Latest / Explore Iceland Travel Podcast / E.10: Renting a Car and Driving in Iceland - Essential Tips for an Amazing Road Trip
Transcript
- Monika: Welcome to Explore Iceland Travel Podcast. If you're thinking of visiting Iceland or planning your next adventure there, you're in the right place. I'm Monica the creator of Plan Pack Explore, a travel blog where I help readers plan unforgettable trips to Europe. and I'm here to inspire you to travel to Iceland. And to plan your trip in a fun, stress free way. I'll share all the must know details about places to see, both the iconic landmarks and some hidden gems, proven itineraries tested by me and my family. and practical trip planning tips based on my own experiences and mistakes we made while exploring this incredible country. I'll cover everything I wish I had known before our first trip and things I've learned from all the trips that follow. And I'm not done yet. Think of it as travel advice from tourist to tourist. Honest, helpful, firsthand insights designed to make planning your Iceland adventure much easier and much more enjoyable. Tune in and let's explore Iceland together. If you're planning to rent a car and drive in Iceland, this episode is for you. Choosing the right rental car can make a big difference to your trip. You don't want to spend extra money on a vehicle you don't need, but at the same time you don't want to arrive in Iceland and realize that your rental car isn't suitable for the places that you planned to visit. So what kind of car do you actually need? Do you need a four by four? Is a regular two wheel drive car enough? What about driving on unpaved roads? I'll answer all those questions for you today. And once you've chosen your rental car, there are a few things you should know before getting behind the wheel. Iceland is an incredible country for a road trip, but the roads, the weather, and driving conditions can be very different from what you're used to at home. so today we'll talk about both. renting the right car for your trip and driving in Iceland. And by the end of this episode you should feel much more confident about planning your Iceland road trip. So let's get started. First a big question do you need a car in Iceland? The answer really depends on how you want to travel. You can absolutely visit Iceland without driving. There are plenty of guided tours from Reykjavik and if you're not comfortable driving especially in the winter that can be a great option. But if you want flexibility, especially in the summertime when the weather is nice, having your own car is hard to beat. One of the things I love most about road tripping in Iceland is that the drive itself is part of the experience. You're not just driving from one attraction to the other. You see things. You see mountains, waterfall, glaciers, lava fields, black sand beaches, an incredible coastline right from the road. And having your own car. means that you can travel at your own pace and see things according to your own schedule. You can stop when you see something interesting, spend longer at your favorite places, or change your plans easily if the weather doesn't cooperate. So if you're planning to explore beyond the city of Reykjavik, renting a car can give you a lot more freedom. But before you book your rental, Cara, let's talk about how to choose the right one. So the biggest mistake in my opinion you can make when choosing the rental car is deciding on the car before you actually planned your trip. I recommend doing this the other way around. Start with where you want to go. Are you planning just a short trip around Reykjavik, the Golden Circle and the South Coast? Are you driving the entire ring road but sticking to the paved roads? Are you thinking of visiting the West Fjords or are you hoping to drive into the Iceland's highlands? The answers to these questions will help determine what kind of vehicle you actually need. For many first-time visitors who are sticking to Iceland's most popular destinations, especially in the summer, and sticking to the paved roads, a regular two-wheel drive car can be perfectly adequate. The ring road and many of the roads leading to popular attractions are paved and generally very easy to drive. But that doesn't mean a four by four is never useful. A larger vehicle can give you more confidence and flexibility, particularly if you're traveling in the winter or visiting areas with rougher roads, or planning to drive on roads that require a four wheel drive vehicle like the Highlands. So, when is a regular two wheel drive car enough? If you're visiting Iceland in the summer and planning to stick mainly to the popular destinations and major roads, that may be all you need. A two wheel drive car worked very well for us during our first trip when we visited the Reykjavik and the surrounding areas, the Golden Circle, Snefelsness Peninsula, and some of the south coast. The same goes for the ring road and many popular, easy accessible stops In North Iceland or the East Fjords. Of course, there can always be exceptions. Some individual attractions may involve driving or gravel access roads, and while not required, a bigger 4x4 car may be recommended. So it's always important to check your route in advance and then decide. Choosing a smaller car can also save you money on both the rental car and the fuel. So if your itinerary doesn't require a four by four, there is no reason to rent one. Now let's talk about when upgrading to a four by four vehicle makes sense. The most obvious reason is if your itinerary includes F-roads. F-roads are rough, unpaid, usually gravel mountain roads, primarily found in the highlands in Iceland. The interior, more remote. but absolutely stunning part of Iceland. They are much rougher than regular roads. They often have potholes, uneven surfaces, and in some cases require river crossings. You need a vehicle that is specifically approved for the roads you plan to drive. And this is really important. Not every four by four vehicle is suitable or approved for every F-road or river crossings. So before you head into the highlands, always check with your rental company and make sure your vehicle is allowed on the roads you want to drive. For example, they are 4x4 hybrid SUVs that are fine on F-roads and approved on F-roads but are not allowed in the water. we had a four wheel drive Toyota 4 during our second trip. ended absolutely fine driving in the highlands on road F thirty five through Carolingar Fjall and Road F two eight, the easier northern portion of it, leading to Lan Manalaugar. And I'll cover visiting the highlands in a separate episode in detail. But we knew we weren't allowed to cross any rivers, so we made sure to choose our routes carefully and we parked right before the river crossing in Lan Manalaugar. just a note, you don't ever want to drive a hybrid vehicle through the water. I did see what can happen when you attempt to cross the river and the hybrid. We came across a Toyota Rafour stuck in the middle of a pretty good sized river that we were crossing in a super jeep driven by an experienced tour guide when we went to visit the Lucky Craters area in the Highlands. So that's another tip from me. Please know your limits as far as your experience and driving skills. even though you may have a river crossing F-road approved vehicle, if you've never done it, start small. Don't go through the big rivers because that's always more challenging. Of course, have an adventure, but be responsible. If you need to be towed and rescued from that situation, it can be very costly, and we'll talk about insurance in a little bit. A 4x4 vehicle can also be a really good choice if you're visiting in the winter. It doesn't magically make winter driving easy and it doesn't replace experience or careful driving. But the additional stability in ground clearance can be helpful when conditions are challenging. And finally, A larger vehicle can simply be more comfortable if you're traveling with several people or a lot of luggage. Also, just as a side note, I have not visited the West Fjords yet, but I know that a lot of improvements have been made To their previously mostly unpaved roads in that area. But some car rental companies still require you to have a four-wheel drive vehicle to go there. So that's something to consider as well and always check with the rental company. What else should you consider? Well, you should consider how many people are traveling and how much luggage you will have. Please don't forget about luggage space. This is something that can easily get overlooked. read the car description carefully. It usually specifies how many suitcases and what size suitcases the trunk will hold. That's what we missed during our first trip and ended up with bags in our laps because they didn't all fit in the trunk. Luckily we stayed in one place for the entire trip, just doing day trips. So it was only the ride from and to the airport that we had bags in our laps. but please make sure to check the tram capacity. And remember that Iceland road trips often involve spending a lot of time in the car. So if you're planning long drives and changing hotels frequently, A larger car may make sense and just be worth a little bit of an extra expense. Another thing to consider is the type of transmission. Manual cars are still common in Europe and they are still common in Iceland and are often much less expensive to rent. But if you are not comfortable driving a manual car, or a stick shift as we call it, and if you've never driven one, I wouldn't choose Iceland as the place to practice. between unfamiliar roads, changing weather, There is already enough to think about. if you normally drive an automatic car, I would book an automatic car. Now let's talk about insurance. I recommend always taking out full insurance in Iceland from the car rental company in Iceland. You want coverage for every possible scenario, as damaging a car actually is a lot easier in Iceland than in other parts of Europe. There is ash, sand, and gravel hitting your car on windy days or just due to road construction or simply the road surface you're on. There are strong winds, animals on the road, bumpy roads, and like everywhere, other drivers That may not follow the rules. many insurance packages also include roadside assistance. Help if you get locked out of your vehicle or have a flat tire. I always book full insurance package with my rental company for a peace of mind, and I recommend, highly recommend you do the same. The prices and level of coverage differ. between rental companies, so always read the fine print and include that quote when comparing the total price for your rental. and a few other tips. Consider also where the pickup of your rental car is located. Can you walk from the airport or is there a shuttle? How long is the drive from the airport to the pickup location? And how often does the shuttle run? That may impact how you schedule your arrival and your departure day. Also try to book early for the early booking discount. Many companies do offer that. The earlier you book, the better price you will get. And also the better choice of a vehicle you will have. And also check the cancellation policy. a lot of car rental companies offer really convenient. 24 hour cancellation policy, So that's really good if your travel plans change. So now you've planned your itinerary, you've chosen the right size vehicle and picked the type of car that makes sense for your trip. So let's talk about what it actually is like to drive in Iceland. The good news is that I personally find driving in Iceland to be one of the most enjoyable driving experiences. The roads are usually quiet, no traffic, the scenery is incredible and you have the freedom to explore at your own pace. And I've said that before. Iceland is the only country when I can drive for hours. And I mean for hours without getting tired. But there are definitely a few things you should know before you start your road trip. What are the roads like in Iceland? In general, you'll encounter three main types of roads. The first is paved roads. That includes the ring road or route one, which is the main road that circles the perimeter of the country. And there are also many other major roads leading to popular destinations, like the roads along Snefflesness Peninsula, the roads in the Eastfjords. those are typically straightforward to drive. just to note the ring road is just one lane in each direction and not much shoulder. So do not expect the highway. it is a really comfortable road to drive but it's not very wide and it's not multi lane. The second type is gravel roads. that includes the roads usually leading to some attractions like waterfalls and canyons. They are unpaved but still relatively easy to drive. Some are more bumpy than others and while they are not marked as F roads, that's where not only a four by four but simply just a larger, higher vehicle will work much better. For example, I drove to Haifoss Waterfall in Thorstar Dalor Valley, that's a hard one to say. in a four by four Kia sportage for the first time. And then I drove the same road in a four by four camper van. And the ride was so much easier in the camper, it had bigger tires, was higher off the ground, and as my kids like to say, we were able to glide over the potholes. as there are many on that road. So it'll just make your drive more pleasant and easier. But if you have a smaller car, just respect your vehicle and drive slow. And then there are F-roads. They are a completely different category of roads. As I mentioned earlier, F-roads are mountain roads mostly in the highlands. And that doesn't mean that they're all steep and winding mountain roads. They're not. But they can be rough and a bit challenging and they do require a suitable four by four vehicle. some roads, like I said, might also include river crossing, and you need a special approved vehicle for that. a lot of times you have cars that are approved for F-roads, but not for river crossing. So please again make sure you really read the fine print. And if you're not sure, just reach out to your car rental company to double check. And if you're planning to drive on F roads, please also check with your rental company for exclusions. Some companies still exclude some of the most challenging F roads in your rental contract. You're allowed on most but not on those. F roads are not all equal. So just please double check that. Now let's go over some basics of driving in Iceland. So in Iceland, you drive on the right side of the road. speed limits are posted in kilometers per hour, not miles. and one thing you should always remember that the speed limit is a maximum, not a target. Just because the posted limit is ninety kilometers per hour on a paved road, that doesn't mean that it's always safe to drive ninety kilometers per hour on that road. If the road is wet, icy, or if it's really windy outside, you may need to slow down considerably. the standard speed limits, unless specified otherwise, are generally 90 kilometers per hour on paved roads, 80 kilometers per hour on gravel roads, and 50 kilometers per hour in urban areas. The speed limit is not a suggestion. Speeding in Iceland is taken very seriously. And their speed cameras posted often and their fines are hefty, so don't speed. Plus who would want to miss all that amazing scenery by driving right by anyway, right? So give yourself plenty of time. also one of the biggest mistakes you can make when planning an Iceland road trip is assuming that Google Maps driving times but they don't account for stopping to take photos. stopping for a coffee, stopping for sheep wandering across the road, for changing weather conditions and road conditions. So always build some extra time into your itinerary. Plus, Google Maps driving times usually assume the maximum driving speed, which is not always what you will be driving. And also always check the road status and the weather forecast before you head out. Every day in any season. And a few times a day if the weather seems to be challenging that day. I will link the official websites in the show notes. Please use them, they are very accurate. Do not check the weather in Iceland on your phone app. It will not give you the information that you need. So always use the official websites and again you'll find them in the show notes. Here is some tips and some do's and don'ts for driving in Iceland. Do not stop in the middle of the road to take a photo. I completely understand the temptation, ascending landscapes are incredible. but don't stop on the road. like I mentioned, most roads do not have a shoulder or breakdown lane. So look for a designated pullout area, a little patch of gravel on the side of the road and make sure you're completely off the road, not blocking anyone before you stop. Also, sheep and other animals have the right of way. Always, no exception. Sheep are one of the Iceland's most common and most adorable road hazards, but we also had a whole group of Icelandic horses block traffic during my most recent trip and that was also an amazing sight to see. But sheep You will see them everywhere and they don't always seem particularly concerned about the traffic. You might see them standing peacefully on the side of the road and then suddenly decide that this is a perfect moment to cross. So stay alert and drive slowly. And while you may be tempted to honk, it's usually better to just be patient and wait for them to cross. This is Iceland. The sheep are in charge. Another thing you will most likely encounter during your road trip are single lane bridges. they are exactly what they sound like, bridges that are only wide enough for one vehicle at the time. The general rule is that the vehicle that arrives at the bridge first has the right of way. And they're signposted way ahead so you will know one is coming up, so just make sure you slow down when you're approaching. if another vehicle is already on the bridge, you just wait. And if there are cars waiting on both sides, just take turns. Most of these bridges are really easy to navigate because you can see clearly across them. They are relatively short, but it's still something to be aware of, especially if you've never encountered one before. The only one that I found challenging is the one by the famous Diamond Beach and your Kool Sarlon Glacier Lagoon. Just because it's a very long single-lane bridge. And sometimes it can be hard to see what's happening at the other end. But just take it slow and pay attention and you will be fine. the other thing to consider when iceland is the wind. strong winds can be very challenging and it doesn't just affect you when you're driving. it's usually not the wind, it's the gusts, but it can also affect you when you stop, when you open the car door. Hold on to the door. many cars have stickers on the doors reminding you to park into the wind and hold on to the door Because a strong gas can catch the door and fling it open suddenly before you catch it with a lot more force than you may expect. It can damage the door and potentially leave you with an expensive repair bill depending on which insurance package you chose for your rental car. So this is just a piece of advice for me, park into the wind and hold on to the door. And a few other rules worth remembering. Keep your headlights on while driving. Please don't assume they will be set to auto or on when you pick up your rental car. Because they were usually set for us. I didn't check and just assume they'll be on when I picked up my camper recently. And guess what? I only had fog lights on for the first couple of days. The weather was great and I realized soon enough, but learn from my mistake and check every time while you're still in the parking lot of your rental car company. also everyone in the vehicle should wear a seatbelt. That's mandatory. And don't use your phone while driving. It needs to be hands-free. Also, if you're visiting from the US, remember you cannot make a right turn on the red light in Iceland, like we do that at home. And Iceland has very strict laws when it comes to driving under the influence. just simply if you're driving, don't have a drink. and one little quirky rule. The inside lane has the right of way at the rotaries. I know it sounds counterintuitive, but that's the rule. The inside lane on the rotaries has the right of way when exiting the rotary. So pay attention as it may be a little strange at first. Now let's talk about fuel. please don't wait until you're almost empty to look for a gas station. Gas stations can be far apart once you get outside of the larger towns. So there is an unspoken rule in Iceland. Do not let your gas gauge go below half. When you're about half, start looking for a gas station and fill up. some gas stations are staffed and have stores and restrooms and foods and drink and others are unmanned. at the unmanned stations you may need to use a card with a pen. So make sure you have that. But I also found that Apple Pay works really great and there were just a few gas stations where I actually had to insert a credit card. also a tip Use the discount tag that typically comes with your rental car. Scan it before you pump your fuel. it'll give you some savings and all these little savings do add up. we even got free coffee coupons from our rental car company recently, which I really enjoyed. I love Isunde coffee and even at the gas stations you can get a pretty amazing cup of coffee. another tip. Credit cards will put a hold when you choose the option to fill up at the gas station. what that means is they will just put a hold for a specific amount of money on your credit card and once you pump the gas and the proper amount is charged the hold will come off. But it does take a few days. So if you don't want to have that extra potential expense because it's not really an expense but it is a hold. Just choose the amount of money not gas volume. I know it's confusing. You choose how much you want to pay for your gas, not how many liters of gas you want to put in your car to avoid it. And then if you didn't get enough, you just repeat the same process again. So if you don't wanna deal with the hold, just don't choose an option to fill up. Now we already talked a little bit about Google Maps. I'm just gonna add beyond the drive times, don't trust the routes that Google Maps will give you blindly. I do use Google Maps in Iceland and it's very useful and it usually gets me exactly where I need to get. But Sometimes it will try to take you on an F-road or a mountain pass that you don't really want to be on. So, for example, to get from Reykjavik or the Golden Circle area to La Manalarga, you can take the route that we took, the F two eight from the north. You can also take an F-Road 225, which usually is what Google Maps recommend. And that one includes river crossing, which you will not find that little note on Google Maps. Also, if you're driving on the east coast from Agilstadir to Hafen, you can take Route One, which will take a little bit longer, but it's a paved safe road, or Google Maps will try to shorten your drive time and it is a significant time savings. It's about forty five minutes, but it will try to send you through what's called the Oxy Pass, which is a pretty steep windy mountain pass. so just make sure you look at your navigation. I almost ended up on Oxy Pass because I did not pay attention, but luckily I realized soon enough so we just turned around and drove the scenic East Fjords route on Route 1. So just make sure you know exactly which roads you want to be before you follow your navigation. and also this is something that I learned from experience and mistakes. Make sure you put all of your planned stops into your navigation ahead of time. Otherwise you may drive by some things like we did because I forgot or and I just didn't put them in the navigation and that's how we missed Kirk Golf and Hofskirkia on the south coast. we just drove right by and it was too far to backtrack when I realized that. So after that fiasco, I have since returned to Iceland and I've seen those places, but I've learned to either put all my stops for the routes ahead of time, or I will make detailed notes of what I want to see and just check those a few times a day and keep adding to my navigation. another thing to consider is parking. Many popular attractions now charge a parking fee. And depending on the location, you can pay through a parka app or an easy park app, or there is a pay kiosk or a QR code to scan. So always check when you arrive and pay your parking fees right away. Otherwise, you may incur a fine and then additional penalty from the car rental company, and those can also add up. There is also one toll road in the entire Iceland as of now and that's the Vatla Haiti Tunnel. it's near Akareri. If you're going from Akareri to Diamond Circle or Lake Mevatan area, you're going to take that tunnel. So if that's part of your route, just make sure you pay. You have twenty four hours to pay after crossing. Or you can prepay online if you know you're going to go there. either way, just make sure that gets paid so you can avoid the penalty. and then another really important piece of advice: please pay attention to weather warnings. weather can change your driving plans significantly. I've already mentioned checking the weather and the road conditions daily, but I'll say it again, this is probably one of the most important things to remember. as you can start your day with sunshine or calm weather, and then find yourself driving through the rain or fog or strong winds. If they are road closures or weather warnings, please take them seriously. They are not issued lightly in Iceland. It may mean changing your itinerary or skipping a destination or staying where you are for longer than you planned. And I know it can be frustrating when you have limited time in Iceland, but it's for safety and like I said, weather warnings are not issued lightly in Iceland, you will usually get an email from car rental company when one is issued with detailed explanations what cars are safe to drive or if any cars are safe to drive, because there are different levels of weather warnings and what activities are and aren't safe. For example, we had a yellow wind warning for a couple of days during one of our trips and I was allowed to drive as I just had a smokey esportage. So not a vehicle that takes on wind like bigger trucks and camper vans. But driving was still challenging and sometimes nerve-wracking. those wind gusts are no joke. So definitely pay attention. if you're allowed to drive, drive safely. And if you have a vehicle that is not safe on the road during the wind warning, please stay put. Now let's talk about driving in the winter. Roads can be icy or covered with snow. weather conditions can change even more suddenly during during the summer. And also daylight is very limited and outside of major towns many roads aren't lit. So if you're comfortable and experienced driving in the winter conditions, you can absolutely have an incredible Iceland road trip. but if you've never driven on snow or ice before, A guided tour can be a great alternative and a much safer experience and probably less stressful. So if you do decide to drive, choose a vehicle that's appropriate and makes sense for the season and keep your plans flexible as you may need to change them. So after all these rules and warnings and practical tips, I wanna end with something positive. Driving in Iceland is amazing. Yes, you need to pay attention to the weather. Yes, you need to choose the right car, and yes you might occasionally have to wait for sheep to move off the road. But the freedom of having your own car is incredible. And the best thing about driving in Iceland for me, there is usually no traffic. With all the visitors and all the over tourism that is being talked about. there's generally no traffic and the further out you get from the most popular areas, the fewer cars on the road you will see and on some roads we were just alone. which was amazing. So I hope this episode helped you feel at least a little more confident about renting a car and driving in Iceland. If you want more detailed information about choosing the right rental car, as well as more practical tips for driving in Iceland. I've linked both of my complete guides, one about renting the car and the other one about driving in Iceland. In the show notes you'll get the road signs and more detailed explanations and recommendations for things that are good to have in the car when you're driving. a lot more than we've already covered in this episode. As always, feel free to reach out with any questions. And I will see you in the next episode.