Israel on a British Licence 2026: 1968 IDP and Green Card
United Kingdom
Israel
Yes, but GOV.UK requires the 1968 international driving permit and your UK licence together in the car, plus a green card proving minimum insurance. Israel drives on the right, the alcohol limit on record is 0.05 against 0.08 in England, and motorways top out at 110 km/h (68 mph).
Searches about driving in Israel come from drivers who want four things: the permit, the side of the road, the limits and whether it is safe. Starting with the permit. GOV.UK requires the 1968 version of the international driving permit and your UK licence together in the car. You cannot buy that IDP outside the UK, so it has to be arranged before you fly. A green card, proof of minimum insurance cover, must be carried too. GOV.UK’s advice covers Israel and Palestine together, and the same rules apply to both.
The document set
Keep four items in one place: the UK licence, the 1968 IDP, the green card and your passport. If a hire company issues the car, ask it to hand over the green card at pick-up and to show where the insurance stops. If you plan to cross into the West Bank, ask before you book, because some hire companies do not insure vehicles taken there. GOV.UK suggests it may be easier to hire a fully insured car from a company in East Jerusalem.
Our records list the permit as merely recommended for non-English licences, which is weaker than the UK government’s wording. For a British driver, GOV.UK is the instruction to follow. Use the Driving Permit Checker for the rest of your itinerary.
Which side, and what the numbers look like
The UK drives on the left; Israel drives on the right. Most slips happen in the first hours: pulling out of a fuel station, entering a roundabout, glancing the wrong way at a junction. Do the first session away from Tel Aviv or Jerusalem traffic.
| UK | Israel (on record) | |
|---|---|---|
| Towns | 30 mph (48 km/h) | 50 km/h (31 mph) |
| Rural roads | 60 mph (96 km/h) | 80 km/h (50 mph) |
| Motorway | 70 mph (112 km/h) | 110 km/h (68 mph) |
| Alcohol limit | 0.08 | 0.05 |
| Emergency | 999 | 100 / 101 / 102 |
These Israeli figures come from our own records rather than a primary source cited on this page. Believe the road sign first. GOV.UK confirms the practical side: police operate radar speed traps on some roads and issue heavy fines for speeding.
Is it safe to drive in Israel?
The official answer is cautious but not discouraging. GOV.UK reports frequent road accidents due to erratic driving and unreliable vehicle maintenance. Leave more room than you would at home, and do not assume the car ahead will signal. Three specific warnings:
- Shabbat. Avoid driving into ultra-Orthodox Jewish areas of Jerusalem from sunset on Friday to nightfall on Saturday. Local residents may throw stones at cars that go in.
- Hitchhiking. GOV.UK says it is not safe to hitchhike in Israel and Palestine.
- The desert. Go with others, take a supply of water and a mobile phone, and tell someone your itinerary and expected return time.
Penalties on record
| Offence | Fine |
|---|---|
| No seatbelt | ILS 250 (about EUR 60) + 2 points |
| Phone in hand | ILS 1,000 (about EUR 240) + 4 points |
| Red light | ILS 1,000 (about EUR 240) + 10 points |
| Speeding up to 10 over | ILS 250 |
| Speeding about 20 over | ILS 500-750 + 4 points |
| Speeding about 30 over | ILS 1,000-1,500 + 8 points and suspension |
Compare the UK, where a phone offence is GBP 200 and 6 points and a red light GBP 100 and 3 points. Israel’s red-light penalty in points is by far the heavier of the two. Put your own speed through the Speeding Fine Calculator.
In the car, and who to call
An Israeli car should carry a warning triangle, a reflective vest and a first-aid kit; a fire extinguisher is not required. Emergency numbers: police 100, ambulance 101, fire 102. None of them is 999. The Israel driving guide has the rest.
Sources
- GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Israel, safety and security (1968 IDP, green card, road risks): https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/israel/safety-and-security
- GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Israel, getting help (emergency numbers): https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/israel/getting-help
- GOV.UK, international driving permit table (Israel: 1968): https://www.gov.uk/driving-abroad/international-driving-permit
Speed limits, fines, equipment & license requirements
Your home country driving rules for reference
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but not on the licence alone. GOV.UK says you need the 1968 international driving permit and your UK licence with you in the car. You cannot buy the IDP outside the UK.
On the right, while the UK drives on the left. The first day is when the old reflex comes back, so start away from city traffic.
GOV.UK says you must carry a green card to prove you have the minimum insurance cover. If you plan to drive into the West Bank, check that your hire insurance covers it, because some companies do not.
Our records list 50 km/h in towns (31 mph), 80 km/h on rural roads (50 mph) and 110 km/h on motorways (68 mph), with an alcohol limit of 0.05. The UK limit on record is 0.08. Treat the posted sign as the final word, and police run radar traps on some roads.
GOV.UK reports frequent road accidents caused by erratic driving and unreliable vehicle maintenance, and advises against driving into ultra-Orthodox areas of Jerusalem on Shabbat. It also says it is not safe to hitchhike and gives a short checklist for desert trips.