How Much Is the Annual Car Test in Israel? Fee, Licence and What Is Checked
Shukshuk team · Updated September 2026
The word "test" covers two different payments, and that is the source of most of the confusion: the annual licence fee paid to the Ministry of Transport, and the price of the inspection itself paid at the licensing institute. The first depends on the model year and licensing group and is re-indexed every April; the second is a regulated tariff, identical at every institute in the country, last updated in June 2026. This guide covers both, what the inspection checks, what to bring, and what happens if you fail.
Inspection price at the licensing institute, regulated tariff as of June 2026
- Test
- ₪126.19
- Retest
- ₪29.86
- Test
- ₪79.71
- Retest
- ₪24.70
- Test
- ₪197.48
- Retest
- ₪47.15
| Vehicle | Test | Retest |
|---|---|---|
| Private car and commercial up to 8 t | ₪126.19 | ₪29.86 |
| Motorcycle | ₪79.71 | ₪24.70 |
| Heavy vehicle and bus over 8 t | ₪197.48 | ₪47.15 |
This is the inspection price only. The annual licence fee is paid separately to the Ministry of Transport before the test and depends on the model year and licensing group.
Two payments, not one
Annual licence fee: paid to the Ministry of Transport (online or at the post office) before the test. It is set by model year and licensing group, and the ministry re-indexes the table every April. That is why this guide does not quote it: the binding amount for your car is on the licence-renewal page on gov.il. Inspection price: paid at the licensing institute on the day. It is a regulated tariff under the supervised-prices order, so it is identical at every licensed institute. As of June 2026: ₪126.19 for a private car, ₪79.71 for a motorcycle. Anyone offering you a "test" at a different price for a private car is selling something else (a pickup, a service, "assistance") or is simply wrong.
How often, and when a new car is first tested
A private car is tested once a year. A new car does not visit the institute in its first two years: only the licence fee is paid, and the first inspection falls towards the end of the third year. Very old and commercial vehicles may carry extra requirements. A car aged 15 or more needs a brake-system certificate from a licensed garage as a condition of the test; check with the institute in advance what applies to yours.
What the test checks
The inspection is about fitness and safety, not routine maintenance. The main items: • Brakes: force and balance across the wheels. • Steering and suspension: play in the wheel, condition of arms and joints. • Lights and signals: every lamp, and beam alignment. • Tyres: tread depth, correct size, structural damage. • Emissions: exhaust test for petrol and diesel. • Chassis and underside: oil and fuel leaks, structural rust. • Vehicle identity against the documents, and the odometer reading is recorded. That last point deserves attention: the mileage recorded at the test is an official figure held in the Ministry of Transport databases, and a future buyer of your car can compare against it.
What to bring
A valid driving licence, an identity document, and proof that the licence fee has been paid. If the person bringing the car is not the registered owner, an appropriate power of attorney is required. Most institutes take walk-ins in order of arrival, but before a holiday or at month end it is worth phoning. Licensed institutes are listed on the Ministry of Transport site; the test and the price are the same everywhere, so the choice is distance and queue.
If you fail
You receive a detailed defects form. Two ways back: • A focused retest within 7 days at the same institute, checking only the listed defects. This is the reduced-price retest (₪29.86 for a private car, as of June 2026). • A standard test within 30 days at any institute. A safety defect needs a repair certificate from a licensed garage before you return. The defects that recur at tests are burnt-out bulbs, worn tyres and the number-plate light: things you can check yourself in the car park a minute before you leave.
Electric cars and motorcycles
An electric car takes the same annual test at the private-car price, minus the emissions check, which has no purpose. Motorcycles and scooters are tested at a separate, lower tariff (₪79.71, as of June 2026), and their annual licence fee is substantially lower than a car's.
FAQ
How much is the annual test for a private car?
The inspection at the licensing institute is ₪126.19, a regulated tariff as of June 2026, identical at every institute. Before the test you also pay the annual licence fee to the Ministry of Transport, which depends on model year and licensing group and is re-indexed every April.
Does a new car need a test?
Not in its first two years. Only the licence fee is paid then, and the first inspection falls towards the end of the third year. After that, once a year.
What happens if I fail?
You get a defects form. You can return for a focused retest within 7 days at the same institute at the reduced price (₪29.86 for a private car), or for a standard test within 30 days at any institute. A safety defect needs a repair certificate from a licensed garage.
What do I bring to the test?
A valid driving licence, an identity document and proof of licence-fee payment. Someone who is not the registered owner brings a power of attorney. A car aged 15 or more also needs a brake certificate from a licensed garage.
Does the price differ between institutes?
No. The inspection price is a regulated tariff under the supervised-prices order, so it is the same at every licensed institute. Choose by distance and queue, not by price.
Sources
See also
Test prices are as of June 2026 per the licensing-institute association price list and change under the supervised-prices order; the licence fee is re-indexed every April. The binding amount for your car is on the Ministry of Transport site.