{"id":43177,"date":"2026-10-26T15:19:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-26T12:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/john-auto.com\/blog\/leasing-ou-achat-voiture-israel"},"modified":"2026-10-26T18:05:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T15:05:12","slug":"car-leasing-or-buying-israel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/john-auto.com\/en\/blog\/car-leasing-or-buying-israel","title":{"rendered":"Leasing or buying a car in Israel: who really owns the car?"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"jab-bref\"><span class=\"jab-bref__ic\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\"><path d=\"M13 2 4 14h7l-1 8 9-12h-7z\" fill=\"#0C111D\"\/><\/svg><\/span><div><strong>La r\u00e9ponse en bref<\/strong><p>With a loan, the car is yours: it is registered in your name and the bank holds a lien on it until the loan is repaid. With leasing, it all depends on the type of contract: with an operating lease, the car stays with the leasing company; with a finance lease, you can become the owner at the end.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/aside>\n<p>It\u2019s the first question many olim ask: \u201cAm I really buying the car, or am I renting it?\u201d The answer changes the name on the registration certificate, what you can do with the car, and whether you can use the olim benefit.<\/p>\n<h2>A car loan: you own the car<\/h2>\n<p>With a loan (halva\u2019a), you buy the car and a bank or a credit company lends you the money. The car is registered in your name. The lender usually registers a lien on the car: you cannot sell it without paying off what you still owe.<\/p>\n<p>In Israel, many car loans are balloon loans: monthly payments are lower because part of the price is paid in one go at the end. The details are in our step-by-step article on financing.<\/p>\n<h2>The three kinds of leasing<\/h2>\n<p>In Israel, the word \u201cleasing\u201d covers very different contracts:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Operating lease<\/strong> (lising tif\u2019uli): a rental over several years, often 3, sometimes with maintenance, insurance and taxes included. At the end, you hand the car back.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Finance lease<\/strong> (lising mimuni): the leasing company finances the car; at the end, you can become the owner for a payment agreed at signing.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Private leasing<\/strong>: financing for a new car from a leasing company, without the services of an operating lease.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Always read the contract: whose name the car is registered in, what happens if you want to stop early, how many kilometres are included, and what the purchase option costs.<\/p>\n<h2>Loan or lease: what changes for you<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th><\/th>\n<th>Loan<\/th>\n<th>Operating lease<\/th>\n<th>Finance lease<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Name on the registration certificate<\/td>\n<td><span class=\"jab-ok\">Yours<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"jab-non\">The company\u2019s<\/span><\/td>\n<td>Depends on the contract<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Owner at the end<\/td>\n<td><span class=\"jab-ok\">Yes<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"jab-non\">No, you hand the car back<\/span><\/td>\n<td>Yes, if you take up the option<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Selling before the end<\/td>\n<td>Yes, by paying off the loan<\/td>\n<td><span class=\"jab-non\">No<\/span>, early exit depends on the contract<\/td>\n<td>Depends on the contract<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Mileage limit<\/td>\n<td><span class=\"jab-ok\">No<\/span><\/td>\n<td>Often<\/td>\n<td>Depends on the contract<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Olim benefit<\/td>\n<td><span class=\"jab-ok\">Possible<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"jab-non\">In principle, no<\/span> (car not in your name)<\/td>\n<td>Possible if the car is in your name<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<aside class=\"jab-retenir\"><strong>\u00c0 retenir<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The key question: whose name is the car registered in?<\/li>\n<li>For the olim benefit, the car must be released from customs in the oleh\u2019s name.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/aside>\n<h2>The olim benefit with a lease<\/h2>\n<p>The olim tax benefit applies to a car imported or bought in the oleh\u2019s name. A lease where the car stays in the leasing company\u2019s name therefore doesn\u2019t meet this condition. Financing where the car is registered in the oleh\u2019s name, with a lien, does: we have already done it for clients.<\/p>\n<p>The benefit rules stay the same: only the oleh and their spouse may drive the car, and it cannot be freely resold for 4 years.<\/p>\n<h2>Comparing two offers properly<\/h2>\n<p>The monthly payment alone isn\u2019t enough to compare offers. For each one, ask for the total price of the car, the down payment, the term, the final payment, and the real cost of the loan (interest and fees), which Israel\u2019s Fair Credit Law requires the contract to state. The same law also caps the real cost of a shekel loan at the Bank of Israel rate plus 15 percentage points.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"jab-attention\"><strong>Attention<\/strong><p>A low monthly payment can hide a large final payment or a big down payment. Always compare the total cost.<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<h2>Which option suits an oleh?<\/h2>\n<p>If you want to keep the car for a long time, sell it whenever you like and use the olim benefit, a loan with the car in your name is the simplest choice. An operating lease suits someone who wants to change car every 3 years without dealing with maintenance, and who accepts never owning it.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jab-voitures\"><a class=\"jab-voiture\" href=\"https:\/\/john-auto.com\/en\/cars-catalog\/jaecoo-7\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"416\" src=\"https:\/\/john-auto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Jaecoo-7-front-768x416.webp\" class=\"jab-voiture__img\" alt=\"Jaecoo 7 neuve, vue avant\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/john-auto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Jaecoo-7-front-768x416.webp 768w, https:\/\/john-auto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Jaecoo-7-front-300x163.webp 300w, https:\/\/john-auto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Jaecoo-7-front-1024x555.webp 1024w, https:\/\/john-auto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Jaecoo-7-front-184x100.webp 184w, https:\/\/john-auto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Jaecoo-7-front-1536x833.webp 1536w, https:\/\/john-auto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Jaecoo-7-front.webp 1704w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><span class=\"jab-voiture__t\"><b>Jaecoo 7<\/b><span class=\"jab-voiture__m\">d\u00e8s <strong>2\u202f028\u00a0\u20aa<\/strong>\/mois*<\/span><span class=\"jab-voiture__r\">Remise olim possible<\/span><\/span><\/a><a class=\"jab-voiture\" href=\"https:\/\/john-auto.com\/en\/cars-catalog\/chery-tiggo-4-pro\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"416\" src=\"https:\/\/john-auto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Chery-tiggo-4-pro-front-768x416.webp\" class=\"jab-voiture__img\" alt=\"Chery Tiggo 4 Pro neuve, vue avant\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/john-auto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Chery-tiggo-4-pro-front-768x416.webp 768w, https:\/\/john-auto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Chery-tiggo-4-pro-front-300x163.webp 300w, https:\/\/john-auto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Chery-tiggo-4-pro-front-1024x555.webp 1024w, https:\/\/john-auto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Chery-tiggo-4-pro-front-184x100.webp 184w, https:\/\/john-auto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Chery-tiggo-4-pro-front-1536x833.webp 1536w, https:\/\/john-auto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Chery-tiggo-4-pro-front.webp 1704w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><span class=\"jab-voiture__t\"><b>Chery Tiggo 4 Pro<\/b><span class=\"jab-voiture__m\">d\u00e8s <strong>1\u202f373\u00a0\u20aa<\/strong>\/mois*<\/span><span class=\"jab-voiture__r\">Remise olim possible<\/span><\/span><\/a><a class=\"jab-voiture\" href=\"https:\/\/john-auto.com\/en\/cars-catalog\/kia-picanto\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"416\" src=\"https:\/\/john-auto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Kia-Picanto-front-768x416.webp\" class=\"jab-voiture__img\" alt=\"Kia Picanto neuve, vue avant\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/john-auto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Kia-Picanto-front-768x416.webp 768w, https:\/\/john-auto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Kia-Picanto-front-300x163.webp 300w, https:\/\/john-auto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Kia-Picanto-front-1024x555.webp 1024w, https:\/\/john-auto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Kia-Picanto-front-184x100.webp 184w, https:\/\/john-auto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Kia-Picanto-front-1536x833.webp 1536w, https:\/\/john-auto.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Kia-Picanto-front.webp 1704w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><span class=\"jab-voiture__t\"><b>Kia Picanto<\/b><span class=\"jab-voiture__m\">d\u00e8s <strong>1\u202f192\u00a0\u20aa<\/strong>\/mois*<\/span><span class=\"jab-voiture__r\">Remise olim possible<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><p class=\"jab-mention\">* Exemple de cr\u00e9dit \u00e0 4,13\u00a0% sans apport, sous r\u00e9serve d\u2019acceptation du dossier. Prix du catalogue au 28 October 2026.<\/p>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<div class=\"jab-faq\"><details><summary>Can you switch from leasing to buying?<\/summary><div><p>With a finance lease, yes: the purchase option is set out in the contract, with its price. With an operating lease, you have to negotiate with the leasing company.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Who pays for insurance during a loan?<\/summary><div><p>You do. The lender usually requires comprehensive insurance until the loan is repaid.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Can you repay a car loan early?<\/summary><div><p>Usually yes, with early repayment fees set out in the contract. Ask how much they are before signing.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Can you switch from leasing to buying?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"With a finance lease, yes: the purchase option is set out in the contract, with its price. With an operating lease, you have to negotiate with the leasing company.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Who pays for insurance during a loan?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"You do. The lender usually requires comprehensive insurance until the loan is repaid.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Can you repay a car loan early?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Usually yes, with early repayment fees set out in the contract. Ask how much they are before signing.\"}}]}<\/script>\n<p class=\"jab-sources\"><strong>Sources<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/he.wikisource.org\/wiki\/\u05d7\u05d5\u05e7_\u05d0\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05d9_\u05d4\u05d5\u05d2\u05df\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Fair Credit Law<\/a> (sections 2 and 3, and the cap on the cost of credit); <a href=\"https:\/\/www.boi.org.il\/en\/communication-and-publications\/press-releases\/21-10-26ben\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Bank of Israel, decision of 21 October 2026<\/a> (3.25% rate); <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.il\/he\/pages\/guide-for-immigrants-and-foreign-residents?chapterIndex=8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Tax Authority, tax guide for new immigrants<\/a> (30 July 2026); iCar\u2019s car finance glossary (definitions of lease types). Olim benefit with financing: John Auto\u2019s experience, with the car in the oleh\u2019s name.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Loan, operating lease, finance lease: whose name the car is in, what you can do with it, and what it means for the olim benefit.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25771,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jet_sm_ready_style":"","_jet_sm_style":"","_jet_sm_controls_values":"","_jet_sm_fonts_collection":"","_jet_sm_fonts_links":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[791],"tags":[748,1627],"class_list":["post-43177","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-financing","tag-leasing","tag-loans"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/john-auto.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43177","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/john-auto.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/john-auto.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/john-auto.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/john-auto.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43177"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/john-auto.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43177\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43178,"href":"https:\/\/john-auto.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43177\/revisions\/43178"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/john-auto.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25771"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/john-auto.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43177"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/john-auto.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43177"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/john-auto.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43177"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}