Israel is in Annex 2 to Order 163/2011: the Israeli licence is exchanged for a Romanian one without a driving test or a theory test.
The exchange is open to anyone who declares they live in Romania at least 185 days a year and holds a valid residence permit.
According to the Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs, the licence costs 89 lei. You also need a notarised Romanian translation of the Israeli licence.
The Romanian licence is issued within 30 days at most. Meanwhile you get a substitute document with driving rights, which can be renewed.
EU personal property relief: the car owned and used by you for at least six months, and 12 months of residence outside the EU.
An Israeli driving licence in Romania: the short answer
Israel is a party to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, so Romanian law allows you to drive in Romania on a valid Israeli licence. Anyone who moves their residence to Romania, meaning they live there at least 185 days a year and hold a residence permit, can exchange the Israeli licence for a Romanian one without a driving test and without a theory test. The exchange is done at the county licensing service, and the licence costs 89 lei. As of October 2026.
I hear this question from almost every family that starts planning a move: "And how will we manage with the car?" In a suburb like Balotești, life without a car is hard, so it is worth settling the licence question before you arrive, not after.
What Romanian law says about an Israeli licence
The basis is Article 83 of Emergency Ordinance 195/2002 on road traffic. Under this article, holders of a valid national licence issued by a state party to the 1968 Vienna Convention, an EU state, or a state with a reciprocity agreement with Romania may drive in Romania. Anyone whose licence comes from a state in none of these groups also needs an international licence.
Israel appears by name, "Statul Israel", in the list of Convention states in Annex 2 to Ministry of Internal Affairs Order 163/2011. The practical meaning: for a tourist or someone coming on visits, the Israeli licence itself is enough as far as the law is concerned. An international licence is not required, but I recommend carrying one, because it saves explanations with a rental company or a police officer at a check.
The Israeli licence is enough to drive in Romania, but anyone moving there needs to plan the exchange from day one.
How long you can drive on the Israeli licence
Precision matters here, because different numbers circulate online. Romanian and international guides mention an obligation to exchange within 30 or 90 days of moving. In the text of the law we checked, Article 83(3), the exchange is worded as an option for residents ("pot fi preschimbate"), with no explicit deadline.
What is clear: the exchange is open only to someone considered resident for licensing purposes, and once you live in Romania beyond a visit, the safe practice is not to wait. My recommendation is simple: as soon as you have a residence permit, open the exchange file. In any case, check the current procedure with the Ilfov county licensing service before relying on any number.
Who can exchange, and what you submit
Under Article 1 of Order 163/2011, you exchange in the county where you live, and declare that you live in Romania at least 185 days a calendar year because of personal and professional ties. A foreigner proves residence with a document showing a legal right of residence, meaning a valid residence permit. We wrote about the permit itself in our guide to residence permits in Romania.
| What you submit | Details |
|---|---|
| Original Israeli licence | Valid, not a temporary licence and not an international licence |
| Notarised translation into Romanian | Required for licences from Annex 2 states, such as Israel |
| Passport and residence permit | Proof of identity and of residence in Romania |
| Application form | Following the wording in Annex 4 to the Order |
| Payment | 89 lei, online or at the counter |
| Medical certificate | Required when requesting a licence with a new validity |
The data is based on Article 6 of the Order and on the Ministry of Internal Affairs service page. Two things worth knowing in advance:
- An international licence cannot be exchanged. The Order states explicitly that an international licence, a temporary licence or an expired licence will not be exchanged.
- The Israeli licence goes back to Israel. Under Article 10 of the Order, after the exchange the Romanian authority sends the old licence to the authority that issued it. In other words, you will not leave the counter with two licences. If you plan to drive on visits to Israel too, check the options in advance with the licensing office in Israel.
How long it takes, and what happens in the meantime
The exchange depends on confirmation from the issuing state that the licence is genuine and valid. Under Article 7 of the Order, while you wait you receive a substitute document with driving rights for up to 30 days, which can be renewed if verification takes longer. The Romanian licence is issued within 30 days at most, or within 15 days of verification being completed, if it takes longer. The exchanged licence will show code 70 in the restrictions field, marking that it replaced a foreign licence.
Anyone whose licence does not meet the exchange conditions can take the test and receive a regular Romanian licence, on presentation of a medical certificate. This is set out in Article 83(3¹) of the law.
The Israeli licence is enough to drive in Romania, but anyone moving there needs to plan the exchange from day one.
And the car: buy, bring or rent?
Bringing a car from Israel. Under EU Regulation 1186/2009, anyone transferring their normal place of residence to the EU can import personal property, including a car, free of customs duty, provided the car has been owned and used by them for at least six months and they have lived outside the EU for at least 12 consecutive months. Without the relief, importing a passenger car from outside the EU carries customs duty of usually 10% plus VAT. We wrote about the relief for household goods in our guide to moving your home from Israel, which also explains why many families find it simpler to buy a car instead.
A car with foreign plates. Article 82(4) of the law limits a car registered in another country, whose owner lives in Romania, to driving for at most 90 days from the date of entry. It is not a permanent solution.
Buying in Romania. The law links vehicle registration to residence: under Article 82(5), someone whose residence is in Romania registers the car in the county where they live. Compulsory insurance (RCA) is a condition for driving, and the DN1 road between the city and the suburbs requires a road vignette.
How much the road vignette costs in 2026
From 1 October 2026, the price of the annual vignette (rovinietă) is set by the car's emissions standard, under Ministry of Transport Order 888/2026:
| Vehicle type | Annual price |
|---|---|
| Electric | 228 lei |
| Euro 6 | 254 lei |
| Euro 4 or Euro 5 | 292 lei |
| Euro 3 and below | 330 lei |
And the emissions standard will matter even more in the future: Bucharest city hall proposes restricting older cars in the city from 2027. We covered it in detail in our article on the low emission zone.
Who will find it simple, and who less so
Simple for: people coming on visits and holidays who drive a rental car on the Israeli licence, and people who move with a residence permit and are ready to exchange at the start.
More complicated for: people who split the year between Israel and Romania and want to keep driving in both, because the Israeli licence goes back to Israel after the exchange, and people planning to bring a car without meeting the relief conditions.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive in Romania on an Israeli licence?
Yes. Israel is a party to the Vienna Convention, and Article 83 of the Romanian road traffic law allows holders of a valid national licence from Convention states to drive in Romania. An international licence is not legally required, but it is useful with rental companies and at checks.
Do I need to take a driving test to exchange an Israeli licence?
No. Israel is on the list of states whose licences are exchanged without a test or examination, in Annex 2 to Order 163/2011. You need to be resident for licensing purposes and submit the original licence, a notarised translation, a residence permit and a payment of 89 lei.
How long does the exchange take?
Under the Order, the Romanian licence is issued within 30 days at most, unless verification with Israel takes longer. In the meantime you receive a substitute document with driving rights for up to 30 days, which can be renewed.
What happens to the Israeli licence after the exchange?
You do not keep it. Under Article 10 of the Order, the Romanian authority returns it to the authority that issued it. Check in advance with the licensing office in Israel what to do if you also want to drive on visits to Israel.
Can I bring my car from Israel without customs duty?
You can, under the EU personal property relief, if the car has been owned and used by you for at least six months and you have lived outside the EU for at least 12 months. You still need to register it in Romania afterwards and meet the technical requirements.
The bottom line
The Israeli licence opens Romania's roads to you from day one. Anyone who moves there exchanges it without a test, in a process of a few weeks, and gives up the physical Israeli licence. The real decision is about the car, and usually the answer is to buy here.
If you are planning a move to north Bucharest and want to go through the practical steps, from the residence permit to the car, book a 30-minute call with me. For life in and around Bucharest in more depth, see our guide to relocating to Romania.
Moti Azulay, Compass Group Romania
Sources and data: Emergency Ordinance 195/2002 on road traffic, Articles 82 and 83 · Ministry of Internal Affairs Order 163/2011 on exchanging foreign licences · Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs, foreign licence exchange service · National guide to public services · Avocatnet: list of states exchanged without a test · EU Regulation 1186/2009, personal property relief · KVK: customs duty on importing cars into the EU · MonitorLegal: Order 888/2026, rovinietă prices.
This article is for general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Exchange procedures, required documents and prices may change. Before applying, check the current list with the licensing service of the county where you live.
Now you know more.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult local professionals before any transaction.
