When Do I Need to Renew My Car License?

Vehicle Registration (licenses), rishayon rechev, are renewed annually. On receipt of your new vehicle license and before your current license expires, you must first pay the license renewal fee and then take the vehicle to an authorized Vehicle Inspection Station for a road worthiness test, colloquially known in Hebrew as the “Test”.

The Roadworthiness Test (“Test”)

In brief, the “Test” must be taken at one of the authorized Vehicle Inspection Stations after paying the license fee and before the current license expires. The “Test” also requires payment.

The majority of vehicles in Israel are required to undergo the road worthiness test once a year, in the month the vehicle was initially registered, with the exception of the following:

• New cars (private passenger cars only): are exempt from the “Test” for the first 2 years only but must pay the license fee. This exemption does not apply to cars used for driving instruction or hired cars.
• Cars 15 years-old or over: Before taking the annual “Test”, the braking system must be checked at a licensed garage and confirmation of the proper functioning of the braking system must be presented at the “Test”.
• Vintage cars and collector cars: Must be tested twice a year at a Vehicle Inspection Station as a condition of vehicle license renewal. A license will not be renewed in the case of a vintage car whose license has expired and has not been renewed for a period of two years or over.

What is a “Test”?

The “Test” checks the following:

• Vehicle and owner identification
• Emissions
• Steering
• Underside
• Lights
• Brakes
• Wheel alignment

You may send someone else – for example, your car mechanic – to carry out the “Test” at the Vehicle Inspection Station. In this case, the power-of-attorney attachment to the new vehicle license must be filled out. Should any defect be found, usually you will be given 7 days for repairs and to return to the Vehicle Inspection Station for a repeat “Test” (entailing a fee according to the price-list, or confirmation from a licensed garage of repair on the brake and steering system, with invoice attached). If a major defect is found, the “Test” form is stamped “towing only”, in which case the vehicle is not to be driven until the defect is repaired and the vehicle passes a repeat “Test”.

How do I pay the vehicle license fee?

You may pay the vehicle license fee by one of the following:

• The online Government Payment Service – payment by credit card. https://ecom.gov.il/voucherspa/input/260
• By credit card at the Ministry of Transport and Road Safety call center’s touch-tone menu – *5678 or 1-222-5678. (Use this option only up until 2 weeks before the Test)
• At the Postal Bank – a receipt and your car license will be printed and handed to you. (Use this option up until 2 weeks before the Test)
• At any bank branch (credit cards are also accepted)
• At any Automated License Machine – these can be found in the offices of the Ministry of Transportation or in select Superpharm branches across the country. (Payment in these machines MUST be paid with the credit card of the car’s owner).
• The Government Payment app – you can download the application here: Android Play Store or iOS App Store

Note: The “Test” also requires payment.