Car Rental in Reykjavik

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Reykjavik, Iceland
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Driver's country of residence is United States of America (USA) and age is 30-65
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500+ Trusted Suppliers:

Cheapest Car Rental Rates

Reykjavik Airport
Mini
Hyundai i10 or similar
Hyundai i10
  • 4
  • 1
  • 4
  • Man.
Budget
$46.78 / per day
Downtown
Economy
Toyota Yaris or similar
Toyota Yaris
  • 5
  • 1
  • 4
  • Man.
Europcar
$52.28 / per day
Downtown
Compact
Ford Focus or similar
Ford Focus
  • 5
  • 2
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Man.
Dollar
$62.78 / per day
Downtown
Intermediate Crossover
Peugeot 3008 or similar
Peugeot 3008
  • 5
  • 2
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Man.
Thrifty
$74.24 / per day

Most Popular Car Rental Deals

Reykjavik Bus Station
Standard
Toyota Avensis or similar
Toyota Avensis
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Alamo
$76.93 / per day
Reykjavik Airport
Full-size SUV
Toyota Land Cruiser or similar
Toyota Land Cruiser
  • 5
  • 3
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Avis
$148.77 / per day
Downtown
Premium SUV
Land Rover Defender or similar
Land Rover Defender
  • 5
  • 2
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Enterprise
$187.56 / per day
Reykjavik Bus Station
Luxury SUV
Volkswagen Touareg or similar
Volkswagen Touareg
  • 5
  • 2
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Auto.
National
$224.03 / per day
The above prices are only approximate and were last updated at 19:41 on 2024-03-27. Prices may vary based on the booking dates, length of rental, and car class.

Travel Information

Languages
Icelandic, English, Danish, German
Currency
ISK
Drive on
Right-hand side
Country code
+354
Average car rental price
$109 per day
Average car rental length
5 days
Speed limit within town
30 - 50 km/h or 19 - 31 mph
Speed limit out of town
80 - 90 km/h or 50 - 56 mph
Acceptable limit of BAC
0.02%
Rating
9.3 / 10
Average gasoline price
$2.26 per liter or $8.57 / 1 gallon
Lowest gasoline price
$2.13 per liter or $8.07 / 1 gallon
Highest gasoline price
$2.37 per liter or $8.97 / 1 gallon

Why rent a car in Reykjavik?

By far the largest city in Iceland (it is home to two-thirds of its population), Reykjavik can be a fascinating city to visit. Home to a surprisingly diverse and active cultural life, it also boasts a rich history, interesting architecture, and plenty of quirky hidden gems for a curious traveler to explore. Better yet, Reykjavik can also serve as the hub to explore most of the majestic nature of Iceland.

Reykjavik

One-Way Car Rentals in Reykjavik

The most popular one-way rental options for pick up in Reykjavik and drop off in another city include:

  • From Reykjavik to Keflavik - 82 offers from $46.44 per day
  • From Reykjavik to Akureyri - 10 offers from $106.68 per day

Top ways to enter Reykjavik

  • Keflavik Airport: The busiest airport in Iceland is not actually in Reykjavik, but in the much smaller town of Keflavik about a 50-minute drive southwest of the capital. Served by the national carrier Icelandair, as well as some two dozen other airlines including low-cost carriers like easyJet and Wizz Air, the airport is the primary port of entry for most foreign visitors.
  • Reykjavik Airport: Much closer to the capital, but also much smaller, Reykjavik Airport serves only domestic destinations and flights to the relatively nearby island of Greenland which belongs to Denmark.
  • By ship: If you’re arriving in Reykjavik by cruise ship, you can also pick up the rental car right at the city harbor. Known as Viðey, the ferry terminal is about a ten-minute drive east of the city center.
  • By bus: If you’re arriving in Reykjavik by bus from another town in Iceland, you can pick up the rental at the Reykjavik Central Bus Terminal which is just south of the city center.

Top destinations and activities

  • National Museum of Iceland. More than 150 years old (and therefore significantly older than the Republic of Iceland), the National Museum is mainly dedicated to the settlement and history of Iceland and covers everything from the arrival of Viking settlers to the art they created, becoming independent from Denmark, and the present day. In addition to the permanent collection, the museum also frequently hosts a number of temporary exhibitions.
  • Culture House. Foreign visitors might want to avoid trying to pronounce its full Icelandic name, Þjóðmenningarhúsið, but they should not ignore the Culture House itself, as it is another important place in the exploration of Iceland’s history. Located in the building that used to house the national library, the Culture House has everything from the original manuscripts of ancient sagas to exhibitions on volcanic islands and research on the visual history of Reykjavik.
  • Icelandic Punk Museum. The majestic, austere landscapes of Iceland might not immediately suggest it, but the country —  and specifically its capital — has always been a hotbed of counterculture and creativity, including punk music; even the city’s former mayor, comedian Jón Gnarr used to be in a punk band in his teenage years. Perhaps aptly located in a former underground restroom, the small, but innovative Punk Museum explores this surprising connection, even letting visitors put on a leather jacket and get their hands on a guitar. Punk’s not dead, at least not in Reykjavik.
  • Hallgrimskirka. This Lutheran cathedral in the capital city is an eye-catching building with its 73 m-high tower. Inspired by Icelandic traditions, it has a unique architectural style. There is also an observation deck in the tower you can go up and take in the vistas of the city and surrounding countryside.

Ideas for day trips

  • Reykjanes. Iceland’s southwestern peninsula is not only where the country’s main airport is located, but it’s also a fascinating destination in its own right. Whether you visit the idyllic hot springs of Blue Lagoon, cross the pedestrian bridge between Europe and North America or marvel at lava formations, you’re bound to have an interesting time. 
  • Þingvellir. Not only a national park but also a heritage destination, Þingvellir (or Thingvellir) is where the Althing, the Parliament of Iceland, was originally located. About to celebrate its 1,100th anniversary in 2030, Althing is known as the oldest parliamentary building in the world. In addition to the Parliament, you can visit the interactive visitors center, walk along the nature trails, or even dive and take a Silfra snorkeling tour, as this is one of the best places in Iceland for these activities. Located only 45 km (28 miles) northeast of Reykjavik, the area can be reached in 40 minutes by car.
  • Snæfellsjökull National Park. A wild and stunning place, this national park is dominated by an ancient volcano that’s covered with a glacier. Other attractions include stunning, empty beaches, Vatnshellir Cave, and the opportunities to see the northern lights (the best odds to catch them are during the autumn and winter months of the year). The national park is about a 2 hour and 40-minute drive from the capital, so the best course of action would be to give at least two or three days to visit (there are accommodations around the park). Do keep in mind that you need a 4x4 vehicle to safely move around the park on your own - otherwise, driving to the area and then joining a tour can be a good idea.

Most popular cars

Most visitors of Reykjavik go for mini, economy, or compact rental cars. The most popular models are the Hyundai i20, Hyundai i10, and Volkswagen Golf.

Car Rental Prices in Reykjavik

  • Station wagons - from $62 per day
  • Large cars - from $67 per day
  • Medium cars - from $57 per day
  • Vans - from $69 per day
  • Small cars - from $47 per day
  • SUVs - from $63 per day

Money-saving tips

These are some good methods to save money on your rental car:

  • Compare the 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 during the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Reykjavik is the cheapest in June when renting a car is about 38% cheaper than the yearly average.
This information was written, fact-checked, and/or translated by our content creators.

Learn more about our Editorial Policy.
Fact checked by
Megan Starr & Aram Vardanyan
Megan & Aram is a travel blog run by two friends that have been helping people travel the world since 2010. They have visited well over 100 countries together and share a special passion for lesser-known destinations, as well as the Nordics. Megan is currently based in Germany and Aram is based in Armenia. They run 4 destination-specific websites in addition to Megan & Aram.

Top 4 Cities near Reykjavik

  1. 37.7 km / 23.4 miles away
  2. 222.4 km / 138.2 miles away
  3. 247.3 km / 153.7 miles away
  4. 378.6 km / 235.3 miles away

Top 5 Locations near Reykjavik

Map of Car Rental Locations

What is the cheapest month to rent a car in Reykjavik?

Car rental prices in Reykjavik vary by time of year. This graph shows the average prices per month to help you find the best time of year to rent.
Average rental costs per day in Reykjavik
$90.54
January
$85.72
February
$66.18
March
$76.67
April
$87.59
May
$128.92
June
$152.56
July
$139.50
August
$91.25
September
$80.61
October
$84.05
November
$84.52
December
The cheapest month to rent a car in Reykjavik is March (when prices average $66.18 per day). This is 32% cheaper than the yearly average and 57% cheaper than renting in July (when prices average $152.56).

This information can help you identify the low season. But these are only average numbers. How much your car rental will cost will depend on the type of vehicle you rent, how long you’ll rent it for, and how far ahead you book. Simply enter your dates in the form at the top of the page to see the exact prices.

What’s the usual rental length in Reykjavik?

How long travelers keep their rental cars for varies from month to month: in July, the average renter keeps their car for 7 days, and in January, they keep their car for 4 days.
Average number of rental days in Reykjavik
4
January
5
February
6
March
5
April
5
May
5
June
7
July
7
August
6
September
6
October
5
November
5
December

What's the most popular month to rent a car in Reykjavik?

Based on the number of searches by our customers, the most popular month for renting a car in Reykjavik is July, and the least popular is February.
Monthly searches in Reykjavik by pick-up date relative to the average
53%
January
46%
February
56%
March
94%
April
134%
May
138%
June
187%
July
183%
August
120%
September
77%
October
55%
November
57%
December

Car Rental Information

Car rental locations 3
Airport locations 1
Popular suppliers Thrifty, Europcar, Dollar, Hertz, Alamo
Popular car categories SUVs, Small cars, Vans, Medium cars
Lowest price $47 per day
Cheapest supplier Budget

Most Popular Car Models of Rental Suppliers

Rental Supplier Model Doors Luggage Type
Thrifty Peugeot 2008 5 2 SUVs
Thrifty Peugeot 2008 5 3 SUVs
Thrifty Mazda CX-30 5 2 SUVs
Europcar Suzuki Vitara 4 1 SUVs
Europcar Kia Picanto 4 1 Small cars
Thrifty Ford Fiesta 5 1 Small cars
Europcar Dacia Duster 5 2 SUVs
Dollar Ford Puma 5 2 SUVs
Europcar Mitsubishi Outlander 5 4 SUVs
Hertz Toyota Yaris 4 2 Small cars

Our Customers' Reviews

Because we want to make sure each review listed here is left by a real customer, we don’t have an option to post a review here. Instead, we ask each and every customer to leave a review after they return their rental car. This way, you know that all reviews are authentic, verified, and trustworthy.

United Kingdom
Suzuki Jimmy
March 12, 2023
Lava tunnel, exploring an ice cave, all the amazing waterfalls, driving on incredible landscapes.
United States of America (USA)
Suzuki SX-Cross
December 26, 2022
Intense storm affected our trip. Nothing to do with the car company.
United Kingdom
Dacia Duster
November 30, 2022
Driving in Iceland is very easy as there are far fewer cars than U.K. if you hire a car try and get one with adaptive cruise control as it makes the journeys much easier when travelling out of Reykjavik. This is our first time hiring a car and we found it a much better option than booking trips and of comparable price but with much greater flexibility. If you have any guide book you can easily go to the same places as they are all well marked. Wifi is everywhere in Iceland (puts U.K. to shame) so using a sat nav on your phone is an easy option. Petrol pumps are a pre-authorisation type so you have to put your card in, select how much you want to pre-approve and then the pump will only dispense up to that amount. If you stop before the pre-approved amount you will only get charged what you’ve used. It’s a good system. If you get the discount token on the key ring for N1 garages, you have to scan that first.
United States of America (USA)
VW Polo
August 10, 2022
Staff is fantastic - getting call through ahead to find location and figure out shuttle service was not. Website also unclear. Adding ways to get to location in communications would help (they are in tiny grey 8” font with minimal info at bottom of booking confirmation currently)
Netherlands
Volkswagen Polo
July 27, 2022
Walked the famous trail of approx 56kms. Restaurants in Reyk were very good and resonably priced compared to the stores i heard before hand.
Australia
Kia Ceed
June 13, 2022
So easy to deal with and a perfect car to drive
Czech Republic
Dacia Duster
May 15, 2022
Explore by yoursef and be surprised. Rent a bigger car, 4x4.
United States of America (USA)
Suzuki Swift
September 23, 2021
I loved Iceland even with its inclement weather. The beautyof the various landscapes was breataking. At times you feel like you are driving off the end of the earth. I loved driving slower. You
Poland
Renault Duster
July 9, 2021
Iceland - one of the best places to visit on the Planet
Greece
Dacia Duster
May 5, 2021
Wonderful experience

Car Rental Statistics

Highest rated company
Thrifty
8.7 / 10
)
Lowest rated company
City Car Rental
6.3 / 10
)
Total number of reviews
18
Total rental companies
15
Average daily price
$109.17
Lowest daily price
$46.78
Total cars available
409

Top 15 Suppliers in Reykjavik in 2024

Thrifty
Thrifty
Very good 8.7 / 42 reviews
1 location
$60 - $175
Europcar
Europcar
Very good 8.6 / 78 reviews
2 locations
$48 - $232
Hertz
Hertz
Very good 8.5 / 9 reviews
2 locations
$60 - $376
Dollar
Dollar
Very good 8.4 / 7 reviews
1 location
$60 - $178
Alamo
Alamo
Very good 8 / 3 reviews
1 location
$57 - $230
SIXT
SIXT
Very good 8
1 location
Enterprise
Enterprise
Good 7.9 / 6 reviews
2 locations
$60 - $244
Budget
Budget
Good 7.9 / 3 reviews
1 location
$47 - $199
GreenMotion
GreenMotion
Good 7.8 / 8 reviews
1 location
$350 - $2073
National
National
Good 7.8
1 location
$63 - $256
Avis
Avis
Good 7.6 / 1 review
1 location
$50 - $214
Nordic Car Rental
Nordic Car Rental
Good 7.5
2 locations
Surprice
Surprice
Good 7.5
1 location
FairCar
FairCar
Good 7.2 / 27 reviews
2 locations
City Car Rental
City Car Rental
Satisfactory 6.3
1 location
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