Driving without a Driver’s License in Israel
This article addresses driving without a driver’s license in Israel. All issues related to Israeli traffic and transportation law fall under the authority of the Israeli Ministry of Transport and Road Safety.
Penalty for Driving without a Driver’s License in Israel
Driving a vehicle without ever having been issued a driver’s license is a serious criminal offense in Israel. The penalty for driving without a license can be as high as several years in prison. However, if it is the first offense and there were extenuating circumstances, the court might choose to be more lenient with their judgment. Note that minors who commit this crime will be tried in criminal juvenile courts and there can be lifelong consequences to this violation. 
Moreover, this crime is often accompanied by the crime of the vehicle owner permitting an unlicensed person to drive their vehicle, which can result in equally severe punishments. If the vehicle was driven without the permission of its owner (e.g., a stolen vehicle, or an unlicensed minor taking their parent’s car without the parent’s knowledge), then the punishment will be even more severe for the offending driver.
Driving a Vehicle in Israel without the Owner’s Permission
It is a crime in Israel to drive a vehicle without the permission of its owners. This encompasses a broad range of cases from driving a stolen car to a minor taking their parent’s vehicle without permission. The severity of the crime depends on whether the driver had a proper driver’s license for that particular vehicle.
If the driver had the correct license but did not have the permission of the owner to drive it (i.e., they were knowingly driving a stolen vehicle) then the punishment for that offense will include, at a minimum, a six-month suspension of the offender’s driver’s license. If the driver did not have a valid license for that category of vehicle (e.g., driving a heavy truck or a bus when one only has a license for private vehicles), then their driver’s license shall be suspended for at least three years unless relevant extenuating circumstances can be demonstrated to the court.
If you have been accused of driving a vehicle without its owner’s permission you should contact an experienced traffic lawyer immediately.
Recommendation If You Find Yourself in This Situation
If you have been caught driving in Israel without a driver’s license, we recommend that you acquire a license before your court date if it is possible for you to do so, since the courts will generally view this as an attempt to rectify the situation. We also urge you to hire an experienced traffic lawyer to represent your case. We provide some tips on how to choose an Israeli traffic lawyer here.
Additional Articles of Interest
We provide many articles that you may find of interest on our website. Among others, these include what to do if you’re in a car accident, hit and run, get in an accident on the job, seek compensation for property damage, are caught drunk driving, driving without the right type of license, and more.
Contact Us
If you were caught driving without a driver’s license in Israel or caught driving a vehicle in Israel without the owner’s permission, please contact us. Advocate Moti Orange would be happy to help you with your case.
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:מאמרים מומלצים