Monday, 20 June 2016 / Published in Destinations

Road trip in Iceland – Useful tips to rent a car in Iceland

Planning a road trip in Iceland? Rent the right car should be your first priority and here I prepared a guide for it.

Bumpy roads, an unpredictable weather and many other situations is what you can encounter when doing a road trip in Iceland. Not only that, rent the perfect car for Iceland is definitely a task you should take in calm and where you should check different options – specially when it comes to a car insurance in Iceland. We decided to make a short guide with 21 very useful tips when renting a car in Iceland.

Insurance tips for renting a car in Iceland

Plan your route ahead and find out if you need to rent a small car (only for driving on the ring road), SUV or a camper.
Insurances won´t pay for damages caused on roads you are not allowed to drive on.
Small accidents and car damages are common in Iceland. Get a proper car insurance when you are renting a car in this country. Don’t save at the wrong end!

The car company FairCar offers a ZERO Collision Damage Waiver (ZCDW) insurance, which covers almost everything. During our road trip in Iceland we used this insurance and it worked perfectly. Specially since we had to use it after we got a flat tire.

Off road areas are not insured by many companies during a road trip in Iceland when you rent car. — When you rent a car in Iceland, you should see if your insurance covers off road streets.

Before driving in the highlands, check where the next gas station is. You don’t want to run out of gas in the middle of nowhere.
Car companies rent out mini campers for two people to sleep in comfortably and cheaply.
Overnight parking is usually allowed in touristic places, often for free, unless you have a camper or pitch a tent.
Rent a car in advance and compare prices before booking. It is cheaper than getting one directly at the airport.
If you are looking for a more comfortable driving experience in Iceland: car companies offer Wi-Fi hotspots, 12 to 220V car inverters and FM transmitters for an extra charge. An excellent choice if you want to travel around Iceland fully equipped
All gas stations have free and extremely clean bathrooms.
Check the road conditions at www.road.is before you start driving and avoid uncomfortable surprises.
Check the weather conditions before you start driving.

Check the weather conditions at Road.is for finding out information during your road trip — Checking road conditions beforehand will help you avoid uncomfortable situations along the road.

How to prepare for the road when going on a road trip

Get a road map before your arrival. You can buy one on amazon in advance or directly at the airport

Download an Iceland map from Google Maps before your arrival.
Have the following emergency numbers with you all the time:
- Car rental telephone number
- 24/7 service number
- Road conditions number: 1777
Get an Icelandic SIM card for internet and emergencies.
Flat tires are mainly caused by driving too fast on gravel and F-Roads. Stay under the allowed maximum speed.
Stop occasionally and be amazed by the incredible Icelandic landscapes.

the beauty of icelandic roads when doing a road trip in Iceland — Some highways are simply the main object of beauty during a road trip in Iceland

Parking in Reykjavik from 6pm to 10am is free almost everywhere.
Driving in Iceland can be exhausting. Decide in advance, if you want to pay for a second driver and make your travel easier and way more confortable. Car rental companies allows a second or third driver for an extra charge
The only toll fee in Iceland has to be paid at the Hvalfjorour tunnel (8 USD).
Wind is extremely strong in Iceland. Be careful when you open the doors of your car. Many car damages are due to this minor situation.