Driving in Iceland

Driving in Iceland is different to what you are acustomed to so extra caution is needed while you enjoy the unique scenery which is the reason Thrifty Iceland Car Rental goes to great lengths to secure your safety. The roads, the weather, the nature, the road signs and law is in many cases very different to your home country. Please read carefully below informatoin when planning your car rental in Iceland or Iceland 4x4 rental.

Iceland seatbelts and daylight driving

Instructed by law seat belts should always be worn by the driver and all passengers (front and rear) when driving in Iceland and headlamps should be lit 24 hours a day while driving.

Iceland gravel roads

Iceland roads are total of 13 thousand km but only about 5000 km. are paved with asfalt. The majority is gravel roads which need special attention while driving. The roads are narrow and sometimes with one-lane bridges and occasionally sheeps and icelandic horses can cross the roads.

Iceland Ring Road and F-roads

The Ring Road (route 1), called by the locals Hringvegur, is narrow but mostly paved and easy to drive. When leaving the Ring for the F-roads to reach the Iceland highland you must have the correct vehicle, extra caution is needed and important to check if the road is open for driving. Some F-roads may be drivable only by larger 4x4.

Average opening times on popular F-roads in Icleand:

  • Lakagígar (F206) - Jun 12th.
  • Fjallabaksleið nyrðri (Landmannalaugar, Eldgjá) (F208) - Jun 12th
  • Landmannaleið, Landmannalaugar (F225) - Jun 15th
  • Kjölur (Hveravellir) (F35)  - Jun 11th
  • Sprengisandur (F26) - Jun 27th
  • Askja (F88) - Jun 20th
  • Kverkfjöll (F902) – Jun 19th
  • Uxahryggir (F52) – Jun 5th
  • Kaldidalur (F550) – Jun 13th

Iceland off-road driving

Even though you are driving 4x4 all off road driving, like driving off designated roads, is illegal in Iceland. The reason is that Iceland nature is very unique and fragile and minor damage to it can take years to recover or may never be recoverable.

Iceland road and weather conditions

The Icelandic Road Administration, Vegagerdin, offers information about open and closed roads and road conditions and can be called at 1777 or reached on the web. The Icelandic Met Office, Vedurstofan, offers Weather condition and forecast on the web. The mobile network covers large parts of Iceland but there can be blind spots in rural areas which should be taken into account if relied on as a safety device.

Additional useful safety information @ safetravel.is page

Unique Iceland road signs:

Road number and name.
Highland roads are marked with “F” in front of the road number.		 An unbridged river should never be crossed in a rental car. The driver is liable for any damages.
An unbridged river ahead. Insurance does not cover damage caused by crossing a river. The damage is the liability of the driver.		 Blind hilltop ahead.
Blind hill ahead on a narrow road so slow down and keep right.
Single-lane bridge ahead. Slow down.
One-lane bridge in front. Drive slowly and watch for coming traffic.		 The speed limit in urban areas is 50 km/h unless indicated otherwise. In rural areas the limit is 90 km/h on paved roads and
In urban areas the speed limit is 50 km/h unless indicated otherwise and the limit in rural areas is 90 km/h on paved roads but only 80 km/h on gravel roads.		 Domestic animals may cause
Sheeps and horses may cause hazard by crossing the road suddenly.
Unpaved gravel road ahead. Slow down.
Gravel road in front. Drive slowly.		 This road is closed.
Closed road		 Road passable only by large 4x4 vehicles, with sufficient ground clearance
Road only for large 4x4 jeeps, with high ground clearance.
Road number and name.
Icelandic road sign with road number and road name.		 In case of emergency
National emergency
number 112.		  

Before driving in Iceland we recommend watching How to drive in Iceland videos

Car rental Iceland Thrifty pick up locations

 

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The Small print

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