Using My Israeli Friend's Car from Israel to Petra, With Israeli Citizen

I seem to remember from somewhere that only the owner of the car can take it across the border. I'll let someone more knowledgeable confirm (or deny) this.

Hmmm...well, that would certainly suck to get to Eilat and find out that's the case that we can't enter. I am really hoping someone out there responds to your possible memory about denial of entry due to a driver's lack of specific vehicle ownership. On the surface it seems to make a little sense at a least, from the Jordanian authorities, because how can they verify once you're in Jordan that the car isn't stolen. I doubt they would care from a moral point of view...indeed they would probably prefer that you did steal it from their own perspective in a vacuum at least to help the cause of destabilizing Israel (TONGUE IN CHEEK! But they have a peace treaty...it doesn't mean they like Israel or Israelis; clearly not), although that contribution is so minimal it would be p-ing in the ocean. Anyway, on the other hand, at the higher levels they probably find there's value in at least looking like they're making some effort this way to kind of protect Israeli society from internal crime (i.e., auto theft). To wit, apparently massive volumes of stolen vehicles go to the West Bank.

Although who knows in this case whether any of this is an issue! This is all based on supposition. Hopefully someone knowledgeable will reply.

Edited by: woohoo1838

Edited by: woohoo1838

Your question is answered in the 6th FAQ question on the official Israel border crossing site:

http://www.iaa.gov.il/Rashat/en-US/Borders/Arava/UsefulTerminalInfo/FAQ/

Happy travels!

From the link you posted:

Under what conditions is it possible to travel with a private vehicle to Jordan

As long as the driver is the registered owner of the vehicle, in accordance with the vehicle registration papers, and so long as the vehicle is not attached (that there is no lien on the vehicle).

When the driver is not the owner of the vehicle, a notarized power of attorney, authorizing the driver to take the vehicle to Jordan, must be produced.

....So that's good...I just need a notarized Power of Atty. Although "just" may be an issue. A notary in Israel isn't as simple as going to any Kinkos or Office Depot or Bank of America in the U.S. from what I'm told. You have to go to the embassy and wait in line for 3 hours or something, right? And of course I'll have to inconvenience my friend. And the family may make a balagan that I want to go to Jordan, because it's a "high risk" activity....maybe, maybe. Although if I could be armed with recent info from y'all about its relative safety, that'd be good!!!

How about the other questions because you seem knowledgeable? Towing? Person-to-person safety of Jordanian vs. Israeli? Roaming data from Pelephone?

"If Jordanians see a broken down car with Israeli plates, will they give you problems....like attempt to rough you up inspiring your inner Bruce Lee Ninja to come out on them, or perhaps just make you s--- in your pants or maybe literally beat S out of you?"

In the unlikely event this is a serious post, can I point out this is Jordan we are talking about, one of the safest places in the Middle East if not the world? You appear to have confused it with Afghanistan or Somalia. As you may or may not be aware, Jordan has a substantial Palestinian population a lot of whom are aggreived about their relatives having been driven out (or left voluntarily - this is a somewhat contested issue) of their ancestral homes but I've never heard of violence or even rudeness directed at individual Israelis, unlike say Egypt where it does happen. That said, you may care to keep your views that the Jordanians are deliberately promoting crime in order to destabilise the peace treaty to yourself. Jordanians are very courteous but dislike their country being insulted as much as anyone else.

The notary process is quite simple in Israel, as far as I know. The sides appear before a notary (in this case, you and the car owner, together with one's Israel ID card or passport), and it should be settled quite quickly.
And I agree that you should refrain from your superfluous assessments of the 'situation'. It shows your complete lack of knowledge of the land and its people, and is occasionally insulting as well.
I hope things work out for you.

Going to the trouble of appearing before a notary in Israel along with the car's owner, not to mention the fee you'd pay him/her and the rest of the fees you'd pay for bringing a car over the border is simply not worth the trouble for such a short single destination trip.

Cross the border and get a taxi with your friend.
If you do cross with a car, you'll have Jordanian plates although a close inspection will reveal Israeli stickers on the windshield.
You shouldn't expect any negative treatment from Jordanians but you never know. Just be respectful and courteous and you should be fine.
Pelephone has roaming in Jordan but roaming, and specifically data roaming, is VERY expensive. If you intend to talk/surf extensively, either buy a prepaid data package from the Israeli carrier or just buy a Jordanian SIM.
If you're using an android smartphone, then when you're still in Israel (or in a free wifi area in Jordan), you can use the Google Maps app. to pre cache the area you intend to visit . When you'll be in Jordan, even without Internet connection, the phone will align your location through its GPS to the map you've pre cached.

Yes, it's a serious post iolanthe, and I don't appreciate YOUR insult directed toward me (as an individual person), let alone your supposition of my concern of potentially insulting an entire country which I think is absolutely ridiculous. Palestinians either in Jordan or in Israel or where ever would freely discuss the potential danger of Israelis traveling to any Arab country, and it is definitely not insulting an entire country to pose the question as to the specific current danger level in this forum. I have educated and uneducated Israeli family, and they vary in age and wealth and intra-Jewish demographic ethnic composition as well as extreme left to right political persuasion, and I can tell not one would have any issue saying that traveling in Jordan or even Yafo for that matter can be dangerous because YOU ARE ISRAELI and for no other reason. Anything can happen. Stuff does happen. Teenagers even yell at Jewish Israelis in Haifa, the "safe" city. Maybe it ends at yelling, maybe not. This is not a safe world. You delude yourself at your own peril. Saying Palestinians have "grievances" is an understatement because they do act on it. They have had recent protests in Jordan as part of the Arab spring where people have gotten injured. It's a developing country. It's not a rich country. A few hours North in Syria people are getting slaughtered by the tens every day. At the Egypt crossing you just had terrorists attempt to infiltrate causing a death of a Palestinian Israeli guard. You do the mental calculation and you see what the potion result looks like. It's not the "safest country in the world" as you say. I think Switzerland is safer. That's just ridiculous to say that. Let's have fun and travel, as I intend to do in Jordan, but I want to be aware of the risks and you shouldn't pull wool over peoples' eyes as to the potential danger regardless of how long it's been since someone's has been physically harmed.

Anyway, I think I am going to take a day-trip Petra bus tour instead of dealing with the notary for the car, but it's expensive. Looks like the costs are as follows:

1) $239 per person to bus tour company including $140 govt entry fee (payable by credit card)
2) $55 per person border charge (payable only in cash)

So for $500 we get to go to Jordan for the day, which will probably be $600 when we are done with food and communications.

I've travelled with Israelis in the past and they've told me of poor treatment in Egypt in particular so I have some second knowledge of the travel issues they may face and yes there are legitimate concerns. The reason I queried whether you were being serious were the following:

"I doubt they would care from a moral point of view...indeed they would probably prefer that you did steal it from their own perspective in a vacuum at least to help the cause of destabilizing Israel (TONGUE IN CHEEK! But they have a peace treaty...it doesn't mean they like Israel or Israelis; clearly not), although that contribution is so minimal it would be p-ing in the ocean. Anyway, on the other hand, at the higher levels they probably find there's value in at least looking like they're making some effort this way to kind of protect Israeli society from internal crime (i.e., auto theft). "

"If Jordanians see a broken down car with Israeli plates, will they give you problems....like attempt to rough you up inspiring your inner Bruce Lee Ninja to come out on them, or perhaps just make you s--- in your pants or maybe literally beat S out of you?"

I couldn't work out whether this was some heavy handed attempt at humour hence the question as to whether you were being serious. As you assure me these are genuine concerns, my belief and honest answer is that a) no one will steal your car in an attempt to destabilise the peace process and b) if you break down in a car with Israeli plates no one will try and do a Bruce Lee on you. I suspect your concerns would be more valid in Egypt and Syria but Jordan is a separate country and not all Arabs have identifical views and behaviours.

I also reiterate my main point which is that whether or not you really believe these to be reasonable possibilities you should probably not share your beliefs while in Jordan as you will insult the locals. Even if you did though I doubt the dire consequences you predict would happen but it's unlikely to do much on a personal level for Jordanian-Israeli relations.

I hope you enjoy Jordan and find it to be safer than you think.