If you are renting a car for your trip to Iceland, here is a straightforward way to keep some money in your pocket. Go Car Rental is one of my trusted partners, and readers of Stuck in Iceland get 5% off every booking. No code to remember, no forms to fill out — you just book through my link, and the discount is applied automatically.
Go Car Rental is a locally owned Icelandic company with offices by Keflavík Airport and in Reykjavík. Their fleet runs from small city cars to proper highland-ready 4x4s, so whether you are a couple doing the Golden Circle or a family of seven circling the Ring Road, there is a sensible option for you. I have gone through their entire fleet below and added my honest advice on which car suits which kind of trip.
One more thing before we get to the cars: if you are renting for more than a week, Go Car Rental gives long-term discounts that stack on top of your reader discount. For a rental of 30 days or more, the combined savings amount to around 25%. I explain exactly how that works below.
Go Car Rental Discount — 5% Off
As a Go Car Rental partner, I can offer Stuck in Iceland readers 5% off every booking. No code needed — just book through this link:
The discount is applied automatically at checkout, and it stacks with Go Car Rental’s long-term discounts — up to around 25% off in total on rentals of 30 days or more.
I confirm this offer directly with Go Car Rental. I negotiate every Stuck in Iceland discount personally with the operator, so you will never find a fake code here. Booking through my link supports Stuck in Iceland at no extra cost to you.
| Rental length | Go Car Rental long-term discount | Combined with your 5% reader discount |
|---|---|---|
| 8–9 days | 3% | ~8% total savings |
| 10 days | 5% | ~10% total savings |
| 11–19 days | 7% | ~12% total savings |
| 20–29 days | 9% | ~14% total savings |
| 30+ days | 20% | ~25% total savings |
The long-term discount is applied automatically by Go Car Rental. Your 5% Stuck in Iceland reader discount is added on top of the price when you book through the link on this page. The exact final price is always shown at checkout before you pay. Check details with Go Car Rental before you book.
Go Car Rental is owned and run by Icelanders, which matters more than you might think. A local rental company knows what Icelandic roads, weather, and gravel do to a car, and the staff can give you genuinely useful advice about your route — not a script read from a screen.
Their main office sits at Fuglavík 43, a few minutes from Keflavík International Airport. When you land, you head to the Meeting Point in the arrivals hall, and a free shuttle takes you to the office. If you prefer to skip the counter entirely, they offer a 24/7 self-service option with a KeyBox system, so you can pick up your keys at any hour — handy if your flight lands at 3 AM, as flights to Iceland so often do. Just note that self-service needs to be arranged in advance when you book.
They also have a Reykjavík office with a complimentary shuttle service within the city, and one-way rentals between Reykjavík and Keflavík Airport are available for a small fee. In other words: the practical logistics — the part of a car rental that usually causes headaches — are well taken care of.
Overview of available vehicles
Small & Economy Cars — Couples and Light Packers
| Car | Gearbox | Drive | Seats | Luggage | Min. age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai i10 | Auto or manual | 2WD | 5 | 1 suitcase + 1 bag | 20+ |
| Renault Clio | Manual | 2WD | 5 | 1 suitcase + 1 bag | 20+ |
| Toyota Yaris | Auto | 2WD | 5 | 1 suitcase + 1 bag | 20+ |
| Kia Ceed | Auto | 2WD | 5 | 1 suitcase + 2 bags | 20+ |
My advice: In summer, a small 2WD car handles the Ring Road and the Golden Circle just fine, and you will appreciate the fuel economy — petrol is not cheap here. Two people with soft bags will be perfectly happy in an i10 or Yaris. If you want a bit more boot space, the Kia Ceed is the sensible pick of this group.
Wagons & Hybrids — More Space, Less Fuel
| Car | Gearbox | Drive | Seats | Luggage | Min. age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renault Megane Wagon (plug-in hybrid) | Auto | 2WD | 5 | 2 suitcases + 2 bags | 20+ |
| Skoda Octavia Wagon | Auto | 2WD | 5 | 3 suitcases + 2 bags | 20+ |
| Renault Captur E-Tech (hybrid) | Auto | 2WD | 5 | 1 suitcase + 1 bag | 20+ |
My advice: The Octavia Wagon is a quietly brilliant summer Ring Road car for a family of four — huge boot, comfortable on long days, and easy on fuel. The plug-in hybrid Megane Wagon is a good choice if you want to lower your footprint without going fully electric.
Compact 4x4s — Gravel Roads and Shoulder Season
| Car | Gearbox | Drive | Seats | Luggage | Min. age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suzuki Jimny | Auto (4 seats) or manual (2 seats) | 4×4 | 4 or 2 | 1–2 suitcases | 20+ |
| Dacia Duster (2019–2022) | Manual | 4×4 | 5 | 2 suitcases + 1 bag | 20+ |
| Dacia Duster (2022–2024) | Manual | 4×4 | 5 | 2 suitcases + 1 bag | 20+ |
| Suzuki Vitara (hybrid) | Auto | 4×4 | 5 | 2 suitcases + 1 bag | 20+ |
| Subaru XV | Auto | 4×4 | 5 | 2 suitcases + 1 bag | 20+ |
My advice: The Dacia Duster is the value pick here — it is one of the most popular rental cars in Iceland for a reason. Subaru has a devoted following among Icelanders, and the XV is a solid all-weather choice. The Jimny is charming and genuinely capable off the tarmac, but it is small and slow on the highway — know what you are signing up for. Go Car Rental also offers the Jimny with an automatic gearbox, which is rare here.
Mid-Size 4×4 SUVs — The All-Rounders
| Car | Gearbox | Drive | Seats | Luggage | Min. age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Qashqai | Auto | 4×4 | 5 | 2 suitcases + 1 bag | 20+ |
| Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross | Auto | 4×4 | 5 | 2 suitcases + 1 bag | 20+ |
| Kia Sportage | Auto | 4×4 | 5 | 3 suitcases + 1 bag | 20+ |
| Hyundai Tucson | Auto | 4×4 | 5 | 3 suitcases + 1 bag | 20+ |
| Toyota RAV4 | Auto | 4×4 | 5 | 3 suitcases + 1 bag | 20+ |
My advice: This is the sweet spot for most Ring Road trips, especially outside high summer. Comfortable on the highway, capable on gravel, room for a family and their luggage. I drive a Kia Sportage myself, so I can vouch for that one from daily experience. If in doubt, pick from this category — you will not regret the extra ground clearance.
Larger SUVs & Electric — Families and Full Boots
| Car | Gearbox | Drive | Seats | Luggage | Min. age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skoda Kodiaq | Auto | 4×4 | 5 | 3 suitcases + 1 bag | 20+ |
| Nissan X-Trail | Auto | 4×4 | 5 or 7 | 3 suitcases (5-seat) / very limited (7-seat) | 20+ |
| Subaru Forester | Auto | 4×4 | 5 | 3 suitcases + 1 bag | 20+ |
| Nissan Ariya (electric) | Auto | 4×4 | 5 | 3 suitcases + 1 bag | 20+ |
| Hyundai Santa Fe | Auto | 4×4 | 5 or 7 | 2 suitcases (5-seat) / 1 suitcase (7-seat) | 20+ |
| Kia Sorento | Auto | 4×4 | 7 | 1 suitcase + 1 bag (all seats up) | 25+ |
My advice: A word of caution from someone who has packed a car for a family: 7-seaters carry seven people or a week of luggage, rarely both. If you are seven people with suitcases, look at the 9-seater vans further down instead. The electric Nissan Ariya works well in Iceland — our charging network along the Ring Road is decent, and our electricity is renewable — but plan your charging stops in the Eastfjords ahead of time.
Premium & Highland-Ready 4x4s — F-Roads and Winter Confidence
| Car | Gearbox | Drive | Seats | Luggage | Min. age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Land Rover Defender | Auto | 4×4 | 5 | 4 suitcases + 1 bag | 23+ |
| Toyota Land Cruiser | Auto | 4×4 | 5 | 4 suitcases + 1 bag | 23+ |
| Jeep Wrangler Rubicon (hybrid) | Auto | 4×4 hi/low | 5 | 3 suitcases + 2 bags | 23+ |
| BMW X3 | Auto | 4×4 | 5 | 3 suitcases + 1 bag | 23+ |
My advice: If the highlands are on your itinerary, this is your category. The Land Cruiser and the Wrangler Rubicon (with proper 4×4 high and low range) are built for F-roads and river-adjacent adventures — though never ford a river you have not walked or watched someone else cross first. I personally never attempt this, but you are an adult, and you make your decisions! The Defender and BMW X3 lean more towards comfort with capability. Note the higher minimum age of 23+ across this group.
7–9 Seaters — Big Families and Groups
| Car | Gearbox | Drive | Seats | Luggage | Min. age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dacia Jogger | Auto or manual | 2WD | 7 | 1 suitcase + 2 bags (all seats up) | 20+ |
| Renault Trafic (diesel) | Auto or manual | 2WD | 9 | 6 suitcases + 3 bags | 20+ |
| Volkswagen Caravelle | Auto | 4×4 | 9 | 6 suitcases + 3 bags | 20+ |
My advice: For a group of six or more with real luggage, the vans are the honest answer. The Renault Trafic is diesel and economical for its size; the Volkswagen Caravelle adds four-wheel drive, which makes it the one I would book for a winter group trip. The Dacia Jogger is a budget-friendly 7-seater, but it is 2WD with very limited boot space when full — best for summer trips on paved roads with light packers.
Go Car Rental FAQ
How do I get the Stuck in Iceland discount at Go Car Rental?
Does the 5% reader discount stack with the long-term discounts?
Is Go Car Rental a local Icelandic company?
Where do I pick up my Go Car Rental car?
Do I need a 4×4 rental car in Iceland?
Which Go Car Rental cars can drive on F-roads?
What is the minimum age to rent from Go Car Rental?
Should I add gravel protection or extra insurance?
Does Go Car Rental offer automatic cars?
Ready to book your Iceland rental car?
Your 5% reader discount is applied automatically — and it stacks with Go Car Rental’s long-term savings of up to 20%.
Want discounts like this for your whole trip? My free newsletter unlocks exclusive codes from 50+ hand-picked Icelandic operators — tours, car rentals, camper vans, spas, and more.