Driving In Iceland
There are really a million different rental companies in Iceland, but we used Iceland 4X4 through Northbound, which had amazing service and was extremely inexpensive compared to most other companies (my biggest concern).
I had a strict checklist of items I required for the car including being a 4-wheel drive, having cooking equipment and sleeping bags. However, if you are only doing the Ring Road and don't plan on going off to other F roads, you can easily get around using a 2-wheel drive. After tons of research we got this beauty:
The F Roads
There are several F roads that are not accessible during the majority of the year due to heavy snow and ice. Make sure to check prior to your trip to see what F Roads are open and closed. You can check them here.
The main F Roads are:
- F1
- F49
- F209
Rental Companies
Most of the rental companies we came across offered similar perks and features for their cars. Since Iceland is so accustom to tourists, you should be fine with really any rental company as long as it fits your needs for vehicle type and transmission. Some companies that were commonly used where:
Happy Campers
- Perfect for anyone planning to stay on paved F Roads that don't need a 4x4 vehicle.
Northbound
Decent options of cars and good prices.
Road Side Emergencies
Ask your rental company before you leave for an emergency contact number in case you need anything. This might be your best bet if you get into car trouble or generally any road side emergency.
Flat Tires
- You might be waiting for hours and days if you are looking for road side assistance in Iceland. Make sure you have a spare tire and at least learn the basics for changing a tire prior to the trip if you are concerned about getting a flat.
Wind
- There can be powerful gusts that come out of no where, so always make sure you shut your doors when you get out of the car. The wind is so strong it will bend your door frame!
Rules of the Road
Signs
- The road signs in Iceland are very different than what we are used to in the United States. To the right are some of the most important signs you will see.
Passing
- Passing is very common because most of the roads are one lane highways.
Animals
- Be careful of the sheep on the road, they will not move for you. You can be driving and suddenly a sheep will decide to hang out in the middle of the two lane highway.
