What's the difference
A licensed garage holds a license from the Ministry of Transport, and sometimes also approval from the vehicle importer. Ariel-Yaakov Service Center, which has operated in the city since 1989, is the longest-standing example of this in Ariel.
When it's critical
If the car is still under the manufacturer's warranty, servicing it at an unlicensed garage could jeopardize that warranty. For an older car, the difference matters less legally — but a licensed garage still tends to use original parts.
Links: All garages