Coming2Israel.com - Parking Your Car In Israel

 

Parking a Car In Israel.

Good Luck!  You thought that driving a car over here was an experience, wait...  You’re in for a treat!  Okay, maybe it’s not that bad, but sometimes it definitely seems like it can be.  Read on for our tips for parking a car in Israel.  

Parking Lots

In the larger cities, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, etc, parking is at a premium and does not come cheap.  And assuming you find a place, if you felt that the driving in Israel was bad, wait until you try and park your car somewhere.  If you thought Israeli’s use of the dividing lines on the roadways were used only as mere suggestions, their use of parking lines and spaces, can be at times, without reason.  Let’s just say, that for some Israeli’s, their motto is, if there some space, there is a place.  Why? Because most Israeli’s are “just going to be a few minutes”.  Curbs, sidewalks, double parking, taking up two spaces, or just not positioning their car properly between the lines is always the probability when an Israeli parks their car.  Our advise: Try and park at a far end of the lot beside a curb or island and walk the extra minute or two to where you need to go.  If you can, always better to back into a spot than fronting in.  Getting out of the spot will be much easier than trying to back out.  Trust us - You’ll see. Most shopping malls and and larger office complexes will have their own parking lots.  If the lot is underground, it is more than likely that you will have to pay to park your car.  Unless you paid at the gate to the attendant, take your ticket with you.  Most parking facilities have automated machines to pay the fee and you’ll need to enter the ticket to the machine to determine the rate.  Not to worry, as someone will usually give you hand in using the machine, or there is usually a button to change the menu to English.  Payment is Israeli currency or by credit card.  If you use cash, try and use the closest bill possible to the amount you need to pay, or you will get a handful of coin as your change. You can always keep the change for the next time you need to park.  Once paid, you will usually have about 15 minutes before the time on the ticket starts counting again and you will need to pay more before you leave.  Wherever you are, always ask the people or place that you are visiting if there is any validation for the parking there.  And if in a shop, ask before you pay, because you may just need a little more to pass their threshold amount for free or discounted parking. Outside the bigger cities, office complexes and malls will quite often have outdoor parking and more often than not, these lots are free,  Now, if you see a lot that seems to be a parking lot unto itself, you will probably have to pay.  And, if you are there on a Saturday or holiday, and it is getting towards the end of the day, even if the gate was up when you went in, expect the ticket booth to be occupied after the sun sets.  And, no surprise, you will need to pay to get out, usually paying the full day rate - although usually a cheaper rate than the full weekday rate.

Street Parking

In Israel, the curbs are painted in a two color combination indicating what the parking allowances are for that section of a street.  Red/white - Parking is NOT allowed. Blue/white - Parking allowed, but usually with payment. Check at the beginning of the street for a sign indicating parking hours.  Nowadays, meters are gone, but there will be a machine where you can pre-pay by time for the parking.  Don’t forget to leave the ticket in the car.  If the street is in a residential area, overnight parking is for residents with appropriate stickers only. For any other color combination, consider it as no parking allowed. If you are parked illegally, you should know that we don’t use regular tow trucks in Israel for moving illegally parked cars.  And don’t think that just because you are bumper to bumper in a spot on a street that the city won’t be able to get your car moved.  We Israelis are an efficient and crafty bunch.  Our city tow trucks are basically small flatbed trucks with a fork-lift mounted sideways to the bed of the truck.  It will pull up next to the illegally parked car on the street and just lift the car up and onto the bed of the truck and drive away.  Start to finish, the whole procedure can take as little as 30 seconds.

Street Parking on the Sabbath and Holidays

But on Saturdays and holidays, well, just about anything goes. Pick a color and park you car.  and as the buses do not run on the Sabbath or holidays, people even park in designated bus stops.  BUT, as we’ve mentioned, the Jewish day starts and ends in the evening, once the sun sets on Saturday or a holiday, the weekend is considered over and life goes back to the hustle and bustle of a regular workday.  So, if you’ve parked in a no parking zone, you better move your car before the sun goes down, or you may find your car removed by one of our side swiping tow trucks. Also parking in front of a fire hydrant or driveway at any time is not allowed. Handicapped spots are marked and also not allowed without a sticker in the window of the car or the matching license plate to the sign listed beside the spot. If you have to pay for parking, you should pay.  The possible fine for improper parking is much higher than any parking rate.   

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