Car Rental Tips

• TIP 1: prices often include VAT. However, if you pay with a credit card, you don't have to pay this VAT, so you should ask for a reduction of at least 10%.

TIP 2: always refill before giving back the car. We didn't do it, and our tank was 65% full, however Hertz charged us almost a full tank saying they add 10% service tax !!!

TIP 3: There's always a drop off charge of about 20 US$ for Ben Gurion airport, for other cities (f.i. pick up Tel Aviv and drop off Jerusalem) there's no drop off charge.

TIP 4:  Horror stories of "Israeli drivers being very dangerous" might be a put-off when it comes to car rentals. But, most drivers acyually stick to the speed limit and don't drive faster then 110 km/hours. Also directions are mostly well signposted (except maybe sometimes in the big cities), even so a map i the best way to get around by car.

TIP 5: Israeli police has red number plates. Sometimes they have anonymous cars but still with the red number plates. I was stopped by one since I was the only one overtaking this car, all the Israeli knew of course it was a police car. I got off with a warning. 

For a list of car rental companies take a look at our reviews. 

Comments (9)

Very useful info written by Dan on November 19, 2005 thanks, I'll probably will use it. Avis written by Douglas Duckett on November 19, 2005 I have used Avis on my last three trips to Israel, and have consistently gotten lower rates than I could through Orbitz by using their web site, www.avis.co.il. But do it before arriving -- you'll get better rates from abroad. Also, don't forget to use your gold or platinum MasterCard to get insurance coverage so that you can use the CDW waiver. That will save you some $15 per day. You will still have to pay the third-party liability coverage (about $9 per day), but still, that's a big savings. You should bring some kind of confirmation that your credit card offers coverage in Israel. Note that VISA's CDW coverage is NOT valid at this point in Israel. "Traffic" Rental Cars written by Justin on April 10, 2006 Whatever you do - do not rent a car from the company called "Traffic". They are located, most if not all rental companies on HaYarkon Street near the Sheraton Tel Aviv Hotel. DO NOT RENT FROM THIS COMPANY. THEY RENT OUT FAULTY CARS AND BLAME ANY BREAK DOWN ON THE CUSTOMER, CONSEQUENTLY CHARGING THEM ASTRONOMICAL RATES AS COMPENSATION. To avoid such costs you would need to see a lawyer and make a claim at the Consumer Court This is so not worth the hassle - just go elsewhere! Using web sites to rent cars written by Douglas Duckett on May 7, 2006 Perhaps the easiest way to rent cars in Israel, and compare prices while doing so, is to search for cars and prices on the web sites. I'd start with a general web site that covers many providers, such as www.orbitz.com. But the companies also have Israeli web sites, and I often find the prices better on there: Hertz: www.hertz.co.il Avis: www.avis.co.il Be careful on this one. For some reason, if you book far out, it shows the base price as $0 (obviously not right), and then only the insurance charge. This makes it look very low, but it's not. So watch that. Budget: www.budget.co.il Because Budget is a newer player in Israel, they are quoting very competitive rates right now. Eldan: www.eldan.co.il This is the most popular Israeli rental company, and while I've not used it, people speak highly of it. It and Budget seem to have the best rates right now. I generally use a US-based company, just because if something goes wrong, I have more opportunity to contest it once I get home. I hope this helps. Douglas Duckett Cincinnati, Ohio, USA Eldan works written by Jonathan on May 14, 2006 I've used Eldan the last four trips to Israel. They have been consistently easy to work with, and polite (by Israeli standards). This was for airport pickup and drop-off. Never had a problem with any car from Eldan. Had Ford Focus and Mazda 3 the last few times, automatic transmission, which are in the lower-middle range of cars they offer but not the least expensive. General rental information -- most rental companies in Israel will have a very cheap radio/tape deck on most lower-price models. Eldan is no exception. Bring your ipod with a radio transmitter or cassette converter if you want your own music and don't have tapes. ... written by Rosalind Flusberg on November 8, 2006 I have always rented from Eldan. I have a Platinum Plus master card. Master card told me they no longer cover Israel for CDW unless I find a bank that will give me a World master card that does cover Israel. Do you know which master cards have World cards that cover CDW in Israel? Master Card no longer covers Israel written by Douglas E. Duckett on November 17, 2006 Rosalind, Master Card stopped covering Israel effective September 1, 2006, just in time for my recently completed trip. Grrrrrrr. I'm not aware of any that still cover Israel. If you find one, please post again, as that would save a ton of money. My insurance charge with Budget exceeded the actual rental charge! ... written by Shay on December 8, 2006 Hey I have a question about the Liability insurance. does anyone knows if I rent from Budget outside Tel-Aviv will the liability be included in the rate AND if CDQ will be accepted outside Tel-aviv that’s what I was told by budget earlier, they said if you rent in TEL-AVIV they wont accept visa gold as insurance and I will have to pay for liability. I'm confused here, anyone knows? In Canada CIBC, ROYAL BANK and many Canadian banks insure cars (Collision/Loss Damage insurance CDW) in Israel I even got a letter stating that Israel is covered. Another very good company written by Ophisha on February 15, 2008 You should try to rent a car in israel with "Blue-Sky". This is a smaller company, but very good, with better service than the big companies. http://www.blue-sky.co.il

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