Is it worth hiring a car in Iceland?
Iceland has a reputation for being a very expensive country to visit, however hiring a car doesn't have to break the bank. Relative to other travel costs such as hotels and public transport, hiring a car in Iceland represents great value. Prices starting from around £15 per day for an economy class rental car in Iceland, there's no reason not to get behind the wheel and take to the roads in Iceland in a hire car. Local car rental agents offer great value, whilst leading international car hire companies such as
Hertz,
Europcar and
Avis are all well represented in Iceland with offices at the main airports and town centre location.
Most people collect car hire in Iceland from:
Other car hire locations in Iceland:
- Akureyri
- Egilsstadir Airport
- Hofn Airport
- Isafjordur Airport
- Keflavik Airport
- Reykjavik
- Reykjavik Airport
- Saudarkrokur Airport
- Vestmannaeyjar Airport
Iceland Mini Guide
Iceland is a huge mountainous island located in the North Atlantic Ocean which is famous for its stunning countryside and fun-loving people. However, recently the global crisis has sent Iceland’s economy crashing down, meaning that this notoriously expensive country may now become more affordable to visit. The international airport is Keflavik, situated in the southwest of the country about 40 kilometres from Iceland’s capital city Reykjavík.
Car rental is the most flexible way to see as much as possible of Iceland and you may want to think about hiring a four wheel drive such as a Land Rover or Jeep and get off the beaten track. It is important to make your car rental reservation well in advance if you want to be sure of getting the right type of vehicle for your holiday and potentially get it fitted out with special snow tyres. Driving in Iceland is on the right side of the road and headlights must be used at all times, while the wearing of seat belts is also compulsory.
It is very important to know what the road signs in Iceland mean as these will help you deal with challenging conditions. A popular sign outside of the city is 'Malbik Endar' which literally means 'end of paved road'. This indicates that the surfaced road ends and a gravel track starts, the sign shows a picture of a car with gravel to indicate this and you should slow down to an appropriate speed for the conditions. You should take particular care if you plan to cross any rivers or drive along mountain roads as there will be steep falls if you stray from the path.
Keep a credit card on you as this is the quickest way of paying for petrol and bear in mind that there can be massive distances between petrol stations so you should keep stocked up. Petrol costs are approximately ISK170 per litre. Similarly it is very important to plan your route ahead in case of any inclement weather. This means it is a good idea to carry food and water with you and know where the nearest accommodation is at all times in case you need to stop.
The Icelandic meteorological office is a good place to check what conditions you may have to drive in before setting out on your journey. Due to the wet conditions making many impassable, the majority of mountain roads remain closed under June or even later. The route one ring road is the only highway in Iceland and it covers the entire country.