Best Car Rental Companies in Israel: 2026 Comparison

You have decided to rent a car in Israel — now which company? The market is split between one dominant local chain (Eldan) and the major international brands (Hertz, Avis, Sixt, Budget, Europcar), plus aggregator platforms (DiscoverCars, Rentalcars) that let you compare them all in one search. Here is an honest breakdown of each.

Not sure whether to rent at all? Take the Should I rent a car in Israel? quiz first — it asks about your cities and nature-site plans and gives a personalised recommendation.

Quick comparison table

West Bank policy: no Israeli rental company insures its vehicles in Area A of the West Bank. This is universal across all suppliers; there is no workaround.

Eldan — Israel’s local giant

Eldan is the only Israeli-owned major rental chain and has the most locations — airport desks, city centre offices across Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa and Eilat, and return depots near train stations. Coverage wins are real: if you need to return the car in a town the international brands don’t service, Eldan usually can.

Pros: local knowledge, wide location network, competitive prices on economy and compact cars, Hebrew-speaking staff if needed.

Cons: customer service quality is inconsistent (a common thread on TripAdvisor Israel car rental threads); fleet age varies more than international brands; the website and booking process are less polished than international competitors.

Best for: budget travellers who want the lowest economy rate and don’t need international loyalty points.

Hertz

Hertz operates at Ben Gurion Airport and in major cities. As an international brand, you can earn and redeem Gold Plus Rewards points, and the booking and dispute process is familiar if you have rented with them at home.

Pros: international recognition and loyalty program; consistent fleet quality; clear CDW options.

Cons: slightly higher base rates than Eldan on economy cars; fewer city drop-off locations than Eldan.

Best for: frequent travellers who value brand familiarity and loyalty points.

Avis

Avis has a strong presence at Ben Gurion and in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem city centres. Rates sit in the mid-range — not the cheapest, but often competitive when you factor in CDW inclusions. Avis Preferred members get faster processing.

Pros: Preferred loyalty program; solid fleet quality; good SUV and minivan availability for families.

Cons: pricing not always the lowest; fewer pickup points than Eldan outside the main cities.

Best for: families wanting a reliable family-sized car or 7-seater; Avis Preferred members.

Sixt

Sixt is worth checking if you want the newest cars — their fleet refresh cycle is faster than most competitors, and the SUV and premium categories (Mazda CX-5, Skoda Karoq, VW Tiguan) are well-maintained. They operate at Ben Gurion and in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

Pros: newest fleet in most categories; premium and SUV selection stands out; Gold loyalty program.

Cons: higher base rates than Eldan and Budget, especially for economy cars; fewer locations outside the main cities.

Best for: anyone renting an SUV for the Golan Heights or Negev who values a recent model; Sixt Gold members.

Budget

Budget competes on price in the economy and compact segments — base rates are often the lowest of the international brands, though the difference narrows once you add CDW and extras.

Pros: competitive economy rates; international booking process; Fastbreak loyalty program.

Cons: fleet age more variable than Sixt; fewer Israel-specific extras (e.g., Israeli GPS) than Eldan.

Best for: price-sensitive travellers who want an international brand at a lower rate; Fastbreak members.

Europcar

Europcar’s Israel presence is smaller than Hertz, Avis or Sixt, but they have competitive rates on family cars and people carriers — worth checking if you need a 5- or 7-seater for a group.

Pros: good family and group vehicle availability; Europcar Club loyalty points.

Cons: fewer locations; less visibility in head-to-head Israel car rental discussions.

Best for: groups of 5–7 wanting a people carrier at a competitive rate.

Should you book direct or use an aggregator?

In most cases, search an aggregator first. DiscoverCars and Rentalcars pull live inventory from Eldan, Hertz, Avis, Sixt, Budget and Europcar simultaneously — the same economy car from Eldan is often $15–25 cheaper via aggregator than booking direct on Eldan.com, because aggregators negotiate fleet volume discounts. You are still renting from the same company; you just found a better rate.

The exception: if you have existing loyalty status (Hertz Gold, Sixt Gold), booking direct sometimes unlocks perks the aggregator rate doesn’t include. Compare both before committing.

Israel-specific tips for any company

Airport surcharge: Ben Gurion Airport pickups carry an airport concession fee of approximately $30–45, regardless of company. City pickup avoids this if the saving is worth the taxi from the airport.

No debit cards: almost all Israeli rental desks require a credit card for the deposit hold. Pre-paid travel cards are not accepted.

Shabbat office closures: most rental offices are closed from Friday afternoon through Saturday evening. If your plans change over Shabbat, you cannot call a local desk — use the international 24/7 number or plan for this in advance.

GPS/Waze: Israeli roads are well-signed in English, but Waze (Israeli-made) is by far the best navigation app here. Mount your phone, download an offline map before entering the Negev, and use Waze rather than the in-car GPS (Waze updates in real time for road closures and speed cameras).

Parking in Jerusalem: the Old City and most of East Jerusalem have no convenient parking. Use the Mamilla car park near Jaffa Gate for the Old City, or leave the car at your hotel and walk or take a taxi to the Old City sites.

One-way and cross-depot fees: dropping off in a different city (e.g., pickup Tel Aviv, return Eilat) typically incurs a one-way surcharge. Compare this against the cost of a return train at the end of your trip — it is sometimes cheaper to drive back.

For a full overview of driving rules, insurance requirements and which itineraries benefit most from a rental, see the complete Israel car rental guide.