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Which car to rent in Iceland ▶ Options + Tips
One of the biggest expenses of a trip to Iceland is renting the car or campervan you'll use to get around the country. Since it's ago carOr many doubts arise because we all want to make the right decision and Knowing which car to rent in IcelandWhich companies are reliable? Would I need a 4×4? Do I need to take out additional insurance? Will I be able to drive on snow or ice? We lived in Iceland and have rented a car more than 8 times. With many different companies and models, we'll share a few tips for choosing a car to rent in Iceland based on our personal experience.
- TIPS FOR RENTING A CAR IN ICELAND
- What car to rent in Iceland? Is a 4×4 necessary?
- What is the best car rental company in Iceland?
- What is the cheapest car rental company in Iceland?
- Can the rental car be picked up at any time?
- Is it necessary to take out insurance for a rental car in Iceland? Which car to rent in Iceland
- What driving license do I need to rent a car in Iceland?
- What is the state of the carAre there any quarries in Iceland?
- What is the maximum speed in the country?
TIPS FOR RENT CAR IN ICELAND
What car to rent in Iceland? Is a 4×4 necessary?
Which car to rent in Iceland is one of the questions we are asked most and the answer is simple, it depends on the trip you are going to make. The main question is whether a 4×4 is needed.. As well, In most cases no You're going to need a 4x4 since almost all the carThe island's roads are paved and the usual tourist route doesn't leave those. carreteras.
We only recommend renting a 4×4 in winter If you are concerned about driving on ice and snow or if you travel in summer and want to explore the highlands, a place that can only be accessed with a 4×4. It could also be useful to you if you want Get to know the western fjords where there are quite a few carunpaved roads will be more comfortable, although it's not essential.
⪼ You can read: What to know before traveling to Iceland in winter
For the rest of the cases, any vehicle will do., so I would decide the model depending on the number of passengers, your budget and your preferences.
What is the best car rental company in Iceland?
It's difficult to name just one company. Living in the country, we've tried many different companies like Herz and Europ.carLava, Blue, and Go Car. All of them have proven to be very good options. Iceland is a fairly serious and honest country, and most car rental companies there are too.
Taking that into account I would opt for the options with better quality/price What are Lava Car companies? Rental and Blue Car RentBoth are popular national companies with good vehicles. If you want a slightly more premium company, you could opt for Go Car Rental, with the Viajeros5 discount code there is not much difference in prices compared to the previous ones.
Car Wash Rental They have very well maintained vehicles and it is very difficult to find the same models at lower prices from any other company. We rented a Duster 4×4 to tour the entire island, passing through the western fjords, and the car was perfect. Lava allows renting with debit cards, they do not hold any deposit, they have their offices very close to Keflavik International Airport and they offer an airport pick-up service. In short, all positive things.
In the case of Blue Car Rental They also have a large fleet of cars and have a very good reputation. If you look it up on Google Maps you will see that they have 3000 reviews and a 4,5 grade, something commendable in the world of rental cars. In the case of Blue the prices may be slightly higher than Lava but Thanks to the discount you get for being our reader, the price is great and may even be lower than Lava. We rented a Hyundai I30 from them to tour the entire south of the country. You can pick up the car from Blue Car at the international airport or in the center of Reykjavik depending on your preferences.
If what you are interested in is renting a camper van, the company Rent.is It is a national reference with a wide variety of vans, and also offers a additional discount to our readers 5% using the coupon LOWCOSTEROS.
What is the cheapest car rental company in Iceland?
This question is difficult to answer because it will largely depend on the time of year, the model chosen, and whether there are any active promotions. In most cases, Reykjavik Cars It has a reputation for being the most economical for most models, and it is also a company with a good reputation.
But comparing prices from company to company is too laborious, and you could forget about more than one, as there are many little-known local companies. For this reason, the best solution is to use a rental car price comparison site. We trust DiscoverCars to find the cheapest rental cars in Iceland.
Can the rental car be picked up at any time?
This depends on the company, some offer 24/7 pick-ups, others charge extra for it and a few do not offer it. For example, Lava offers it as an additional service and in the case of Blue it is always included. If your flight arrives in the early morning, this would be a factor to take into account when choosing which car to rent in Iceland.
Is it necessary to take out insurance for a rental car in Iceland? Which car to rent in Iceland
Most rental companies They offer different basic coverage which can be expanded by paying extra. They usually refer to the coverages by their acronyms, so I'll explain.car These terms will help you understand what each option means and decide whether or not you're interested in adding it. The price of insurance is another important factor when choosing a rental car in Iceland.
City: Theft insurance is almost always included, Iceland is a very safe country so it is very unlikely to need it.
GP: Protection against gravel, covers breakage or damage to the windows, headlights and mirrors caused by small stones on the carRoads raised by another vehicle. Very useful insurance since this type of incident is common in Iceland.
CDW/SCDW: Collision damage waiver, the maximum amount payable in the event of a collision depends on the company. If the repair is less than that amount you will pay the repair amount.
SAAP: Ash and sand coverage is usually additional coverage that covers damage caused by sand and ash storms.
TIPCoverage for tire repair or replacement. Does not include roadside assistance. carneither collection nor transport to the nearest workshop.
There are certain important problems that in most cases are not covered by insurance and that you will have to deal with.carI would pay you. For example assistance in carretera due to breakdown and the rescue of the car stuck in snow, water or sand is not usually included, although Some companies do offer it in the premium policy. Damage to the underside of the car, breakdowns/damage due to crossing rivers or flooded areas, or damage caused by being hit by animals are also usually not covered.
A good alternative to have better coverage than what rental companies offer is hire external insurance. For example the company Rentto the Cover Insure rental cars in Iceland and whether your policy includes roadside assistance. carDamage to the car, including undercarriage, wind damage, broken windows, and punctures, is not the only issue. Therefore, if you have to pay anything to the rental company, they will reimburse you.
What driving license do I need to rent a car in Iceland?
To drive in Iceland you need a driver's license valid in your home country. It is not necessary the carinternational driving network. You must also have more than 1 year of experience and be over 20 years old.
What is the state of the carAre there any quarries in Iceland?
If what worries you is whether the carThese roads are paved; we insist that the vast majority of carThe roads used by tourists are paved and in perfect condition. Only a few are in worse condition. carbackroads that approach mountain routes, very rural areas of the country and the highlands that can only be accessed by 4x4.
When it comes to weather, Iceland is a country where you have to take the weather into account. On the road.is website, you can verifiedcar the condition of the carreteras and any relevant warnings in real time. The status is indicated by various colors (you can find the legend below). It is advisable to consult this page every morning Before starting your journey, check the road conditions or if you need to adjust your route due to road closures. carreteras.
As you zoom in on the area of interest, cameras are also displayed which, when clicked, provide you with live images and the number of vehicles that have traveled in the last hour.
In addition, it displays informative messages in English, especially useful if there are closures in carmain gates, as it usually reports on the assessment of their condition or the expected reopening time.
What is the maximum speed in the country?
In the carOn paved roads the maximum speed is 90 km/h and on unpaved roads it's 80 km/h, so if you ask us what car to rent in Iceland, a high-end one wouldn't be a good idea. Although The landscapes are worth it and are more enjoyable if driven slowly.
We hope that this article sharing our experience in knowing which car to rent in Iceland has resolved all your doubts. Remember that if you book from our links you get an additional discount and we get a small commission that allows us to continue writing on this blog. Thank you very much for reading us! If you want to know more about Iceland, the country where we have lived, you can read other articles about Iceland. our guides.
Hi Alba, we actually stumbled across your blog by chance and it's giving us life!!!
We're going to Iceland for 11 days in April, and our main question is about the car. We usually travel by campervan and avoid the most touristy places, but this time we're not sure about doing so for several reasons, especially the weather and the condition of the roads. carback roads. In April, most of the snow will surely still be frozen, so we're worried that driving a large, non-4x4 van might be dangerous, especially because carsecondary back roads.
If we choose to go by car, do you think we need to book accommodation well in advance? We've read a lot of things, to be honest...
And third question 😊 In your 10-day itinerary you don't include the Westfjords. Do you think it's feasible to include them if we have to give up some other places, or do you eliminate them because they are difficult to travel due to the distances and the condition of the roads? carreteras?
Thank you so much for all your articles, they are helping a lot.
Hi Cris!
First of all, thank you very much for reading us and we are very happy that it is helping you organize your trip.
As for cars or campervans, April is a very difficult month to predict; it could be snowing all over the country or it could be sunny for a week with the carThe main roads are in perfect condition. If you opt for a campervan, you can check the condition of the... carCheck your route daily and decide as you go. Keep in mind that snowplows come by very frequently, and the studded tires that all vehicles are required to have work great, so it shouldn't be as problematic as it might seem. If you're going by car, since it's low season, you shouldn't need to book too far in advance, but be aware that some accommodations might be fully booked (especially the cheaper ones).
Ten days to visit the Westfjords is a tight schedule, even with some stops cut. This is mainly because it adds many kilometers to the route, and it's also a fairly remote area, colder and with fewer services than the main road, so the risk of carThe number of damaged or even cut-off ridges is much higher.
I hope all this information is useful to you. If you have any further questions, please let us know.
Hugs