Israel Launches Public Transport Refunds for War-Affected Passengers Starting Sunday

Starting Sunday, the Israeli Ministry of Transport will begin issuing refunds to public transport passengers who held monthly or student subscriptions during the "Roaring Lion" war period, when public transport services were significantly reduced. The refunds compensate for the days when passengers could not fully use their subscriptions due to the service cutbacks. Eligible passengers include holders of monthly unlimited passes and annual or semester student subscriptions for the 2025/2026 academic year. Refunds can be claimed until December 31, 2026.

The refund amount will be automatically calculated based on the number of days the service was limited and will be displayed when passengers link their Rav-Kav card to the refund system. Monthly pass holders can choose to load an equivalent daily pass for the affected days, receive a discount on their next monthly pass purchase, or load stored value equal to 70% of the unused days. Students will have similar options, including discounts on next year’s student passes or stored value credits.

Refunds can be accessed via the Hop-On and Rav-Kav Online websites and apps, as well as at Rav-Kav loading stations nationwide. Transport Minister Merav Regev emphasized the ministry’s responsibility to ensure the public receives compensation for the disrupted service, describing the refund mechanism as simple, accessible, and flexible with multiple options for passengers to choose from.