Group Transfers in Israel 2026: Large Taxi, Van or 19-Seat Minibus?

Group transfers in Israel come down to two numbers: how many people and how many suitcases. Our rule at Almaxpress Taxi is simple: up to 6 passengers with about 6–8 large suitcases take a 6-seat large taxi; up to 10 passengers with about 10–12 suitcases take a 10-seat van; 11–19 passengers take a 19-seat minibus with a separate luggage compartment. Large-vehicle prices depend on vehicle, route, passengers, luggage, stops and time of day, so we quote each job individually and confirm the price within minutes. For scale, a regular taxi from Jerusalem to Ben Gurion Airport (up to 4 passengers) starts from ₪290 by day according to the official 2026 meter tariff, for roughly 54 km and 48 minutes.

What counts as a group transfer — and when do you need a large vehicle?

A standard Israeli taxi carries up to 4 passengers and up to 3 large suitcases. The moment there is a fifth person, a stroller or a full-size suitcase for everyone, you need a large vehicle — and an intercity ride of 5 or more people travelling together is a group transfer. Almaxpress Taxi is Jerusalem-based and runs three sizes of group vehicle, intercity only, 24 hours a day from Sunday to Friday. There is no service on Shabbat — roughly Friday sundown to Saturday nightfall — or on Jewish holidays; rides afterwards are pre-booked and leave once Shabbat or the holiday is out.

6-seat large taxi, 10-seat van or 19-seat minibus: which one fits your group?

Count the people, count the large suitcases, match the row — and when in doubt, go up a size, not down.

6-seat large taxi, 10-seat van or 19-seat minibus: which one fits your group?

Vehicle	Passengers	Large suitcases	Best for
Regular taxi	Up to 4	Up to 3	Couples, small family, business traveller
6-seat large taxi	Up to 6	About 6–8	Family with kids and a stroller, 5–6 friends
10-seat van	Up to 10	About 10–12	Extended family, work team, small tour group
19-seat minibus	Up to 19	19 or more, in a separate luggage hold or trailer	Tour groups, event shuttles, seminars, day trips

6-seat large taxi

Six proper seats and a boot for about 6–8 large suitcases — our most common choice for family flights from Jerusalem to Ben Gurion. Book a 6-seat large taxi — we confirm the price within minutes.

10-seat van

Seven to ten passengers with about 10–12 suitcases ride together, with no splitting into two taxis — the sweet spot for an extended family or a work team. Book a 10-seat van — we confirm the price within minutes.

19-seat minibus

For real groups: 11–19 passengers, a separate luggage hold or trailer for 19 suitcases or more, and one driver responsible for everyone — a tour group, a wedding shuttle, a seminar, a day trip. Book a 19-seat minibus — we confirm the price within minutes.

Common group scenarios — and what fits each

Extended family flying out

Grandparents, parents, children and luggage: this is where a 10-seat van earns its keep. Everyone leaves from the same address and walks into Terminal 3 together; on the return, the driver waits in the arrivals hall with a sign showing your family name and tracks the flight, so a delay costs nothing; up to 45 minutes from actual landing are free, and after that waiting is charged per minute on the official meter. More in our large taxi from Jerusalem to Ben Gurion guide; with small children, read our car-seat and stroller guide.

Weddings, bar mitzvahs and corporate events

Event transport is almost always a round trip: pickup in Jerusalem or Beit Shemesh to the venue, and home at the end of the night — tell us the expected finish time when you book. The same applies to a team off-site in Tel Aviv or a conference in Herzliya: a 10-seat van for a small team, a 19-seat minibus for a department. See our large taxi from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv corporate guide.

Day trips and multi-day itineraries

A group day trip is a transfer with waiting: the driver drops you, waits, and brings you back. Waiting is charged per minute at the official meter's time rate, or a driver by the hour can be arranged in advance, including unlimited driving and waiting at your stops, at an hourly price agreed when you book, with an 8-hour minimum. From Jerusalem, the Dead Sea hotel zone at Ein Bokek is about 112 km, Masada about 95 km and Ein Gedi roughly an hour's drive. List your stops in advance; for multi-day programmes (airport in, touring days, airport out), book all the legs at once for one overall price. See taxi from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea.

How are group transfers priced in Israel?

Regular taxis in Israel run on a government-regulated meter, so their fares are public. Large vehicles do not: there is no list price for a 10-seat van or a 19-seat minibus, because no two group transfers are alike. We price each job on five parameters — vehicle; route and distance; passengers and suitcases; stops and extra pickups; and the day and hour. Waiting is charged separately, per minute, or covered by a driver by the hour agreed in advance.

Regular-taxi fares follow the official 2026 meter tariff, which has three rates: Tariff A by day, Tariff B at night, on Friday and holiday-eve afternoons and from the end of Shabbat or a holiday until 19:00, and Tariff C late on Thursday night (from 23:01) or from 19:01 after Shabbat or a holiday ends. A regular taxi from Jerusalem to Ben Gurion starts from ₪290 on Tariff A, final price confirmed at booking; the full route table is on our 2026 price list. Israel abolished luggage and extra-passenger surcharges in 2020, so you never pay per bag. The only add-ons are road tolls — Highway 6, the north–south toll motorway (about ₪20), or the Carmel Tunnels — charged at cost if the route uses them, and a ₪5 surcharge when a regular taxi departs from Ben Gurion.

Why one vehicle beats two taxis

A party of 7 could, on paper, ride in two regular taxis. In practice it is worse:

• Arriving together: two taxis leave minutes apart, hit different traffic and arrive at different times.
• One point of contact: one driver, one name sign at Ben Gurion, one phone number.
• Luggage in one place: the stroller does not end up in the taxi without the baby.
• Children and grandparents together: grandma does not ride alone with a driver and two suitcases.

How to book a 10-seat van or 19-seat minibus: three steps

Step 1: count and note

The exact number of passengers (children and babies included), the number of large suitcases, and anything unusual — strollers, wheelchairs, sports equipment.

Step 2: set the route and time

All pickup addresses in order, the destination, the time you need to be there, and any stops, waiting or return leg. For a flight: the flight number. Add child seats, accessibility needs and the phone number of one contact person.

Step 3: send it and get a price

Send the details via the website calculator or on WhatsApp, receive a final price within minutes, confirm — and get written confirmation of the ride.

Timing a group run to Ben Gurion: several pickups, one departure

A group run to Ben Gurion is planned backwards from the departure time. Our rule for international flights: be at Ben Gurion about 3 hours before take-off, so leave Jerusalem about 4 hours before. The drive is roughly 54 km and 48 minutes (see taxi from Jerusalem to Ben Gurion Airport); in rush hour add 15–20 minutes, plus time for each extra pickup address.

Timing a group run to Ben Gurion: several pickups, one departure

Stage	Example for a 14:00 flight	Note
First pickup in Jerusalem	09:40	Farthest address or largest family first
Second pickup	09:55	Every extra address adds to the departure time — list them all when you book
Leave Jerusalem	10:00	About 4 hours before take-off
Arrive at Terminal 3	About 11:00	About 3 hours before take-off, with a buffer for traffic

Coming back, the driver waits in the Terminal 3 arrivals hall holding a sign with the group name, and tracks the flight, so a delay costs nothing; up to 45 minutes from actual landing are free, and after that waiting is charged per minute on the official meter — see taxi from Ben Gurion and Ben Gurion pickup: meet and greet, flight delays and Friday landings. Groups from Beit Shemesh get the same planning via taxi Beit Shemesh.

Tips for organisers: tour groups, Shabbat and the things visitors miss

Tour organisers rarely know every passenger, and the passengers rarely know the country, so we ask for four things:

• A final headcount, guide and escorts included. A full 19-seat minibus is 19 passengers — not 20.
• The group's flight number and landing time, so the driver is in the Terminal 3 arrivals hall with a sign bearing the group name.
• The hotel address and the plan for the following days — if the group also needs the Dead Sea, the north or the airport at the end, book all the legs together for one overall price.
• One contact person who speaks English or Hebrew, reachable on travel day.

Three Israel-specific points. Shabbat: it runs from Friday sundown to Saturday night, and we do not operate during it or on Jewish holidays — in 2026–2027: Rosh Hashanah (12–13 September 2026), Yom Kippur (21 September), Sukkot (26 September), Simchat Torah (3 October), Pesach (22 and 28 April 2027), Shavuot (11 June 2027). A group landing on Saturday, or on a holiday, is collected once Shabbat or the holiday ends. Night landings: we run 24 hours a day, Sunday to Friday, so a 2 a.m. arrival is fine — just say so in the booking. Child seats: a baby seat or booster for any age — on request when you book, subject to availability, ₪50 per seat; state the children's ages.

Bottom line

Frequently asked questions

Are child seats available in the large taxi and the van?

On request. A baby seat or booster for any age can be requested when you book, subject to availability, ₪50 per seat; state the children's ages.

Can we stop on the way or be collected from several addresses?

Yes. Extra stops and pickups are a normal part of group planning; list them in advance, as they affect the timetable and the quote.

Does the driver wait during a day trip or an event?

Yes. A transfer with waiting (out, wait, back) is standard for day trips and events. Waiting is charged per minute at the official meter's time rate, or a driver by the hour can be arranged in advance, including unlimited driving and waiting at your stops, at an hourly price agreed when you book, with an 8-hour minimum.

How do we pay for a group transfer?

Cash, Bit or PayBox to the driver; a credit card only through a payment link, with a 10% surcharge; or a bank transfer only in advance, before the ride. For group transfers a deposit may be requested.

What is the cancellation policy?

More than 24 hours before the ride — free; 24 to 6 hours — up to 50%; under 6 hours or no-show — 100%. Cancellations must be in writing (WhatsApp or email); full terms are on our terms page.

How many suitcases fit in the 19-seat minibus?

19 large suitcases or more, in a separate luggage hold or trailer — one per passenger with room left for bags. There is no surcharge for luggage or for the number of passengers.

Do you run group transfers on Shabbat?

No. We operate 24 hours a day, Sunday to Friday; there is no service on Shabbat or Jewish holidays. Rides afterwards are pre-booked and depart once Shabbat or the holiday ends.

Useful links: 2026 price list · Large taxi, van and minibus