Car Rental in Iceland
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The above prices are only approximate and were last updated at 22:46 on 2021-09-27. Prices may vary based on the booking dates, length of rental, and car class.
Travel Information
Language
Icelandic,
English
English
Currency
ISK
Country code
354
Traffic direction
Right-hand
Speed limit out of town
90 km/h
56 mi/h
Speed limit within town
50 km/h
31 mi/h
Acceptable limit of BAC
0.04%
Why rent a car in Iceland?
Iceland is a great country to explore by car. Despite having a population of less than half a million people, it offers plenty to every traveler, especially in terms of natural beauty. Iceland is surprisingly vast and there is no public transportation to many of the landmarks outside the capital, so getting your own ride is a smart investment.
If you want to know more about renting a car in Iceland, don't miss our complete guide.
Top ways to enter Iceland
- Keflavík Airport: Located about 50 km (31 mi) southwest of Iceland’s capital, Keflavik is by far the largest and busiest airport in the country.
- Reykjavík Airport: Also known as Reykjavik Domestic, this airport serves flights to destinations in the rest of Iceland, as well as to Greenland and Faroe Islands.
- Egilsstaðir Airport: Located on Iceland’s eastern coast, Egilsstaðir currently only has one regular public flight, connecting it to Reykjavik.
Top cities and places to visit
- Reykjavik. Home to nearly two-thirds of Iceland’s population (if you include its suburbs), Reykjavik is a world-class destination in terms of culture, arts, and even food. Highlights include the National Gallery of Iceland and the Culture House with exhibitions on Icelandic sagas. For many travelers, Reykjavik is also a hub for exploring the southern and western parts of the country.
- Akureyri. Small, but full of life and invention, the capital of North Iceland is close to a five-hour trip from Reykjavik, but the long drive is worth it. The town is known for its art district, scenic waterfront, and, naturally, access to a number of nearby nature areas.
- Húsavík. About an hour’s drive north of Akureyri, little Húsavík can literally feel like the edge of the world. The town is known as one of the most reliable whale-watching spots, the nearby migrations of the gigantic beasts attracting thousands of visitors every summer. Naturally, there is also the Whale Museum, as well as the Exploration Museum.
Most popular rental car
The most picked rental car in Iceland is the VW Polo, but the Jeep Renegade Trailhawk and the Fiat 500 are also popular.
Driver license requirements
- Iceland recognizes driver’s licenses from all the member states of the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) as long as they are valid.
- Other licenses in the Latin alphabet are generally also recognized, provided that you have been in Iceland for less than one month and are visiting on a short trip. (Drivers who have been in the country for longer than this period are required to obtain a local license instead).
- If your driver’s license is printed in a non-Latin alphabet (Cyrillic, Arabic, etc.), you’ll need an International Driving Permit (IDP).
- Similarly, if your driver’s license doesn’t show your photograph, you might be required to have an IDP.
- Even if you have an IDP, you must also have your original license with you at all times.
- You must carry your driver’s license, not a copy, with you at all times.
- You need to have had your driver’s license for at least two years.
- Some rental car suppliers charge a young driver fee for drivers between the ages of 22 and 25 and a senior driver fee for drivers over the age of 65.
- There may be additional requirements depending on the car supplier and category, so make sure to check the rental conditions before booking.
Most popular types of rental car
The most popular rental car type is an Economy, followed by Intermediate and Compact.
Top driving routes
- North Iceland. We already mentioned Akureyri and Husavik, but if you’ve made it this far, it would be a shame not to explore everything else that this wild region has to offer. The Goðafoss waterfall, Mývatn crater lake, and Vindbelgjarfjall volcano are just some of its dramatic natural attractions.
- Westfjords. Another awesome off the beaten path destination that can be accessed if you rent a car and are visiting during the warmer months of the year, this wild peninsula is a great place to marvel at the fjords (naturally), spot a puffin or another rare bird, and feel like a true explorer.
- South Iceland. The breadbasket of Iceland’s tourism industry, this region is very popular with visitors not only for its relative proximity to the capital but also for all the fun things to see and do. Highlights include the otherworldly landscapes of Landmannalaugar, the black sand beaches of Vík, and Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Car Rental Prices
- Station wagons - from $76 per day
- Large cars - from $86 per day
- Medium cars - from $70 per day
- People Carriers/Vans - from $164 per day
- Small cars - from $57 per day
- SUVs - from $133 per day
How can I save money on my rental car?
You can do a number of things to get a good car rental deal in Iceland:
- Compare rates of different rental car providers
- Book your rental car well in advance
- Plan your route before you go
- Know your fuel and mileage requirements
- Visit on the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Iceland is the cheapest in October when renting a car is about 55% cheaper than the yearly average.
- Check out our list of the best rental companies in Reykjavik.
Top 5 Most Popular Cities in Iceland
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Car Rental in Reykjavik from $38.56 per day
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Car Rental in Keflavik from $50.78 per day
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Car Rental in Akureyri from $48.96 per day
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Car Rental in Egilsstadir from $48.96 per day
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Car Rental in Isafjordur from $63.02 per day
Top 7 Most Popular Locations in Iceland
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Car Rental at Keflavik Airport from $23.45 per day
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Car Rental at Reykjavik Airport from $48.96 per day
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Car Rental at Reykjavik Bus Station from $54.57 per day
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Car Rental at Akureyri Airport from $48.96 per day
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Car Rental at Egilsstadir Airport from $48.96 per day
Map of Car Rental Locations
Which is the cheapest month to rent a car in Iceland?
The cost of renting a car in Iceland depends on the time of year. This graph compares price changes from month to month in order to find the best offer.
Average Rental Price in Iceland
The cheapest month of the year to rent a car in Iceland is October — prices start from $40.20 for an Economy class vehicle. This is 44% cheaper than the yearly average and 68% cheaper than renting a car in the month of July (when prices start at $124.01 for a Compact class). This information can help you identify the low season. But these are only average numbers. The exact price for your trip will depend on the length of your rental and the number of days until your rental period begins. Just enter your dates in the form at the top of the page to see exact prices and offers.
What’s the average rental length in Iceland?
The average length differs from month to month. The longest rental periods are in December — an average of 8 days. The shortest are in February — an average of 5 days.
Average Rental Length in Iceland
What’s the most popular time for renting a car in Iceland?
Discover Cars users search for cars in a lot of locations daily. We gathered this information in order to analyze car rental popularity in Iceland. The most popular month is March, while the least popular is April.
Popularity of Car Rental in Iceland by Monthly Searches
Most Popular Car Models of Rental Suppliers
| Rental Agency | Model | Doors | Luggage | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Icerental4x4 | Suzuki Vitara | 5 | 2 | SUVs |
| Icerental4x4 | Dacia Duster | 5 | 2 | SUVs |
| FairCar | Hyundai i10 | 5 | 2 | Small cars |
| Icerental4x4 | Suzuki Grand Vitara | 5 | 3 | SUVs |
| FairCar | Renault Duster | 5 | 3 | SUVs |
| FairCar | Suzuki Jimny | 5 | 2 | SUVs |
| Ace Rent a car | Kia Rio | 5 | 3 | Small cars |
| FairCar | Toyota Yaris | 5 | 2 | Small cars |
| Northern Lights | Suzuki Vitara | 5 | 2 | SUVs |
| FairCar | Suzuki Vitara | 5 | 3 | SUVs |
Our Customers Reviews
JT
United States of America (USA)
Hyundai Tucson
July 23, 2021
Stayed in 9-locations over 16-days, covering about 66% of ring road as well as the golden circle (over 1200 miles). Watch your speed limits... and the road. The roads are slightly elevated in most areas, and there are no shoulders...so if you veer off the road to the right there is no room for error and you will likely roll your car. In other words, if you are driving, pull over where you can to view the awesome sights along the way!
HR
United States of America (USA)
Hyundai i10
July 18, 2021
We rented a basic car so we stayed on the main highways and didn't have any problems. I would tell people not to go on F Roads unless you have a 4 X 4 rental.
DC
United States of America (USA)
Hyundai i10
July 8, 2021
This rental car service was efficient and honest. They were friendly and dealt with us in a timely manner. All things were followed through with as expected
WO
United Kingdom
VW Up
July 4, 2021
Iceland is a beautiful country and well worth hiring a car to see all that it has to offer....Icelandic drivers are courteous on the roads,which are in excellent condition.....so us foreign drivers should have no problems on the roads........
JW
United States of America (USA)
Suzuki Vitara
June 28, 2021
Great Icelandic people, amazing views, very clean accommodations, nice public WC. We will visit Iceland again!
SB
United Kingdom
Hyundai i10
August 27, 2020
I would definitely recommend hiring a car in Iceland, if you are planning on site seeing. It allows you a freedom to see more of Iceland’s tourist attractions in your own time frame and worked out cheaper that pre organised coach trips.
JG
United Kingdom
Dacia Duster
December 25, 2019
Already have recommended!
RW
United States of America (USA)
Suzuki SX4 S-Cross 4WD
November 15, 2019
Renting a car saved us a lot of money because going on the tours for the Golden Circle and the south coast of Iceland can be very pricey. We were able to move at our own pace and were able to have more freedom in our travels. We also stayed in three separate hotels so it made it easier to have our own transportation to and from the hotels.
AM
United Kingdom
Nissan Qashqai
September 29, 2019
We definitely needed a car for our stay as did lots of sightseeing. Iceland is an amazing country.
CI
Canada
Dacia Duster
September 23, 2019
No doubt renting a car in Iceland is the way to go. Driving was easy and taking a tour would mean you’d miss out on all the random stops we took to take in the amazing scenery.
FS
Malaysia
VW Polo
September 19, 2019
You need a car to get around Iceland, and while there are many car rental providers at the airport when you get there, there's a really long line most of the time. It is best to prebook your car before you even fly to Iceland
GS
Greece
Suzuki Jimny
September 3, 2019
VERY GOOD CHOICE!!!
CB
United Kingdom
VW Golf
July 31, 2019
My friend and I travelled from Keflavik to Hofn along the south coast, the car we where provided was extremely fuel efficient and easy to drive. Iceland was an incredible county with loads and loads to do, the views where incredible and i would highly recommend visiting.
MH
United Kingdom
Fiat 500
July 12, 2019
If you want to see Iceland without paying through the roof, HIRE A CAR. All these are easily accessible by car : The Blue Lagoon, Several waterfalls, Black Sand Beach, Geyser, Golden Circle, Lava Tunnel, Europe/America Bridge, Reykjavik City Centre and north coast of Reykjavik etc. etc.
CP
United Kingdom
Dacia Duster
July 6, 2019
Iceland road are single roads but very good easy to drive in summer.
JG
United States of America (USA)
Kia Rio
June 27, 2019
Rent a car from this company in Keflavik and save yourself dollars as opposed to renting from the airport.
KF
Belgium
KIA Ceed SW
May 20, 2019
Definitely rent a 4x4, you will needed.
EL
United States of America (USA)
Hyundai Tucson
March 30, 2019
Iceland is wonderful. Keflavik has so many interesting things to see. Driving around to see the country is definitely the way to go
AW
United Kingdom
Fiat Panda 4x4
March 28, 2019
some very nice places to visit only go on bus as not sure the car would get there
DW
United Kingdom
Hyundai Tucson
March 21, 2019
Excellent trip. We found it far more convenient to drive ourselves to all the main attractions (and many others) than pay out for organized mini-bus trips. We did take a couple of taxis at night and found that they were hugely expensive ! Having your own vehicle gives you the option to stay longer, or leave sooner, than agency organised excursions would. If we hadn't been self-drive we would not have got to see the Northern Lights which was the highlight of our trip. We had to drive 40 miles out of Rekjavik following a Cloud Cover App to find the only area with a clear sky - couldn't do that if you didn't have your own car.
Top 20 Suppliers in Iceland in 2021
Carwiz
+3545712266
Bogatröð 2
Working hours
Mon:00:00-23:59
Tue:00:00-23:59
Wed:00:00-23:59
Thu:00:00-23:59
Fri:00:00-23:59
Sat:00:00-23:59
Sun:00:00-23:59
SIXT
+3545402222
Blikavöllur 5, 235 Reykjanesbær
National
+3545199300
Arnarvöllur 4, 235 Reykjanesbær
NUCarrentals
Enterprise
5199300
ARNARVOLLUR,
NUCarrentals
+3547714200
Njardarbraut 11, Reykjanesbaer
Working hours
Mon:06:00-18:00
Tue:06:00-18:00
Wed:06:00-18:00
Thu:06:00-18:00
Fri:06:00-18:00
Sat:06:00-18:00
Sun:06:00-18:00
Europcar
+3544616000
KEFLAVIK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Working hours
Mon:06:00-23:59
Tue:06:00-23:59
Wed:06:00-23:59
Thu:06:00-23:59
Fri:06:00-23:59
Sat:06:00-23:59
Sun:06:00-23:59
Ace Rent a car
+3545673000 / 3172487251
Flugvellir 6. 260 Reykjanesbær
Avis
+3545914000
Keflavíkurflugvöllur, 235 Keflavík
Working hours
Mon:00:00-01:00; 06:00-23:59
Tue:00:00-01:00; 06:00-23:59
Wed:00:00-01:00; 06:00-23:59
Thu:00:00-01:00; 06:00-23:59
Fri:00:00-01:00; 06:00-23:59
Sat:00:00-01:00; 06:00-23:59
Sun:00:00-01:00; 06:00-23:59
AddCar
+3545194141
Keflavikurflugvöllur, 235 Keflavík
Alamo
+3545199300
Arnarvollur
Working hours
Mon:10:00-20:00
Tue:10:00-20:00
Wed:10:00-20:00
Thu:10:00-20:00
Fri:10:00-20:00
Sat:10:00-20:00
Sun:10:00-20:00
Budget
+3545626060
Reykjavik Keflavik International Airport
Working hours
Mon:00:00-01:00; 06:00-23:59
Tue:00:00-01:00; 06:00-23:59
Wed:00:00-01:00; 06:00-23:59
Thu:00:00-01:00; 06:00-23:59
Fri:00:00-01:00; 06:00-23:59
Sat:00:00-01:00; 06:00-23:59
Sun:00:00-01:00; 06:00-23:59
Economy rent a car
+3545717222 / 8773267368
Fuglavík 1, Reykjanesbær, 230
Working hours
Mon:00:00-23:59
Tue:00:00-23:59
Wed:00:00-23:59
Thu:00:00-23:59
Fri:00:00-23:59
Sat:00:00-23:59
Sun:00:00-23:59
Alamo
+3545199300
Arnarvollur 4, 235 Reykjanesbaer, Iceland
MEX RENT A CAR
+3545194141
Iðavellir 13, Keflavík
Working hours
Mon:00:00-02:00
Tue:00:00-02:00
Wed:00:00-02:00
Thu:00:00-02:00
Fri:00:00-02:00
Sat:00:00-02:00
Sun:00:00-02:00
RightCars
+3545716040
Meet & Greet
Global Rent a Car
+3545917900
Arnarvellir 4b, 235 Reykjanesbaer, Iceland
Working hours
Mon:00:00-23:59
Tue:00:00-23:59
Wed:00:00-23:59
Thu:00:00-23:59
Fri:00:00-23:59
Sat:00:00-23:59
Sun:00:00-23:59
Goldcar
+3547737079
Blikavellir 3, 235, Keflavik
Working hours
Mon:07:00-20:00
Tue:07:00-20:00
Wed:07:00-20:00
Thu:07:00-20:00
Fri:07:00-20:00
Sat:07:00-20:00
Sun:07:00-20:00
GreenMotion
+3547878586
Blikavöllur 2, Keflavíkurflugvöllur, 235
Working hours
Mon:08:00-18:00
Tue:08:00-18:00
Wed:08:00-18:00
Thu:08:00-18:00
Fri:08:00-18:00
Sat:08:00-18:00
Sun:08:00-18:00
Surprice
+3547874444
Flugvellir 6, 230 Keflavík
Working hours
Mon:05:00-20:00
Tue:05:00-20:00
Wed:05:00-20:00
Thu:05:00-20:00
Fri:05:00-20:00
Sat:05:00-20:00
Sun:05:00-20:00