Car Hire Tel Aviv

Car Hire

Israel’s largest and most modern city, Tel Aviv, is a major tourist destination with many cultural and historical attractions, the region’s best shopping, great beach life, an endless array of restaurants and bars, and nightlife that can match that of other major global cities. Many of the city’s sights can be seen on foot or by making use of its extensive public and private transport options, but you’ll find renting a car is the most convenient way to explore the wide variety of natural and historical landmarks.

Who to Book With
Tel Aviv's airport, Ben Gurion International Airport, is located 10 miles outside the city. You can easily rent a car here since all the leading car rental companies, including Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt, have offices here. What is more, there are a number of local car rental agencies. It is also possible to hire a vehicle in the city centre. Pre-booking a vehicle online before commencing your trip is advisable. You can compare prices and models on our site beforehand to get the vehicle that best suits your needs.

Best Time to Go
Tel Aviv escapes the scorching summer temperatures that can affect the rest of the country thanks to its position on the coast. Nonetheless, the thermometer can reach the 30s (°C) in July and August, and high humidity only increases the discomfort. The city is at its best in the winter, with average temperatures in the mid-20s (°C) range and cool nights. Prices tend to rise in the summer and during religious events so travel outside of these times is recommended. It’s essential to book your accommodation ahead of your trip at these times.

Need to Know Essentials
When hiring a vehicle, you will need to present the following documents:

- An International Driving Permit or a DVLA driving licence
- A passport or another valid form of identification with a photograph
- The same credit card as the one used for the reservation
- A printed copy of the confirmed reservation

Refer to our FAQ's page.

Driving
Tel Aviv has some of the world’s heaviest commuter traffic so it makes sense to avoid driving in and out of Tel Aviv and the cities surrounding it during the morning and evening rush hours. The city is situated at the heart of the country's super-modern network of motorways. You can quickly reach it by hire car from Ben Gurion Airport by travelling along the Jerusalem to Tel Aviv motorway. All signposting in Tel Aviv is in three languages: Hebrew, Arabic and English, making it easy for visitors to navigate the city. Parking is expensive and hard to find. You will find plenty of public parking lots, although at around £5 per hour they are far from cheap. The city’s legions of parking inspectors are notoriously efficient and ubiquitous and fines can reach up to £90.

Get more tips on driving here in our Guide to Israel.

Transport

Although Tel Aviv’s generally flat terrain means you can comfortably visit a lot of its central attractions on foot, it’s really useful to have your own set of wheels when it comes to going from one district to another.

Trains
Given the city’s chronic traffic congestion, moving around by train is quick and painless. Tel Aviv has four train stations: University, Shalom, Central and HaHagana. The train stations are modern, uncrowded and comfortable. Israel Railways provide services throughout the Greater Tel Aviv area (inner city single fares are £1) as well as to destinations across the country, such as Jerusalem, Be'er Sheva and Haifa. You can also get from Central Tel Aviv to Ben Gurion International Airport by train for a mere £2.70. Be aware that trains do not run on Saturdays or public holidays.

Buses
The city and its outlying districts are served by two bus companies: DAN with some 50 routes - and EGGED with about 80 routes. Service starts at around 05:00 and continues until midnight. Buses also operate certain routes at night. Single rides within the city and suburbs cost £1.15. Tel Aviv’s bus network is supplemented by a fleet of minibuses known as sheruts. Costing roughly the same as buses, these van-sized taxis can take six to 12 passengers, are often faster and more frequent than the bus, and have the added advantage that they operate seven days a week. Tahana Merkazit, Tel Aviv’s new Central Bus Station, is located in southern Tel Aviv. It offers routes to a wide range of destinations within Israel. You can walk from here to HaHaganah Train Station in a matter of minutes.

Bicycles
Bicycle transport around Tel Aviv is catching on fast. As a result of its lack of hills and mild weather, it’s an ideal city for cycling. You can rent bikes at shops throughout the city or take advantage of the newly launched Tel-O-Fun program which offers bikes at rental stations across the city. Payment can be made simply and conveniently with a credit card.

Taxis
Taxis are available 24 hours, seven days a week, in Tel Aviv. Compared to other cities around the world, taxis in Tel Aviv are inexpensive. Taxis are obliged by law to use meters and visitors to the city are advised to insist on their use unless they are familiar with the city and are sure that arranging a fixed-priced ride is not going to cost them more than one using a meter. Try Israeli Taxi for reliable service.

Exploring

Tel Aviv is the ideal hub from which to discover the region’s many attractions. Cities such as Haifa or Nazareth, fascinating ancient sites, beaches and nature reserves, as well as some of the country’s most spectacular scenery are reachable within just a few hours by rental car.

Recommended Drives

Haifa - Israel’s third city is just 60 miles along the coast from Tel Aviv. With its combination of beaches and nature reserves, museums, religious sites and cultural attractions, Haifa is well worth visiting. It is the country’s leading spot for surfing and sailing. The Carmel Nature Reserve is home to endangered species and offers high quality hiking, mountain biking and car trails.

Sea of Galilee - Located 90 miles north of Tel Aviv, the Sea of Galilee is a first rate centre for tourism and a great one-day excursion from the city. Also known as Lake Kineret, the sea has both sandy and rocky beaches offering all sorts of water-based activities as well as nature reserves and parks. Israel’s foremost prehistoric site, Ubeidiya, is located nearby. To get to the Sea of Galilee by rental car, take Route 6 followed by Route 77.

Golan Heights - Rising majestically to a height of 4,000 feet, Golan Heights in the north of Israel is one of the most beautiful and most popular parts of the country. It is home to superb natural reserves, captivating historical and archaeological sites, stunning panoramas and lots of opportunities for leisure and sports activities. The area is accessed by toll road Route 6 from Tel Aviv, with the journey taking about 2 hours, 15 minutes.