Q:Shalom,
I read your answer to the question of how one would import a car.
You said that due to the value of the dollar now it is very worth while to import one.
I was under the impression that the cost of upgrading a car to Israeli standards is so great it is not worth it.
We were thinking of brining a Prius.
Can you shed some light on this or direct me in the right direction? We are making Aliyah in August.
Thanks so much

Mona

A: Dear Mona,

As the dollar continues to drop, importing a car continues to be a better and better deal. (fair disclosure - I am a shipping agent and have an interest in your shipping more...)

Bringing a car up to code is indeed an important figure to add into the calculation to see it is worth importing a car.

You will be required to make two changes with a car shipped from N. America. N. America requires "fixed beam" headlights while European code (Israel adopted the European code) requires an adjustable head light. This is to accommodate weight changes in the car and prevent blinding drivers of approaching vehicles.

The second requirement is the addition of directional signals (blinkers) on the car's side. A third, rarely required, change is the speedometer, which must show kilometers. Most cars today have both miles and kilometers so this usually does not come up.

The cost of the above changes can range from NIS 2000 to NIS 7000 depending on the car model and the garage doing the changes.

Finally, you mentioned you are considering bringing a Prius. This is becoming a popular car and in an effort to encourage hybrids, Israel gives a big discount on taxes on hybrids. The current tax rate on a hybrid made in the US and imported from the US (or made and imported from Canada) is about 51%. If made in Canada and imported from the US, the rate is about 61%. This is the tax rate for Israelis. There is no additional discount for olim.

Good luck and drive safely.

All the best,

Shmuel