Car Hire in Iceland
A short guide to Driving in Iceland and Car Hire in Iceland.
Please enjoy your hire car in Iceland. Are you going on holiday to Iceland? To see as much as possible and to get the most out of Iceland, the best way of transport is certainly by car. But of course you will have to abide by Iceland's law of driving. Below you will find some useful information about driving in Iceland.
Documents you need when driving in Iceland
To drive a foreign registered car legally in Iceland you must have the following documents with you, which are your full driving licence, vehicle registration document and certificate of motor insurance minim Third-party cover. All European and US licences are valid in Iceland. Visitors from other countries should check with their local motoring organisation.
Special rules you must follow
When driving in Iceland it is compulsory for all vehicles to have a Warning Triangle and a First Aid kit. For all passengers it is compulsory to wear both front and rear seatbelts. The police are able to issue and collect 'on the spot fines' for not obeying these rules.
Minimum age
The minimum age of a driver in Iceland is 20 years. Children must be secured by either safety belts or with a safety approved car seat.
Parking
Parking in Iceland is similar to Britain with car parks and parking meters. Finding parking space in the towns in Iceland is relatively easy. In Reykjavik and Akureyri there are Multi-Storey car Parks and large parking lots, which are cheaper than the parking meters.
A few basic rules
In Iceland, they drive on the right hand side and overtake on the left, pay full attention especially at roundabouts. Your driving licence and vehicle documents should be carried at all times. Always observe speed limit signs, Keep your headlights and seatbelts on at all times and enjoy the freedom of the open road. All of the roads in Iceland are easy to follow and are numbered. Be aware for farm animals grazing by the roadside and straying into or crossing the road. Drivers who cause injury or death to these animals are liable to claims for compensation.
Speed limits
Built-up areas: 50 kph (31 mph)
Major roads outside towns: 80 kph (49 mph)
Highways: 90 kph (55 mph)
Bus
The bus services are efficient and cheap where it connects all parts of the island during the summer. In the winter the buses operate to a limited number of destinations. There are Holiday tickets (Omnibus Passport) and Air/Bus Rovers available, which are valid for unlimited travel by scheduled bus services, there is also a Full-Circle Passport available, which is valid for circular trips around Iceland without any time limit.
Taxi
Taxis are available from all hotels and airports.
Travel times
The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Reykjavík to other major cities/towns in Iceland.
Road
Isafjördur 9.00
Saudakrokur 3.30
Akureyri 5.00
Husavik 6.00
Höfn 9.30
Westmann Is. 1.00
Egilsstadir 14.00
Driving in Iceland will be a pleasurable experience as long as
you remember you are in their country and abide by their laws. Please
remember it is not a good enough excuse to plead ignorance, as you
are a foreigner, you are the driver and it's your responsibility
to know the law.