Israel's Vehicle Licensing Authority will close all offices from Monday until Wednesday, while the system prepares to issue new 8-digit license places.
Offices will open as usual on Thursday.
As a result of the closures, citizens will be unable to receive car-related services, whether via branch offices or via the "Rishomat" automated service. In addition, the Transportation Ministry's national hotline (*5678) will be closed and their website will be down (mot.gov.il).
During this period, citizens will also not be able to register a new car at the Postal Bank, via car importers, or via banks or financing companies, nor will they be able to release cars held in Customs or receive information about them.
However, services pertaining to drivers will be available via internet, automatic service, the Postal Bank, and the national hotline (*5678). The available services will include renewal of drivers' licenses, payment of license fees, and clarifying how many negative "points" a driver has accumulated.
Vehicle licensing institutions will work as usual, and carry out vehicle road safety tests.
Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz (Likud) said the new 8-digit license plates will be for new vehicles only, and will be used from June 1, 2017. All other vehicles will continue to carry the old 7-digit license plates.
300,000 new vehicles are registered in Israel every year, and it is expected that Israel will run out of 7-digit license plates within the next six months.
The new 8-digit license plates will look like the image below.
