Driving in Israel on a US license, and Tel Aviv transit

Your US license works in Israel for a while, but new immigrants have a clock that starts at the airport. The good news: in Tel Aviv you can get almost everywhere without a car, and the light rail has made that even easier.

The short version

New immigrants can drive on a valid foreign license for one year from their last entry into Israel [1]. Visitors can also drive on a valid US license for a limited time; check the Licensing Authority's current rules for your status.
New immigrants have five years from their aliyah date to convert a US license. With five or more years of driving experience, the process is shorter [1].
The Red Line light rail opened on August 18, 2023, and runs about 24 km (15 miles) from Petah Tikva through Tel Aviv to Bat Yam [2].
Buses and the light rail use the Rav-Kav card or a payment app. A single bus ride in Tel Aviv costs ILS 8 (about USD 2.60) [3].
Most public transport stops for Shabbat. Our Shabbat guide covers the weekend options.

USD conversions in this guide use the European Central Bank reference rates of October 29, 2026, crossed to ILS 3.116 per US dollar [4].

Driving on your US license

How long you can drive on your US license depends on why you're here.

New immigrants (olim). You can drive on a valid foreign license for one year from your last entry date. That clock only resets after you've spent six full consecutive months abroad [1]. Don't let it lapse: after the year is up, driving on your US license isn't valid even if you haven't converted yet.

Tourists and other visitors. A valid US license is generally accepted for driving in Israel during a visit. Rental companies may also ask for a passport and a credit card in the driver's name. If you're staying longer on a work or student visa, check the Licensing Authority (Misrad HaRishui) rules for your visa type on gov.il before you assume your US license still counts.

Your US license back home. Keep it valid if you can. Some states let you renew online from abroad; others need a US address. It's handy for visits stateside and for car rentals.

Your status	US license valid for	Next step
Visitor	A limited period; check gov.il	Carry your passport and license
New immigrant	One year from last entry [1]	Convert within five years of aliyah [1]
Lived in Israel over five years before aliyah	Not eligible for conversion [1]	Standard Israeli licensing process

Converting a US license to an Israeli one

The conversion process depends on how long you've been driving. Nefesh B'Nefesh, which helps American new immigrants, summarizes it this way [1]:

Driving experience	What you take
Five or more consecutive years on a full US license before aliyah	Expedited process: eye exam and paperwork, no road test, as long as you haven't failed more than one conversion test
Two to five years	A short conversion driving test (mivchan shlita)
Under two years	Theory test plus the short driving test

Only driving before your aliyah date counts, and you prove it with your license's issue date, older licenses or an original driving record from your state DMV [1]. Order the DMV record before you leave; it's a pain to get from abroad.

Here's how the process runs:

Eye exam. Go to an optician approved by the Licensing Authority for a vision test and photo, with your Teudat Zehut and your glasses or contacts. Make sure they upload the results. Expect about ILS 50 to 80 (about USD 16 to 26), set by the provider [1].
The green form (tofes yarok). The application is now online. Enter your name in Hebrew, and answer the medical self-declaration; a "yes" answer means uploading a letter from an Israeli doctor [1].
Lessons, if needed. Optional but wise if you face a test. Lessons run about ILS 160 (about USD 51) for 40 minutes [1].
The test. Taken in an instructor's car, booked by the instructor. The test fee is ILS 152 (about USD 49), plus about ILS 229 (about USD 74) for the instructor's car [1]. Results come by text within hours.
Your license. An Israeli license is valid until age 70, then renewed more often [1].

Fees and procedures change, so check the Licensing Authority's current pages on gov.il before you book. Conversions happen only at some licensing offices, by appointment [1].

Driving in Tel Aviv itself is a mixed bag. Traffic is heavy, parking is scarce and street rules are complicated. Curbside parking uses apps such as Pango or Cellopark, which need an Israeli SIM card, and the city's Ahuzot HaHof lots are a cheaper bet [3].

The Red Line light rail and Rav-Kav

The Red Line is the city's backbone. It runs about 24 km (15 miles) with 34 stations, about 12 km (7.5 miles) of it underground, from Petah Tikva through central Tel Aviv and Jaffa to Bat Yam [2][3]. Twelve of the stations are inside Tel Aviv-Jaffa [3]. It doesn't run on Shabbat, and hours shift on Friday and Saturday night, so check the operator's site before planning around it.

The Purple and Green lines are under construction [2]. Their opening dates have slipped before, so treat any date you see as an estimate and check the latest before you pick an apartment near a future stop.

Paying. You have two options [3]:

Rav-Kav. Israel's rechargeable smart card, much like a MetroCard back home. Get one online, at customer service centers, at ticket machines or at light rail service centers. It's required on buses.
Payment apps. Moovit, HopOn, Rav-Pass, Pango and Cello all handle fares. At underground light rail stations you scan the app's QR code at the gates; at street-level stops the validators take Rav-Kav only [3].

A personal Rav-Kav with your name and photo can carry discounts for students, seniors and other groups. Set one up once you have your Israeli ID.

Buses, trains, bikes and scooters

Buses. Dan, Egged and Metropoline run Tel Aviv's buses, with many routes radiating from the Central Bus Station. A city ride costs ILS 8 (about USD 2.60), and you need a Rav-Kav or app [3]. Moovit and Google Maps both handle routes well. Night lines link residential areas to nightlife areas at regular fares [3].

Trains. Israel Railways connects Tel Aviv with Ben Gurion Airport, Haifa and Be'er Sheva. Service stops Friday afternoon and resumes after Shabbat [3].

Bikes. Tel-O-Fun, the city bike-share, has more than 175 stations, with day, three-day and weekly passes; the first 30 minutes of each ride are included [3]. The city is compact and mostly level, so biking is a real option much of the year.

Scooters. Private e-scooter and e-bike companies operate across the city. The rules are strict and enforced [3]:

Ride in bike lanes or on the road, never on the sidewalk.
Helmets are required.
Riders must be 16 or older.
No passengers.
No scooters in pedestrian-only zones.

Taxis. Use licensed taxis and insist on the meter, which the law requires in the city. Fares go up 25% from 11:30 pm to 5 am, from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset and on public holidays [3]. Gett, Yango and Raxi are the main ride-hailing apps. Tipping is optional.

Car-sharing. Auto-Tel, the city's car-sharing service, bills by the minute [3]. It's handy for a big grocery haul or an IKEA run.

Shabbat transport in brief

From Friday afternoon until Saturday night, most buses, trains and the light rail stop. Tel Aviv fills part of the gap with free weekend buses on Friday evenings and Saturdays, roughly every 30 minutes, plus taxis at the higher weekend rate [3]. Our Shabbat guide has the details, including how to plan a trip to the airport.

Asking which neighborhoods work best without a car is a regular question in our community group for Americans in Israel.

Driving in Israel with a US license, and getting around Tel Aviv without one