Israel – Driving Licenses

Can foreign nationals drive in Israel on their home country licence, and for how long?

New immigrants, tourists, temporary residents, and citizens returning after having lived abroad for a minimum of one year are all permitted to drive in Israel using a foreign licence for a period of one year from their date of arrival. This rule applies uniformly regardless of residency status — the one-year window begins from the moment of first entry into the country, not from the date a visa or permit is issued.

Anyone who has been in Israel for less than one year may legally drive or purchase a vehicle using a valid foreign licence. Once that year has elapsed, obtaining an Israeli driver’s licence is a legal requirement for continued driving or car ownership. This is a strict statutory deadline, not a matter of discretion.

Brief absences from Israel do not restart this allowance unless the individual spent at least six consecutive months outside the country. If you travel abroad for a short period and then return, the original one-year period generally continues to run from your initial entry date.

The foreign licence must correspond to the appropriate vehicle category — for example, private cars — and the driver must satisfy the minimum age requirement applicable in Israel for that category, which is 18 years for category B (private cars), in line with the specifications of the foreign licence.

Licences that are not issued in English or Hebrew must be accompanied by an International Driving Permit (IDP) obtained in the country of issue, or by a certified translation into one of those languages, to ensure that authorities can read and verify the document and that it retains legal validity throughout this period.

There is an important distinction for those intending to take up longer-term residency. Olim Hadashim (new immigrants) are given a five-year window from their Aliyah date within which to complete the conversion of their foreign licence to an Israeli one. However, it is essential to understand that despite this five-year conversion window, individuals are only permitted to drive on their foreign licence for one year from the date they enter Israel. In practice, many new immigrants choose to convert their licence within the first year in order to remain fully legal from the outset.

Does Israel have licence exchange agreements with other countries?

Israel does not operate a straightforward bilateral “exchange without any test” arrangement in the way that, for instance, certain EU member states automatically exchange licences with one another. Instead, Israel applies a conversion framework whose conditions depend primarily on the length of time you have held your foreign licence and your immigration or residency classification — rather than simply on the country that issued your licence.

Israel has harmonised its driving licence system in line with the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. Holders of a driver’s licence from one of the 67 countries that have done likewise are not required to carry an International Driving Permit when driving in Israel. Drivers from countries not on this list do need an IDP, unless a separate bilateral arrangement between Israel and that country specifies otherwise.

Citizens of South Korea and Italy benefit from specific bilateral agreements that allow them to convert their licence without sitting a driving test, even if they do not satisfy the standard five-year experience requirement. The current status of any such arrangement should always be confirmed directly with the Israeli Ministry of Transport, as agreements may be revised over time.

The fundamental requirement is that your licence must have been issued by a country with which Israel has a relevant agreement. Such countries broadly include most European nations, the USA, Canada, Australia, and others. This describes countries whose licences are recognised for conversion purposes rather than constituting a formal “no-test exchange” list, and the specific procedures can vary depending on the issuing country. For example, holders of licences from the USA or Canada are frequently required to produce a driving history record, which must be obtained from the relevant state or province.

If your country does not have an agreement with Israel, or you do not meet the applicable criteria, the only available route is to sit the complete set of examinations. This involves completing a first aid course, a theoretical driving course, passing the theory examination, and subsequently passing a practical driving test with a licensed instructor.

For the most accurate and up-to-date list of recognised countries and applicable bilateral arrangements, consult the official Ministry of Transport conversion page directly, as this information is subject to periodic revision.

How do you exchange or convert a foreign driving licence in Israel?

The conversion procedure in Israel is more formal than a straightforward swap. Unlike some countries — such as France or Australia — that allow certain foreign nationals to exchange their licence by post with minimal formality, Israel requires applicants to attend a licensing office in person and complete a series of administrative steps. The specific route taken depends on your residency status and the length of time for which you have held your foreign licence.

Drivers are eligible for the expedited conversion pathway if all of the following conditions are satisfied: being an Oleh (within 5 years of their Aliyah date) or an A-category visa holder (within 5 years of entry to Israel), holding a currently valid full-validity foreign driver’s licence, and being able to demonstrate 5 consecutive years of driving on a full-validity licence.

Olim and returning residents who do not qualify under the above criteria, as well as temporary residents and tourists, may convert their foreign licence through an abbreviated process. They are not required to sit the written examination, though a short road test remains compulsory.

The step-by-step process for most foreign nationals is as follows:

1. Obtain an Israeli ID number (if you do not hold a Teudat Zehut). Foreign residents who do not have a Teudat Zehut number must obtain an ID number from Misrad Harishui. This number will begin with 89 and will be needed for all dealings with Misrad Hatachbura, including driver’s licences and vehicle purchase. No appointment is required for this step — simply attend a branch office with your passport and visa.
2. Complete the Tofes Yarok (online medical questionnaire). The Tofes Yarok is a medical declaration required as part of the Israeli driver’s licence application. It is completed online. If your answers include any affirmative responses to the medical questions, you will need to upload a letter from a doctor confirming that you are fit to drive.
3. Visit an approved optician for an eye test and licence photo. Once your file has been opened, you must attend a certified optician affiliated with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to undergo an eye examination and have a photograph taken for use on your licence. A directory of approved opticians is available through the Misrad Harishui website.
4. Book an appointment at Misrad Harishui. Attend Misrad Harishui in person to submit your application for a temporary driver’s licence. Appointments can be made at govisit.gov.il or by calling *5678. You should bring your passport and visa, your original foreign licence (along with a certified translation if it is not in English or Hebrew), your 89 ID number if applicable, and your entries and exits record from the Ministry of Interior.
5. Submit your documents and receive a temporary licence. Misrad Harishui will issue a temporary licence at the time of your appointment; however, this document is NOT valid until the associated fee has been paid.
6. Pay the licence fee. Take the temporary licence to a post office and pay in cash. Most post offices do not accept cheques or credit cards. Payment may also be made online or by telephone on *5678. As of 2024, the charges beyond the eye test (approximately 50 NIS) consist of a licence issuance fee of around 250 NIS for a five-year plastic card. Always confirm the current fee schedule on the official website before making payment.
7. Receive your permanent licence by post. Delivery of your permanent licence may take up to 3 months. It is sent to the address registered with the Population Authority (Misrad Hapnim), so ensure this information is current before completing payment.

Where a practical road test is required, Israeli law specifies that the test must be conducted using a driving instructor’s vehicle. You will be required to pay the instructor for use of their car during the examination. It is advisable to arrange one or two driving lessons in advance of the test itself.

With regard to your original foreign licence: once an Israeli licence has been issued, the original foreign licence will be forwarded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the issuing country. You should not expect to have your foreign licence returned to you.

How do you apply for a driving licence in Israel from scratch?

If you do not hold a foreign licence that is eligible for conversion — or if your licence has lapsed, or you have resided in Israel beyond the permitted timeframe for conversion — you must apply for an Israeli licence through the complete licensing process. This broadly resembles first-time licensing systems in many other countries, combining medical checks, a theory examination, and a practical driving test.

Israeli driving licences are issued across twelve categories, broadly analogous to those used under the European licence framework, though minor differences exist. All applicants must pass a medical examination and eye test as well as a theoretical test before progressing to practical lessons and the final driving test.

Individuals who do not hold a foreign licence, or who are neither Olim nor A-category visa holders, must follow the standard full-process route and complete a minimum of 28 driving lessons (each lasting 40 minutes) with a certified instructor before being permitted to sit the practical test. This mandatory lesson requirement is broadly comparable to minimum lesson rules in countries such as Germany or France and is intended to ensure that drivers are adequately prepared for Israeli road conditions.

The steps involved in obtaining a first Israeli driving licence (Category B — private car) are as follows:

1. Obtain an 89 ID number from Misrad Harishui if you do not already hold an Israeli identity document (Teudat Zehut).
2. Complete the Tofes Yarok (online medical declaration) and upload any required documentation from a doctor if you have a relevant health condition.
3. Undergo an eye test at an approved optician affiliated with Misrad Harishui and have your licence photograph taken.
4. Pass the theoretical knowledge test. The theory examination is available in multiple languages, including English, and covers road rules, traffic signs, and safety regulations. Registration and study materials are accessible online.
5. Complete a minimum of 28 driving lessons (each 40 minutes in duration) with a licensed instructor. Your instructor will also coordinate the scheduling of your practical test.
6. Pass the practical driving test, which is conducted by an examiner from Misrad Harishui using your instructor’s vehicle.
7. Pay the licence fee and receive a temporary paper licence, which becomes legally valid upon payment. The permanent plastic card will subsequently be posted to your registered address.

Following this process, the Israeli licence will carry a “New Driver” designation (nahag chadash), and the holder will be subject to all regulations applicable to new drivers. New driver status imposes additional restrictions similar to probationary or graduated licence systems found in countries such as the UK and Ireland.

As of April 2024, the age at which a mandatory medical review is required prior to licence activities has been raised from 70 to 75. Drivers aged 75 and over must therefore complete a medical examination and eye test before receiving any licence — whether this is a first-time licence, a conversion, or a renewal.

For current fee schedules and test booking procedures, consult the Ministry of Transport and Road Safety’s official licensing portal. Fees are subject to change and should be verified prior to application.

How do you renew a driving licence in Israel?

Israeli driving licences must be renewed at regular intervals. New drivers are required to renew after six months, then after two years, and thereafter every ten years. For foreign nationals who hold an Israeli licence, the renewal schedule mirrors that of Israeli citizens, though licence validity may be tied to the duration of the holder’s residency permit.

A person who is not an Israeli resident will be issued a licence valid for five years; however, the licence’s validity is contingent on the continued validity of their Israeli residence permit. This means that should your visa lapse, your driving licence may cease to be valid even if the standard renewal date has not yet arrived.

In most circumstances, renewal is triggered automatically once the applicable fee has been paid, provided there are no disqualifications, outstanding fines, or medical conditions that prevent renewal. The process is largely self-initiated through payment and does not typically require a visit to a licensing office.

Your renewal date is printed on your licence and, for ease of recall, coincides with your date of birth. Approximately one month before your renewal date, a new temporary paper licence accompanied by a payment voucher will be sent to your postal address.

The renewal fee may be paid in several ways: by telephone on *5678, in person at a licensing office, at a self-service terminal, or online through the government portal. Your new photographic licence card should be delivered to your address within 2–3 months of payment being received.

In terms of fees, drivers of category A and B vehicles (cars, motorcycles, and light trucks) aged under 70 pay 524 NIS. A five-year licence costs 227 NIS, and a two-year licence costs 96 NIS. These amounts are subject to revision — always confirm the current figures via the official Ministry of Transport renewal page before making payment.

One month before reaching the age of 70, the renewal fee must be settled and the licence renewed. In accordance with Regulation 196(b) of the Traffic Regulations, with effect from 01.04.2024, no medical tests are required when renewing a licence upon turning 70.

Medical examinations and licence renewal become mandatory in the year the holder turns 75 and again five years later (at age 80), with further renewals required every two years thereafter. Professional drivers aged 60 and over — including taxi drivers, bus drivers, and operators of heavy machinery — are required to undergo health checks and eye tests as a condition of licence renewal.

Is an International Driving Permit valid in Israel?

Israel is a Contracting Party to both the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic (19 September 1949) and the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic (8 November 1968). Israel signed the 1949 Geneva Convention and ratified it on 6 January 1955, and signed the 1968 Vienna Convention and ratified it on 11 May 1971.

International Driving Permits (IDPs) issued under either the 1949 Geneva Convention (valid for up to 1 year) or the 1968 Vienna Convention (valid for up to 3 years) are recognised in Israel. Visitors may use an IDP in conjunction with their valid foreign driving licence, subject to local regulations.

An IDP functions as a supplement to your national licence and is not a substitute for it. Both documents must be carried together at all times when driving; the IDP has no legal standing without the original licence accompanying it.

Where a foreign licence is not issued in English, Hebrew, or Arabic, an IDP may be required to serve as a translation. If your licence is already in English, an IDP may not be strictly necessary for translation purposes, though carrying one remains advisable for interactions with police, car rental companies, and insurers.

IDPs are primarily relevant for tourists and short-stay visitors. Any person who has been in Israel for less than one year may legally drive on a valid foreign licence. After that point, an Israeli driver’s licence is required. An IDP does not extend the one-year grace period — once a year has passed since entry, an Israeli licence is obligatory regardless of whether you hold an IDP.

If you are planning to drive during a visit to Israel, obtain your IDP from the relevant authority in your home country before departing, as IDPs are not issued to foreign nationals within Israel.

What are the penalties for driving licence offences in Israel?

Israeli law treats licence-related offences with considerable seriousness. Driving without a valid licence — whether as a result of failing to convert a foreign licence, allowing a foreign licence to expire, or permitting an Israeli licence to lapse — can result in financial penalties, prosecution, and disqualification from driving.

Timely renewal of a driver’s licence is essential to avoid the legal consequences of driving without a valid document. The penalty for being caught driving on an expired licence depends on how long the licence has been out of date. Where the licence expired less than six months prior, the likely outcome is a fine of 250 NIS and no court summons, unless aggravating circumstances are present. For longer periods of expiry, or for driving on a foreign licence beyond the permitted one-year window, penalties are substantially more severe. Current fine amounts should always be verified with the relevant official authority, as figures are subject to change.

Israel operates a demerit points system (Shitat Hanikud) for traffic offences, which encompasses licence-related violations. Points accumulate on a driver’s record, and exceeding a prescribed threshold can lead to licence suspension. Legislation also includes specific provisions preventing the issue or renewal of licences to individuals with certain criminal convictions, particularly those involving serious traffic offences. Convictions under relevant provisions of the transport laws result in mandatory disqualification from holding or obtaining a licence, in addition to any other penalties imposed.

Courts are further empowered to order licence revocation in cases involving endangerment or reckless conduct. In serious situations — such as dangerous driving or causing injury to another person — disqualification periods can be substantial, and criminal prosecution may follow.

For foreign nationals, continuing to drive on a foreign licence after the one-year grace period constitutes a specific offence. If stopped by police in such circumstances, the consequences may include fines, potential impoundment of the vehicle, and complications with insurance coverage, as driving in breach of the law may render a policy void.

For current fine schedules and details of the demerit points system, refer to the Israeli Ministry of Transport and Road Safety website. Penalty amounts are periodically updated and specific figures should always be confirmed through official channels.

Which government departments or agencies handle driving licences in Israel?

A driving licence in Israel is an official document issued by the Ministry of Transport and Road Safety that authorises eligible individuals to operate motor vehicles on public roads. Licences are categorised by vehicle type and are subject to age, medical, theoretical, and practical testing requirements.

The principal bodies involved and their contact details are as follows:

• Ministry of Transport and Road Safety (Misrad Hatachbura) — the overarching government ministry responsible for road transport policy, regulations, and licensing rules. The official portal for all licensing services, applications, and information is www.gov.il/en. The ministry’s driving licence conversion information page is available at gov.il/en/pages/driving-license-conversion.
• Misrad Harishui (Bureau of Motor Vehicles / Vehicle Licensing Bureau) — the operational body at which foreign nationals must attend in person to convert or obtain a licence. Documents are presented here and Misrad Harishui processes and approves requests to commence the driver’s licence conversion procedure. A directory of branch offices is available on the Ministry of Transport website. Appointments for most services can be booked at govisit.gov.il.
• Ministry of Transport Call Centre (Rishuy Kol) — for general licence enquiries or if you have not received your renewal notice, contact Misrad Hatachbura on *5678 or 1-222-5678 (from overseas: +972-3-969-5678). The call centre operates Sunday to Thursday from 07:00 to 20:00, and on Fridays and the eve of public holidays from 07:00 to 13:00.
• Population and Immigration Authority (Misrad Hapnim) — responsible for maintaining your registered address in Israel. As your driving licence is dispatched to the address held on their records, it is important to keep your details current with this authority. Your name and address must be updated with them before paying the licence fee.
• Israel Post Office (Doar Yisrael) — used for paying licensing fees in cash in person. Payments made at a post office branch are entered into the Ministry of Transport system after 14 days.

For the most current information on office locations, opening hours, and available online services, always refer to the official Israeli government portal at www.gov.il/en, which is fully accessible in English.

Frequently asked questions

Can I drive in Israel immediately after arriving as a tourist?

Yes. Visitors to Israel are permitted to drive using their valid foreign driving licence — accompanied by an IDP if required — for up to one year from the date of arrival. Your licence should be in English or Hebrew, or you must carry a certified translation or IDP if it is issued in another language.

Do I need to retake my driving test in Israel?

This depends on your individual circumstances. New immigrants who can demonstrate at least five years of valid foreign driving experience are eligible to convert their licence to an Israeli category B licence without sitting a practical driving test, provided the application is submitted within five years of arrival. Applicants with between two and five years of experience must pass a short practical road test. Those with fewer than two years of experience, or those applying outside the permitted conversion window, are required to complete the full licensing process, including both theory and practical examinations.

What happens if I drive in Israel after the one-year grace period on my foreign licence?

Continuing to drive on a foreign licence after the one-year period has elapsed is unlawful. Doing so exposes you to fines, potential issues with your vehicle, and the risk that your insurance cover may be invalidated. It is strongly advisable to begin the conversion process before the year is up to avoid finding yourself in this position.

How long does it take to get a permanent Israeli driving licence after conversion?

The permanent licence is mailed to the address registered with the Population Authority and may take up to 3 months to arrive in some cases. During this period, you may drive using the temporary paper licence, which becomes valid once the fee has been paid.

Does the one-year grace period reset if I leave Israel?

Generally, no. The one-year period runs from your initial date of entry and is not reset by brief absences. The clock restarts only if you have spent 6 full consecutive months outside Israel following your last entry. Short trips abroad do not affect the original timeframe.

Can I renew my Israeli driving licence online?

Yes. For the majority of drivers, renewal does not require a visit to a licensing office. The licence renews automatically once the fee has been paid, provided there are no disqualifications, outstanding fines, or medical issues. Payment can be made online, by telephone on *5678, at a licensing office, or at a self-service terminal. Drivers aged 75 and over, or professional drivers aged 60 and over, must also complete relevant medical checks prior to renewal.

Does my Israeli driving licence expire when my visa expires?

For non-residents, an Israeli licence is issued with a validity of up to five years, but this validity is linked to the duration of the holder’s Israeli residence permit. If your visa lapses without renewal, your licence may also become invalid. Keeping your residency status current is therefore essential to maintaining a valid driving licence.

Where do I find the list of Misrad Harishui offices?

A complete and up-to-date directory of Misrad Harishui (Vehicle Licensing Bureau) branch offices, together with the appointment booking facility, is available through the official Israeli government portal. Appointments can be made at govisit.gov.il or by calling *5678. The Ministry of Transport call centre can also be reached at 1-222-5678, or from abroad at +972-3-969-5678.