Car rental in Jerusalem: prices, Shabbat, parking and day trips (2026)

A small car in Jerusalem costs about 140-210 ₪ per day in low season and 210-300 ₪ in peak periods, based on comparison-site prices for the coming season.

• Why more than Tel Aviv: smaller branches, fewer cars and strong weekend demand from residents, students and visiting families.
• Peak dates: Pesach, Sukkot, Christmas week and summer. Jerusalem branches can run out of small automatics, so book early.
• Weekend rentals: a Friday-to-Sunday rental is billed as at least two days, even if you only drive on Saturday, because the branch is closed.
• Currency and VAT: tourists are often quoted in US dollars without VAT; Israelis and dual nationals on an Israeli passport pay 18%.

If you land at Ben Gurion and go straight to Jerusalem for a week without needing a car in the city, it is often cheaper to rent at the airport only for the days you travel, or to take the train and rent in town later.

Pick up in Jerusalem if you are already staying in the city; pick up at Ben Gurion if you need a car on arrival or on Shabbat.

• Central Jerusalem: most branches are around the central bus station, Romema and the entrance to the city, which gives quick access to Route 1 without crossing the centre.
• Talpiot: the southern industrial area, convenient for the south of the city and for Route 60 south and the Dead Sea.
• Givat Shaul: at the western entrance, close to Route 1 and the Begin highway.
• Ben Gurion airport: the largest fleet and some Shabbat service, 45-60 minutes away on Route 1. The fast train links Jerusalem's Yitzhak Navon station to the airport.

Exact branch addresses depend on the supplier; they appear on the comparison site when you book. Check the Friday closing time on the offer.

All Jerusalem branches close from Friday around midday until Saturday night, and earlier in winter, so a Shabbat car must be collected on Friday morning or before.

• Public transport stops: buses and the light rail stop from Friday afternoon to Saturday night. That is when a car becomes valuable for families or for reaching the Dead Sea.
• Road closures: in Haredi neighbourhoods such as Mea Shearim, Geula and parts of Ramot and Har Nof, some streets are closed to traffic on Shabbat. Bar-Ilan Street, a main road in the north of the city, is closed during Shabbat prayer times. Barriers and police enforce the closures; follow the signs, not only Waze.
• Respect: driving through religious neighbourhoods on Shabbat can provoke strong reactions. Plan a route around them.
• Returns: ask whether your branch has a key drop box for Saturday-night returns, or plan to return on Sunday morning.
• Holidays: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Pesach work like long Shabbats. On Yom Kippur the whole city stops driving.

Parking is the real problem in central Jerusalem: plan where you will leave the car before you drive in.

• Blue and white curbs: paid parking, payable with the Pango or Cellopark app. Rules vary by street, and some streets are reserved for residents at certain hours; read the signs.
• Red and white curbs: no parking. Towing is common in the centre.
• Grey curbs: free unless signs say otherwise.
• Old City: you cannot drive into most of the Old City. Use the paid car parks near Jaffa Gate and the Mamilla area, or near Dung Gate for the Western Wall and the City of David. They fill up on Friday mornings, holidays and bar mitzvah days.
• City centre: the light rail runs on Jaffa Road, which is closed to private cars in the centre; avoid it.
• Hotels: many central hotels have limited or paid parking; ask before you book the car.

Fines and towing fees are sent to the rental company, which assigns them to you and charges a handling fee.

Jerusalem is hilly, with narrow streets, steep slopes and heavy traffic at the city entrance; choose a small car and an automatic if you are not used to hill starts.

• Hills: many neighbourhoods are built on slopes; manual cars need confident hill starts, and parking on inclines is common.
• Narrow streets: older neighbourhoods such as Nachlaot, Rehavia or the German Colony have tight streets and parked cars on both sides. A compact car is far easier than an SUV.
• Traffic: the entrance to the city on Route 1 and the Begin highway slow down every weekday morning and afternoon. Light rail construction can change routes at short notice.
• Navigation: Waze is the local standard and handles closures well. Road signs are in Hebrew, English and Arabic, but English names are transliterations (Yerushalayim, not always Jerusalem).
• Security: checkpoints exist on roads leading to the West Bank; this is normal, keep your passport and rental papers in the car.

The best reason to rent in Jerusalem is the day trip: the Dead Sea is about 1 hour away, Tel Aviv about 1 hour, and the Galilee 2-3 hours.

• Dead Sea, Ein Gedi and Masada: Route 1 east, down to the lowest point on earth, then Route 90 south. About 1 hour to the northern beaches and 1.5-2 hours to Masada.
• Tel Aviv and the coast: Route 1 west. Leave before 7:00 or after 10:00 to avoid traffic. Near the airport, the tolled Route 1 Fast Lane continues into Tel Aviv; its price rises with congestion, and the free Shapirim park-and-ride lets you leave the car and take a shuttle into the city.
• The Galilee and the north: Route 1 then Highway 6 north (tolled by plate) or Route 90 through the Jordan Valley.
• Negev and Mitzpe Ramon: Route 1, Highway 6 or Route 40 south, about 2.5 hours to Mitzpe Ramon.

Area A rule: Route 1 to the Dead Sea and Route 90 are used daily by Israeli cars and are allowed. Entering Palestinian Authority Area A towns, such as Bethlehem, Jericho or Ramallah, is prohibited by Israeli rental companies and voids your insurance. Red signs mark the entrances. To visit Bethlehem, park in Jerusalem and take an organised tour or a local taxi.

Jerusalem branches apply the same national rules as the airport: passport, valid licence and a credit card in the main driver's name.

• Licence: a valid foreign licence is accepted for up to one year from your entry into Israel; bring an International Driving Permit if it is not in English. Rental companies usually require 1-2 years of licence history.
• Age: most suppliers set 21 as the practical minimum for small cars, with a young-driver surcharge under 24; some rent from 18 for small categories with a daily fee, and premium or 7-seat cars often require 25 or more. Check your rental terms.
• Credit card: a credit card in the main driver's name, not debit or prepaid, with enough limit for the deposit (often 1,000-3,000 ₪ or more).
• Insurance: basic CDW and theft protection are included or mandatory, with an excess of roughly 2,000-4,000 ₪. Tyres, glass, roof and underbody are usually excluded. Our Israel car rental insurance guide explains how to reduce the excess.
• VAT: foreign tourists on a B2 visa show the entry slip from passport control and pay no VAT on the rental; Israelis and dual nationals on an Israeli passport pay 18%.

• Students and long stays: yeshiva, seminary and university students on a student visa are not on a B2 tourist visa, so the VAT exemption may not apply; check with the supplier before booking.

Compare Jerusalem branches with Ben Gurion for the same dates, and check Friday hours before paying.

We recommend comparing on DiscoverCars, which lists Israeli and international suppliers such as Shlomo Sixt, Eldan, Avis/Budget Israel and Hertz, with free cancellation up to 48 hours before pickup and a full coverage option. Check Economybookings for a second quote. These are affiliate links: we may earn a commission, and your price is unchanged.

Jerusalem checklist:
- Pickup branch address and Friday closing time.
- A small car (Kia Picanto, Hyundai i10 class) for narrow, hilly streets.
- Parking at your hotel or apartment, and its price.
- The excess and deposit on your credit card.
- Area A: plan routes to stay out of it.