,” the rental company may charge you hundreds of dollars if you do not notify them immediately.
After recording the incident, the company will provide you with instructions: you may need to go to the nearest office, leave the car there, or replace it with another one. Do not try to resolve the issue on your own — this may void your insurance coverage.
It is also important to remember that full insurance coverage (Super CDW) is usually not valid without a police report or notification of the incident to the company — even if you are not at fault.
After an accident
Even after a minor incident, the rental company may retain part or all of your deposit until its internal investigation is complete. If everything is in order, and you have a police report or a note from the company, your deposit will be refunded in full. In some cases, this may take up to 14 days.
The penalty system in Israel is quite strict, and most importantly, it works. Even if you have rented a car for only a few days, any violation is automatically recorded, and the fine is charged down to the penny. Israeli road services do not try to “catch” tourists, but they do not forgive violations — everything is clear and digitized.
How violations are recorded
Most fines are recorded by automatic cameras located at intersections, on highways, and at city exits. Even a slight speeding violation or running a yellow light can result in a fine.
In the case of a rental car, the fine is sent to the company's system, and it deducts the amount of the fine + an administrative fee (usually 80–150 shekels) from your card. You will receive an email with a copy of the fine or simply see the charge on your card in a few weeks.
If the violation is recorded during a personal stop by the police, you will be issued a paper fine on the spot, and the data will also be entered into the general database. Even if you leave the country, the fine will remain.
How much do typical violations cost?
🔹 Speeding
- +10 km/h — ≈ 250 shekels
- 11–30 km/h — up to 750 shekels
- over 30 km/h — 1,000–1,500 shekels, and even temporary revocation of your license
🔹 Running a red light
- standard fine — 1,500 shekels
- plus 10 penalty points, which affects your driver's license (for residents)
🔹 Failure to wear a seat belt
- fine — 250 shekels for each passenger who is not wearing a seat belt
🔹 Using a phone while driving without a hands-free device
- 1,000 shekel fine and 8 points
🔹 Improper parking
- minimum fine — 250 shekels
- stopping in a prohibited area or on a pedestrian crossing — 500–750 shekels
🔹 Failure to maintain distance, changing lanes without signaling, sudden maneuvers
- fine — up to 500 shekels
🔹 Drunk driving
- Permissible blood alcohol level — up to 0.05‰
- Exceeding the limit — from 2,000 shekels, possible impoundment of the vehicle, loss of license, or even criminal liability
What to do if you receive a ticket
If you receive a fine in person, keep a copy and check the details (car number, location, date, type of violation). If the car is rented, notify the company immediately, especially if the situation is unclear.
In some cases (e.g., parking or reversing on a one-way street), it is possible to appeal the fine, but this is a bureaucratic process and takes several months.
Fines can be paid online via the website gov.il, at a post office, or at a bank (only for residents). It is easier for tourists not to wait — pay or allow the rental company to make the payment automatically.
Retroactive fines after returning the car
This is a fairly common situation: you return a rental car without incident, but in 2–3 weeks you receive an email from the company stating that your car was caught speeding or parking illegally. A copy of the fine is attached to the letter, and the amount of the fine + service fee is debited from your card.
After the charge is debited, no further action is usually required. If you want to appeal the fine, you will have to contact the Israeli Ministry of Internal Affairs directly, provide an explanation, and wait several months for a response — in most cases, this is not worth the effort.
How to avoid trouble
- Always obey the speed limit, especially on highways, where cameras are most often installed.
- Park only where there are blue lines or official paid parking — not “for a minute.”
- Use the Waze or Moovit apps, which warn you about speed cameras, traffic restrictions, and changes to road markings.
- Do not drink alcohol before driving — even a symbolic glass of wine can cost you several thousand shekels.
⚖️ Legal assistance in the event of a traffic accident or fines abroad
Have you been in an accident? Is your landlord demanding payment for damage even though you are not at fault? Or have you received a retroactive fine and don't know how to appeal?
The team of immigration lawyers at Visit Ukraine helps Ukrainians resolve disputes with rental companies and government agencies abroad, including in Israel.
You can get:
- advice on traffic accidents and dealing with the police;
- assistance in preparing complaints and explanations;
- support in appealing fines for illegal parking, speeding, or running a red light.