Israeli Transport Ministry Approves New Taxi Imports but Denies Vehicle Licensing

The Israeli Ministry of Transport recently authorized the import of white cars with black roofs to be used as taxis, but is refusing to grant these vehicles official roadworthiness licenses (tests). This regulatory inconsistency has left hundreds of legally imported taxis unable to operate on Israeli roads.

Models such as the Hyundai Kona Hybrid, Toyota RAV4, and Toyota C-HR were approved for import under special taxi import procedures, which differ from regular car imports in pricing and taxes. However, licensing centers have rejected these vehicles for failing the test due to their black roofs, which violate the longstanding regulation requiring taxis in Israel to be completely white.

Taxi drivers who purchased these cars are now stuck without valid licenses. One driver, David, said he was "thrown between chairs" and that no one is taking responsibility. The only proposed solution is to buy and affix a white sticker on the roof at a cost of 1,650 shekels, a measure suggested by some within the Ministry of Transport.

Another driver, Rami, emphasized the economic impact, stating, "A taxi driver without a test cannot work, there is no livelihood," noting that taxis without valid tests cannot be insured and thus cannot legally operate. Industry insiders describe the Ministry's decision as a regulatory failure, with responsibility being shifted back and forth between importers and the Ministry, which continues to approve imports of these models.

As of now, the Ministry of Transport has not issued an official response to the controversy. The situation highlights a disconnect between import approvals and licensing regulations, leaving drivers and importers in limbo.