New immigrants, temporary residents and returning residents are permitted to drive in Israel with their foreign or international driver's license for one year following their date of entry into Israel. The category of vehicle driven must match the category stated on the valid license and the age requirement must comply with the Israeli requirements for that category.

 

To purchase a motor vehicle in Israel the purchaser must have a valid Israeli Driver’s License.

Tourists who have resided in Israel for more than 1 year (even if that year was interrupted by trips abroad) are required by law to drive with an Israeli driving license.

 

The Bureau of Motor Vehicles (Misrad HaRishui) (www.mot.gov.il) allows olim and tourists who are in Israel to transfer their foreign driver's license for an Israeli driver's license within 3 years of arrival. Note, however, you cannot drive on your foreign license after one year from date of arrival in Israel. Olim and tourists are exempt from taking the written exam. However, a driving test is compulsory.

 

New immigrants may convert their licenses on condition that the foreign license was issued prior to their arrival in Israel. Returning residents may convert their licenses on condition that the foreign license was issued at least six months prior to their return and must convert their licenses within one year of their return. All foreign drivers’ licenses must have their issue date. If they do not, a document from the State Bureau of Motor Vehicles with the date the person received their driver's license may be shown. Everyone is required to take a medical and an eye test. Please note: you must be at least 17 years old.

 

Please note: You do not need to hand in your original foreign driver's license. 

Therefore if their stamps do not appear on the forms, the forms will not be accepted. Upon completion of the forms, take them to Misrad HaRishui with your Teudat Zehut and Teudat Oleh, foreign license with a photocopy of both sides and your foreign passport. Confirm the Misrad HaRishui branches that provide this service and their operating days/hours at www.mot.gov.il. Once the forms are stamped, you will be issued with a referral (hafnaya) to a driving school. If you have special medical conditions that may affect your ability to drive, see AACI Information Sheet Driver’s Licenses for People with Health Problems.

 

Following are branches of Marmanet or Teldor around the country. Marmanet and Teldor are open to the public Sunday to Friday. For clarification of locations, you can dial *5678 from any phone. AACI recommends you call to confirm office hours.

Marmanet – 1-599-50-20-30. Teldor: 054-400-20-40

(Check Transport Ministry’s website for updates)

 

City	Office	Address	Phone
Ashdod	Marmanet	Chebotro Optica, Industrial Center B, Shop 28	1-599-55-68-68
Ashkelon	Teldor	Photoshop, Canyon Giron	054-4002 040
Beer Sheva	Teldor   Marmanet	Optica Markovitz, Mercaz Big   Optica Markovitz, Canyon HaNegev	08 628 6386   08 628 0743
Beit Shemesh	Marmanet	Optica Speed, Merkaz Mischarei	02 999 0322
Dimona	Marmanet	Optica Markovitz, Mercaz Mischari 35	08 655 5330
Eilat	Marmanet	Opt Mabat, Canyon Mull HaYam	08 637 5356
Hadera	Teldor	Optica Markovitz, Hanassi Weizman 15	04 622 6690
Haifa	Teldor   Marmanet	Optica Shaul Ziggy, Canyon Lev HaMifratz   Optica Hazora, Canyon Grand	04 841 6997   04 822 2519
Herzliya	Teldor	Optica Samarot, Mercaz Samarot	03 929 8587
Jerusalem	Marmanet   Teldor   Marmanet   Teldor	Optica Markowitz, Canyon Yerushalyim , Malcha   Optica Markowitz, Yad Haruzim, Talpiot   Roim Shesh-Shesh, Ben Yehuda 23   Optica Harel, Kanfei Nesharim 24, Givat Shaul	02 678 5858   077 445 0742   02 622 2080   02 651 5335
Karmiel	Teldor	Mercaz Optica, Sderot Keren Kayemet 99	03 929 8587
Kfar Sava	Teldor	Opticali, Hitchaia 2, Corner of Weizman 70	052 8524 407
Kiryat Shmona	Teldor	Photoshop Amos, Canyon Shmona	04 690 2777
Netanya	Teldor	Optica Eye to Eye, Canyon Hadarim, 2nd floor	09 862 3889
Petach Tikva	Marmanet   Marmanet	Optifocus, Canyon Sirkin,   Optika Hador Shlishi, Jabotinsky 72, Canyon Hagadol	03 908 7472   077 7822 151
Ra'anana	Marmanet	Dan Optic, Canyon Ra'ananim	09 743 8038
Ramat Gan	Teldor	Opticanit, Canyon Ayalon	03 618 5991
Rehovot	Teldor`	Optica Meir, Derech Yerushalyim 2	1 700 50 65 05
Rishon Le’zion	Teldor   Marmanet	Photoshop, Canyon Sha’ar Rishon   Optica Mishcaf, Rothschild 26	03 929 8587   03 966 7873
Tel Aviv	Marmanet   Teldor	Roni Markowitz, Ibn Givrol 139   Photoshop, Dizengoff 59 off of Dizengoff Center	03 629 5808   03 629 5808
Tiberias	Marmanet	Optica Shimshon	04 679 1519

 

3. Contact a driving instructor to schedule and take the practical examination (road test). The instructor will issue you with a form to pay the registration fee for the road test which must be paid at the Post Office. The school should have the up-to-date registration fees. A driving instructor's car must be used for the test and it is suggested you take several driving lessons before taking the test. The instructor must schedule the test for you. The test will take place at any branch of the Misrad HaRishui. In Jerusalem the test can ONLY take place at 1 HaTnufa Rd, Talpiot Industrial Area. (Please see below list for all branches.) Note that if you take your driving lesson and test in an automatic transmission vehicle, you will be issued a license limiting you to drive only automatic vehicles. However, if you take the lesson and test using a standard transmission (stick shift) vehicle, it will be valid for both types.

 

Driving lessons cost approximately NIS 90 – NIS 110 per lesson using a standard transmission (stick) vehicle, and NIS 110 plus using an automatic vehicle. Standard time for driving lessons is 40 minutes. The driving test fee is NIS 350 – NIS 400 which includes the practical examination (road test) and use of the car from the driving school. Please note prices are subject to change.

 

The road test is a control test, which lasts 15 minutes and tests your physical control of the car, knowledge of local traffic laws and safe driving practices. The instructor will bring your forms to the test.

 

Bring with you: Teudat zehut; foreign passport; foreign driving license and copy of registration fee receipt. An examiner from the Misrad HaRishui conducts the road test.

 

Results from your road test will be given by your instructor later that day or the day following.

 

 

Once you have passed your test, you will receive a temporary paper license either from your instructor or by returning to Misrad HaRishui. You must take this temporary paper license to the Post Office to pay the fee. Immediately after payment, your temporary license is valid when used with your teudat zehut. The license is valid for 10 years except for the following cases, for which it is valid for a 2 or 5 year period only. The fee for a 10 year license is currently NIS 373 (fees subject to change).

 

2-year period license. The fee for a 2 year license is NIS 136. (Fees subject to change)

• A new driver.

• A driver, 50 years old and over, of: a public transport vehicle, a heavy goods vehicle, a security and a children transport vehicle.

• A driver 65 years old and over.

 

5-year period license. The fee for a 5 year license is NIS 271. (Fees subject to change)

• A 5-year license is issued following completion of the 2-year new driver period.

 

 

The renewal date appears on your license which is identical to your date of birth. Approximately one month before the renewal date, you will be sent a new temporary paper license with an attached payment slip to be paid at any bank/postal bank. If you do not receive it, notify the Ministry of Transport at telephone *5678 or 1222 5678 (from overseas: 972-3-942 1920). Your new photo-card license should be received at your address within one month of payment. To renew your license on line: www.e.gov.il (Hebrew and English).

 

Following are addresses of Misrad HaRishui around the country. Website: http://www.mot.gov.il

 

City	Address	Telephone	Fax
Jerusalem	1 HaTnufa Rd, Talpiot Industrial Area   Clal Building, 97 Yaffo	02-568-2222   02-622-8291	02-673-5582   02-623-5225
Holon	1 HaLochamim	03-502-7066	03-502-7604
Tel Aviv	1 HaLochamim, Holon	03-502-7066	03-502-7604
Haifa	12 Edison, Haifa Bay	04-881 8888	04-881-8866
BeerSheva	33 Sderot Shazar, Beit Noam	08-640 6111	08-640-6146
Netanya	Canyon Hadarim, (2nd floor), 2 Hakadar	09-861 1227	09-882-0140
Ramle	91 Herzl Street (Kiryat Hamemshala)	08-978 9084	08-978-9083

 

Misrad HaRishui is open to the public Sunday to Thursday, from 8:00 am – 13:00 pm (hours vary) and Sundays or Tuesdays from 15:30 - 18:30 (hours vary). Misrad HaRishui has a Central Information Service where phone inquires are accepted between the hours 07:00 - 19:00. For clarification, you can dial *5678 from any phone. AACI recommends you call to confirm office hours.

 

To check the costs of traffic violations go to: http://www.hanaya.co.il/index.htm

 

The information presented in this article was accurate at the time of printing. Changes in procedures and in the law may occur. AACI does not take responsibility for changes and recommends you confirm the above information with an AACI counselor at the time of transfer.

 

Safe driving!