Renting a automotive in Iceland provides you with extra flexibility than when 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 way more independently. You’ll be able to create your personal itinerary (and alter it if circumstances dictate) and discover at your personal tempo.
With all that mentioned, there are various issues to concentrate on when renting a automotive in Iceland. This information covers various points you’ll need to contemplate.
Plan forward!
Apart from the blip of the pandemic which affected journey the world over, Iceland has been steadily hovering in recognition. International 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 nicely considerably exceed that determine given the worldwide curiosity generated by the newest volcanic eruption within the nation.
Briefly, demand for vacationer providers stays excessive and it pays to plan forward, particularly with one thing like automotive rent, which tends to be booked a way prematurely, if you wish to get your first alternative of car. Depart it too late and demand might imply you’ll end up paying a premium for an inferior automotive.
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 some other place, then you definately’ll have to examine that it has a license quantity, is printed in Latin characters (Roman alphabet), consists of your {photograph} and has not expired.
In case you are unable to fulfil all of those necessities, you may apply for an Worldwide Driving Allow which is a journey doc regulated by the United Nations. It’s primarily a translation of your home driving license so carry that together with you additionally. If doubtful, examine along with your automotive rental supplier that you’ve the required documentation.
For those who’re travelling with one other driver and plan on masking lengthy distances, it is perhaps price contemplating including an extra driver. For those who do that, you’ll want an applicable license for that particular person, too, in fact.
Bear in mind additionally that, though you may drive from 17 years of age in Iceland, you should be at the very least 20 years previous to hire a automotive within the nation.
Sort of automotive
There are a selection of issues to think about when selecting what automotive to hire. It goes with out saying that you simply’ll need sufficient area for your self, any passengers and any baggage. However for Iceland you additionally actually must be fascinated with the place you’ll be exploring and at what time of yr.
A 4×4 is a well-liked choice however small or medium automobiles might suffice if all you intend to do is journey round Reykjavik. For Iceland’s F-roads (mountain or highland roads that aren’t often maintained), a 4×4 automobile is important, regardless of the time of yr, and really useful year-round for sure areas such because the West Fjords or northern areas.
Rental price
The price of your automotive rental will rely upon various components: the kind of automobile, if you guide, the time of yr 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 automated transmission will sometimes price you round 10% greater than the equal automotive with a handbook transmission. July and August is peak season in Iceland so renting a automotive throughout this era will likely 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 alternate 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 alternate charges).
Insurance coverage
Be sure that your automotive comes with all of the insurance coverage cowl you’d like. Third celebration legal responsibility (TPL) and collision harm waiver (CDW) insurance coverage are a should and needs to be thought-about because the very minimal cowl. Keep in mind that driving in Iceland is in contrast to driving in different nations, and the roads and panorama current some further dangers that you simply would possibly wish to cowl for added peace of thoughts.
Particularly, you would possibly like to think about insuring towards harm brought on by sand and ash, in addition to gravel safety. At any time of the yr, however notably within the interval from February to April, robust winds can throw up sand and ash which might trigger harm to your rental automotive, 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 fastidiously you drive.
Insuring for harm incurred on highland roads – for instance, water harm from river crossings – can be price when 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, it is very important examine the phrases of your coverage so that you simply perceive your settlement and there aren’t any nasty surprises.
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Some ultimate ideas
While you hire a automotive, you have to be given a bit of paper highlighting any present harm. Earlier than you depart, ensure this tallies witn the automotive you’ve been given and, when you see any dints or scrapes that haven’t been recorded, communicate to the rental firm earlier than you drive away. Verify 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 photos of your automotive, and even to shoot a brief video of it, earlier than you drive away.
It’s additionally vital to not lose your rental settlement. It is going to let you know what motion to take in case you have an issue along with your automotive, and can most likely embrace contact particulars for a breakdown help service must you want one.
Verify the small print, too. Are there any further prices resembling airport pick-up prices, and one-way rental charges or mileage charges? I might keep away from leases that restrict your mileage because the distances in Iceland might be vital, and the value distinction for limitless mileage is commonly negligible.
Lastly, go away loads of time when dropping the automotive again to the rental firm. They’ll have to examine the automotive over and give you a ultimate assertion. They might additionally have to give you a shuttle service to Keflavik airport as a number of the rental firms are a brief drive away. And there could also be numerous different folks returning autos on the similar time. Don’t spoil your vacation by not permitting your self ample time to return your automotive and catch your flight.
See our prime ideas for driving in Iceland additionally!
Planning a visit to Iceland your self? You’ll be able to watch a video from our journey to Iceland right here:
Disclosure: This submit is sponsored by Icerental 4×4. Our journey to Iceland was additionally supported by Helly Hansen.
