To pick up a car rental in Israel is complex but after reading this article you’ll know what do, to have a smooth car hire in Israel.
Even if you’re a Frequent Renter, to pick up a Car Rental in Israel – especially at TLV Airport is very different. Hertz Gold, Avis prefered or Emerald Elite status members often get a shock when they realize none of that exists in Israel. In Israel, the most experienced and loyal renters are no better off then someone renting for the first time. It’s important to know what to do to make sure you have a smooth rental regardless of your previous rental car experiences. With your reservation in hand, here are some instructions.
Picking Up A Rental Car In Israel:
1st – Keep the Tourist Visa Slip
Renting a Car in Israel starts at the Border Control. That may sound intimidating.. but, in all seriousness not realizing this can cost you an increase of 18% on your rental. Make sure – when going through customs to keep the slip of paper they give you. It’s your Tourist Visa, and you will need to present it to the Rental car Agent to prove you are not a resident and to avoid paying tax. Throwing that paper in the bin… will cost you – so keep it.
2nd – Know where to go
To Pick up a car rental in Israel you first need to go to the Rental Car Booths which are one floor above the arrival hall in the terminal.The tricky bit is that most people think that would be 2nd floor – when in fact it’s floor 1. In Israel ground floor is floor 0.The elevators are to your left as you leave baggage claim. In the elevator press level 1. If your travelling light – the escalators directly in front of you as you leave baggage claim, will also take you to floor 1.
3rd – Have the correct ID and credit limits
The Rental Agent will need 3 documents from you to process your rental.
1. A Credit Card
2. Your Drivers License
3. Your passport.
Important: People often ask “How much will the hold be on my Credit Card? ”When using a credit card be aware that the hold will be large. The formula is typically: The full amount due for the rental – You owe it anyway. The maximum deductible (typically $1000) – in case you smash the car. The maximum cleaning fee ($200) – in case you trash the car. The amount of a tank of gas ($100) – in case you return the car empty. That equals nearly $1300 not even including the actual cost of the car to pick up a car rental in Israel. If you’re taking a Toyota Sienna over Pesach – that could cost another $2,000 for a whopping $3,300 hold – so be prepared.
4th – Go to the Terminal 3 Car Lot
With your contract (and sometimes keys) in hand, Head back downstairs to floor 0. You will leave the main (middle) terminal doors – and cross the small road to the connected building. Then you will follow the signs which will point to the left – where the various fleets of cars each with a dedicated Rental Attendant will be waiting. You will give the attendant your Contract, and they will either point you to your car, or pull it up for you. Remember this is when you’ll get your car seat if you ordered one – it won’t be waiting in the car for you.
5th – Write down your pin – and exit
Israeli’s have had their (un)fair share of car robberies.Not just the break in type but the steal the whole car type. To combat that, almost every car is armed with a keypad and an electronic code.Without the code the car won’t start even if you have the keys and the car is unlocked. Write the code down on your phone, or a piece of paper and keep it with your driver’s license so you don’t lose it. The security is so good it could leave you stuck at Masada if you just happen to forget it there. To Exit the airport – there is nothing else to do – simply drive out. Drive Safe, Have fun, and See Israel in less than half the time it would take by bus!
Returning A Rental Car in Israel:
1. Ensure you cars tank is full
When returning your rental car remember to the car with the tank full.If you forget you can always fill up at the gas station just outside the Car Rental drop off location. It’s not at the main entrance, rather conveniently located near the entrance closest to terminal 1.
2. Return the car to terminal 1
Upon arrival at the airport follow signs to “Terminal 1″/”Rental car return.” To Return the car – pull up and park the car as close as possible to the office. If no-one is outside – go inside and have someone check the car and sign the damage release form.
3. Take everything with you
Collect all your luggage/belongings, and collect your Car Rental Receipt. If you brought a car charge with you, an auxiliary cable or put something in the seat boxes or glove compartment – remember to take it with.
4. Board the shuttle
All the rental car companies at terminal one offer a shuttle service back to Terminal 3 – where the main flights arrive and depart. You will take the waiting Shuttle to terminal 3, or you can try ask an employee if they will drive you in your rental car to the terminal. Depending on how busy they are or how interested the representative is, will decide whether or not they will do it. The obvious benefit is that you won’t have to unload your car only to reload a shuttle, only to unload it a few minutes later at the airport.
Return a car to HERTZ Israel at TLV airport:
1. Ensure you cars tank is full
When returning your rental car remember to the car with the tank full. If you forget you can always fill up at the gas station just outside the Car Rental drop off location. It’s not at the main entrance, rather located near the entrance closest to terminal 1.
2. Return the car to terminal 3
Upon arrival at the airport follow signs to “Terminal 3” and then Look for signs for Hertz. To Return the car – pull up and park the car as close as possible to the booth or the designated return area. Have someone check the car and sign the damage release form.
3. Take everything with you
Collect all your luggage/belongings, and get your Car Rental Receipt.If you brought a car charge with you, an auxiliary cable or put something in the seat boxes or glove compartment – remember to take it with.
4. Walk to the terminal
Hertz has the exclusive ability (for the moment – rumors are already spreading about others getting it too) to be able to return cars to terminal 3.It’s super convenient. No shuttle’s – ever. You simply return the car and walk into the terminal for check-in.
What Next? At the airport:
By Shuttle – You will be taken to the check-in floor – on level 3. With Hertz – You will be on the ground floor – level “0”.
Most check-in counters are level 3 – some are level 0. Check which one you are at to save yourself time and hassle. There are screens with the details – or you can ask an airport employee.
Some extra notes: One-way Car Rentals:
Most Car Rental companies in Israel have branches across Israel. You can pick up from Thrifty Jerusalem and Return it to Thrifty Tel Aviv or Thrifty Ben Gurion Airport – Without a One Way Fee – A great benefit when renting through Flightblitz. Airport pickups or drop-offs do carry a one time $28-30 fee – so if you start and end your car rental in Jerusalem – you can save $28-30 that way. The same applies at the other locations.
Foreign Currency Charges on Car Rentals:
If you pick up a Car Rental in Israel, though they use the Israeli New Shekel – Rental Car charges can be charged in USD – especially if you make your rental with an US Travel Agency. It can also be charged in Israeli New Shekel upon request. If you have a foreign transaction fee – be aware you may still be charged the fee as the charge will show up as on overseas charge – even if the charge is in US Dollars.
Highway Tolls and Tickets:
Some Highways like “Highway 6” – also known as “Kvish 6”, Carry a toll charge. You can sign into their app, or website to pay the fee. This will help you avoid being billed a service fee from your rental car company if they send the payment on your behalf.The same applies to Traffic Violations. If you pay them, you will avoid being charged a fee from the rental company for paying it on your behalf.
Travel Insurance:
Travel Insurance is Highly recommended – in case anything happens to anyone involved in a car accident in Israel. Unfortunately these are much too common. Travelex offers a special Car Rental Insurance package that reimburses the $1000 Deductible that most of the companies charge for damage to your vehicle. This Package also adds extra enhanced coverage for your personal Travel Insurance. It’s an excellent option if you don’t take the Super CDW if you Pick up a car rental in Israel. You can add the Transportation package for $59 total on top of your policy before paying.You can buy our Exclusive Travelex Plans HERE.
The Best GPS App to Use in Israel:
When people need to pick up a Car Rental in Israel they often ask me about GPS – whether to take one from the rental car company, use google maps, Garmin…I Highly recommend “WAZE“. Waze in Israel is the best GPS app to get you around.It’s super popular and therefore the live traffic incorporated into it’s routing really ensures you get to where you want to go the quickest possible. It also has an amazing option that needs to be activated to avoid “Palestinian Territories”. It is unsafe and illegal to drive into Palestinian Territories”. Most have huge red signs followed by checkpoints long before you get anywhere dangerous. Even if you don’t know where you’re going if activated – Waze will ensure you stay out of Gaza and the Palestinian territories.https://www.waze.com/
To Summarize:
To pick up a Car Rental in Israel, you need your Tourist Visa slip, A Credit Card, Passport and Drivers License. You will get your contract on the 1st floor, and go back down to the bottom floor to pick up your car across the small road a few steps away. You will return to terminal one, except Hertz – who returns to terminal 3.Check-in for some airlines, is on the bottom floor (0) and for the majority on floor 3.
Whether you pick up a car rental in Israel for Pesach a Simchah, or a Bar Mitzvah – don’t get stuck spending hours in Ben Gurion Airport picking up your car.Drive off to Bat Yam, Jerusalem or The Dead Sea within minutes thanks to these simple instructions.
If you know someone going to Israel soon – send them this article. Thanks for reading how to pick up a Car Rental in Israel – feel free to contact us directly with any Travel questions.