Renting a automobile in Iceland provides you with extra flexibility than in case you journey by public transport or on an organised tour. You’ll be capable of cease when and the place you need, you gained’t be ready for others and you may journey rather more independently. You may create your individual itinerary (and alter it if circumstances dictate) and discover at your individual tempo.
With all that stated, there are numerous issues to concentrate on when renting a automobile in Iceland. This information covers quite a lot of points you’ll need to contemplate.
Plan forward!
Except for the blip of the pandemic which affected journey the world over, Iceland has been steadily hovering in reputation. Overseas in a single day guests greater than tripled from 672,773 in 2012 to greater than 2.3 million in 2018. In 2022, it’s anticipated to be over 1.6 million and should properly considerably exceed that determine given the worldwide curiosity generated by the newest volcanic eruption within the nation.
In brief, demand for vacationer providers stays excessive and it pays to plan forward, particularly with one thing like automobile rent, which tends to be booked a way prematurely, if you wish to get your first alternative of auto. Depart it too late and demand might imply you’ll end up paying a premium for an inferior automobile.
Driving license
Driving licenses issued within the USA, Canada, the European Financial Space (EEA), Australia and New Zealand are legitimate to be used in Iceland. In case your driving license is issued from someplace else, then you definately’ll have to verify that it has a license quantity, is printed in Latin characters (Roman alphabet), contains your {photograph} and has not expired.
If you’re unable to fulfil all of those necessities, you’ll be able to apply for an Worldwide Driving Allow which is a journey doc regulated by the United Nations. It’s basically a translation of your home driving license so carry that together with you additionally. If unsure, verify together with your automobile rental supplier that you’ve got the required documentation.
When you’re travelling with one other driver and plan on overlaying lengthy distances, it could be price contemplating including an extra driver. When you do that, you’ll want an acceptable license for that individual, too, in fact.
Bear in mind additionally that, though you’ll be able to drive from 17 years of age in Iceland, you have to be at the least 20 years previous to hire a automobile within the nation.
Kind of automobile
There are a selection of issues to think about when selecting what automobile to hire. It goes with out saying that you simply’ll need sufficient house for your self, any passengers and any baggage. However for Iceland you additionally actually must be interested by the place you’ll be exploring and at what time of 12 months.
A 4×4 is a well-liked possibility however small or medium automobiles might suffice if all you propose to do is journey round Reykjavik. For Iceland’s F-roads (mountain or highland roads that aren’t repeatedly maintained), a 4×4 automobile is important, regardless of the time of 12 months, and really helpful year-round for sure areas such because the West Fjords or northern areas.
Rental price
The price of your automobile rental will depend upon quite a lot of components: the kind of automobile, whenever you e-book, the time of 12 months you’re reserving for, the length of your rent interval and any extras you occur to decide on. Reserving prematurely will possible prevent some cash while reserving a automobile with computerized transmission will sometimes price you round 10% greater than the equal automobile with a guide transmission. July and August is peak season in Iceland so renting a automobile throughout this era will probably be dearer.
A Hyundai I10 from Icerental 4×4 can price you as little as 9,000 Icelandic krona per day (round 64 USD, 55 GBP or 64 euros at present change charges), while a Mercedes Benz Vito (that may carry as much as 9 passengers and is allowed on some F-roads) with platinum safety, an extra driver, on-board WiFi and a roof field, for every week in peak season however booked prematurely, will price you over 400,000 krona (round 2,800 USD, 2,400 GBP or 2,800 euros at present change charges).
Insurance coverage
Be sure that your automobile comes with all of the insurance coverage cowl you’d like. Third get together legal responsibility (TPL) and collision injury waiver (CDW) insurance coverage are a should and must be thought-about because the very minimal cowl. Keep in mind that driving in Iceland is not like driving in different international locations, and the roads and panorama current some extra dangers that you simply would possibly prefer to cowl for added peace of thoughts.
Particularly, you would possibly like to think about insuring towards injury brought on by sand and ash, in addition to gravel safety. At any time of the 12 months, however significantly within the interval from February to April, robust winds can throw up sand and ash which might trigger injury to your rental automobile, expecially on the south coast the place there are huge plains lined in particles. Equally, with lower than half of Iceland’s 8,000 miles of highway being paved, it’s not unusual for unfastened stones to strike your automobile, nonetheless rigorously you drive.
Insuring for injury incurred on highland roads – for instance, water injury from river crossings – can be price taking a look at in case you plan on driving any of Iceland’s F-roads. Theft insurance coverage is one other consideration, though fortunately thefts in Iceland are unusual. No matter degree of canopy you select, you will need to verify the phrases of your coverage so that you simply perceive your settlement and there are not any nasty surprises.
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Some ultimate suggestions
Whenever you hire a automobile, you have to be given a chunk of paper highlighting any current injury. Earlier than you depart, ensure that this tallies witn the automobile you’ve been given and, in case you see any dints or scrapes that haven’t been recorded, communicate to the rental firm earlier than you drive away. Examine the windscreen and tyres (together with the spare!), and just remember to’re driving away with a full tank of gas since that’s the way you’ll be anticipated to return it. A helpful tip is to take footage of your automobile, and even to shoot a brief video of it, earlier than you drive away.
It’s additionally necessary to not lose your rental settlement. It’s going to inform you what motion to take in case you have an issue together with your automobile, and can in all probability embody contact particulars for a breakdown help service do you have to want one.
Examine the small print, too. Are there any additional prices equivalent to airport pick-up costs, and one-way rental charges or mileage charges? I’d keep away from leases that restrict your mileage because the distances in Iceland might be important, and the worth distinction for limitless mileage is commonly negligible.
Lastly, go away loads of time when dropping the automobile again to the rental firm. They’ll have to verify the automobile over and offer you a ultimate assertion. They might additionally have to offer you a shuttle service to Keflavik airport as a few of the rental corporations are a brief drive away. And there could also be a number of different folks returning autos on the identical time. Don’t spoil your vacation by not permitting your self sufficient time to return your automobile and catch your flight.
See our prime suggestions for driving in Iceland additionally!
Planning a visit to Iceland your self? You may watch a video from our journey to Iceland right here:
Disclosure: This put up is sponsored by Icerental 4×4. Our journey to Iceland was additionally supported by Helly Hansen.
