A car is the easiest way to see Iceland at your own pace. Stop when the light is good, have lunch where you like, and sleep in when you feel like it. These are the four Icelandic rental companies that give Stuck in Iceland readers a discount. I only work with companies I would rent from myself.
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Car rental discounts for my readers
Go Car Rental
5% off
No code needed. The discount is added when you book through my link.
Konvin Car Rental
10% off
The code comes by email when you join my free newsletter.
Prices, insurance and terms change, so check them with the company before you pay. If a discount doesn’t show at checkout, contact the company before you book.
Which company suits you?
Go Car Rental
A Reykjavík company, sister to Go Campers. A good range of cars from small city cars to 4x4s, and straightforward booking.
Lava Car Rental
A family-run company close to Keflavík Airport. Handy if you want to collect the car when you land.
Europcar Iceland (Höldur)
One of the oldest rental companies in Iceland, with offices around the country. A safe choice if you want to pick up or drop off outside Reykjavík.
Konvin Car Rental
A newer company with keen prices on cars and camper vans. Worth comparing if your budget is tight.
Want to compare more companies?
Travel to Iceland lists over 200 rental cars from different companies in one search. There’s no reader code there, but it’s a quick way to compare prices before you use one of the discounts above. Compare rental cars · See their current sales
2WD or 4×4?
It depends on where you’re going and when.
| Your trip | What to rent |
|---|---|
| Summer, Ring Road, Golden Circle, South Coast | A small 2WD car is fine. |
| Summer, Highlands or F-roads | A 4×4. F-roads are closed to 2WD cars by law. |
| Winter, roughly November to March | A 4×4 with winter tyres. More grip and clearance when snow and ice come. |
| You want to save on hotels in summer | A camper van. See my camper van discounts. |
Car rental insurance, in plain words
Most rentals come with basic collision cover (CDW), but you still pay the first part of any damage, the excess. These are the extras people usually ask about:
- Gravel protection: covers chips from stones thrown up by other cars. Worth having, as many roads have gravel shoulders or stretches.
- Sand and ash protection: covers paint damage in sandstorms. Most useful on the South Coast and in the Highlands.
- Theft protection: often included. Car theft is rare in Iceland.
What insurance usually does not cover: river crossings, driving off marked roads, damage under the car, and car doors blown open by the wind. Park facing into the wind and hold the door with both hands. Every company’s terms are different, so read them before you book and ask the company if anything is unclear.
Before you book, read my list of the 10 mistakes that cost people money when renting a car in Iceland.
F-roads and the Highlands
Roads marked with an F go into the Highlands. They are gravel tracks, often with rivers to cross and no bridges. They open roughly from late June to September, depending on snow. You need a 4×4, and rental insurance rarely covers river crossings. Check umferdin.is before you head out. If in doubt, take a Highland bus or a tour instead.
Fuel and paying
- Most pumps outside towns are self-service and need a card with a PIN. Know your PIN before you travel.
- A prepaid fuel card from a station shop is a good backup if your card is refused.
- Fill up when you’re down to half a tank. Stations are far apart in the east and the north.
More in my guide on how to pay for things in Iceland.
Driving rules worth knowing
- Headlights on at all times, day and night.
- Speed limits are 50 km/h in towns, 80 on gravel and 90 on paved roads. Speed cameras are common and fines are steep.
- Never drive off marked roads. It damages the moss for decades and the fines are heavy.
- On single-lane bridges, whoever gets there first goes first.
- Never stop on the road for a photo. Use the pull-outs.
- Watch for sheep on the road in summer.
- Zero tolerance for alcohol. Don’t drink and drive.
Plan your route, and take it slow
Iceland is bigger than it looks. The Ring Road is about 1,322 km, and ten days is a relaxed pace. With less time, pick one region and enjoy it properly. You’re on holiday, so sleep in, stop for coffee and don’t try to see everything. My free road trip plans, each with an interactive map, are here:
Every morning before you drive
Check the weather at vedur.is, the roads at umferdin.is and any alerts at safetravel.is. In an emergency, call 112. My safety guide has the rest.
Car rental in Iceland: questions I get asked
How do the reader discounts work?
For Go Car Rental and Lava Car Rental, book through my link and the discount is added for you. For Europcar Iceland, enter the code STUCK10 when you book. The Konvin code comes by email when you join my free newsletter. If a discount doesn’t show at checkout, contact the company before you pay.
Do I need a 4×4 in Iceland?
Not in summer if you stay on the Ring Road and paved main roads. You need a 4×4 for the F-roads in the Highlands, and I recommend one with winter tyres from roughly November to March.
Which insurance should I get?
Basic collision cover is usually included. Gravel protection is worth having, and sand and ash protection helps on the South Coast and in the Highlands. Terms differ between companies, so read them before you book.
Can I drive a rental car on F-roads?
Only in a 4×4, and only when the roads are open, roughly late June to September. Most rental insurance does not cover river crossings, so check the terms first.
How old do I have to be to rent a car in Iceland?
Most companies rent small cars to drivers from 20 years old, and some cars need you to be older. Check the age rules with the company when you book.
Can I pay for fuel with my card?
Yes, if it has a PIN. Most countryside pumps are self-service and ask for one. A prepaid fuel card from a station shop is a good backup.
Should I book my rental car early?
For summer, yes. Cars, especially automatics and 4x4s, sell out and prices rise closer to the date. In winter there is usually more choice.
Ready to book?
Pick the car that suits your trip, use one of the discounts above, and join my free newsletter for the Konvin code and discounts on tours, hot springs and more. Back to the discounts