Driving a Motorhome in Israel: A Tourist's Guide

Driving in Israel is easier than most first-time visitors expect. Roads are modern and well maintained, signs appear in Hebrew, Arabic, and English, and a motorhome under 3.5 tonnes handles much like a large van. City traffic can be assertive, but intercity and desert roads are relaxed and scenic. This guide walks through everything you need to feel at home behind the wheel.

Licence & documents

Tourists can drive in Israel on a valid national driving licence. Because our motorhomes are built under 3.5 tonnes, they require only a standard category B licence, the same one you use for a car, with no special permit.

• National licence: carry your home-country licence at all times.
• International Driving Permit: recommended for all visitors and often required by rental companies, especially if your licence is not in Latin script. Arrange it in your home country before you travel.
• Passport: keep it with your licence, as it may be requested with the rental.
• Minimum age: set by the rental agreement, typically the mid-twenties for a motorhome.

Rules of the road

Israel drives on the right, and overtaking is on the left. The basics will feel familiar to most European and North American drivers.

• Seatbelts are mandatory for every passenger, in every seat.
• Handheld phones are prohibited while driving, use the camper's Apple CarPlay or a hands-free mount.
• Speed limits are typically around 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80–90 km/h on intercity roads, and 100–110 km/h on motorways. Always follow the posted signs.
• Headlights are required on intercity roads during the winter months, and daytime running lights are sensible year-round.
• Roundabouts are common; give way to traffic already in the circle.
• Turning right on a red light is not permitted unless a specific green arrow allows it.
• Drink-driving limits are strict and enforced. If you plan to enjoy a Golan winery, have a designated driver.

Highway 6 & tolls

Highway 6 (Kvish 6) is the main north–south motorway and the fastest way to cross the country. It is fully electronic and camera-based, there are no toll booths, so you simply drive through. Charges are recorded to the vehicle and handled through your rental, so there is nothing to stop for or pay at the roadside. A short section around Tel Aviv (the Fast Lane) also uses dynamic tolling. Everything else in the country is toll-free.

Fuel & filling up

Your motorhome runs on diesel, at the pump it is labelled "solar" (סולר) in Hebrew, which is useful to recognise. Fuel stations from chains such as Paz, Delek, Sonol, and Dor Alon are plentiful along main routes, and most are open around the clock, including on Shabbat.

• Self-service pumps are cheaper than full-service; an attendant can always help if a pump asks for a local card.
• Pay by card at most stations; carry a little cash as a backup.
• Fill up before long desert stretches in the Negev and along the Dead Sea and Arava roads, where stations are farther apart.

Navigation

Waze was invented in Israel and is used almost universally here, which makes it the most reliable app for live traffic, closures, and routing, including around any Shabbat street closures. Our campers support Apple CarPlay, so you can run Waze or Google Maps on the dashboard screen. Download an offline map of the south as a backup, since signal can drop in the remotest desert areas.

Driving on Shabbat

Shabbat runs from Friday evening to Saturday evening. Roads stay open and driving is completely fine, and fuel stations on main routes remain open. Because public transport largely stops, roads are often quieter and easier. Two things to expect: many shops and some attractions reduce hours or close, and a few religious neighbourhoods close their streets to through-traffic on Shabbat, navigation apps route around these automatically, and posted closures should always be respected.

Parking your camper

A sub-3.5-tonne camper parks much like a large van, so city parking is manageable, though the easiest approach is to base outside dense centres and travel in on foot or by light rail. Israel uses a painted-curb colour code you'll see everywhere:

• Blue & white, paid parking. Pay via an app such as Pango or Cellopark, or at a meter.
• Red & white, no parking.
• Red & grey, no stopping at all.
• Unmarked / grey, usually free parking; check nearby signs.

For overnight parking, use designated campsites and RV-friendly areas rather than city streets, see where to sleep in Israel for the best spots by region, and every rental includes our own overnight guide too.

Desert & mountain driving

The south is the most rewarding driving in the country, and a little preparation keeps it easy.

• Heat is the main factor. Carry drinking water, watch the temperature gauge, and never leave people or pets in a parked vehicle.
• Top up fuel and water before remote stretches in the Negev and Arava.
• Steep descents, the drop to the Dead Sea is dramatic; use engine braking rather than riding the brakes.
• Flash floods can fill desert riverbeds after winter rain. Never drive into a flooded wadi, even a shallow-looking one.
• Wildlife, camels and ibex sometimes wander onto southern roads, so drive cautiously after dark.

Safety & emergencies

Keep these numbers saved before you set off. Calls to emergency services are free from any phone.

Keep the vehicle documents in the camper, and follow your rental agreement regarding where the vehicle may be driven. As with any trip, check your own government's current travel advisory and Israel's official guidance before and during your visit, and we'll share up-to-date local information at handover.

Quick answers

Can tourists drive in Israel?

Yes, on a valid national licence, with an International Driving Permit recommended and often required. A camper under 3.5 tonnes needs only a standard category B licence.

Is it difficult to drive in Israel?

No. Roads are modern and signed in three languages, and the camper handles like a large van. City driving is assertive but intercity and desert roads are straightforward, and Waze makes navigation simple.

Can you drive on Shabbat?

Yes. Roads are open and fuel stations on main routes stay open. Public transport stops, so roads are often quieter; a few religious neighbourhoods close to through-traffic, and apps route around them.