Anything to note when hiring a car in Iceland?

[tdimdad]

Dear brain trust, are there any specifics to note when hiring a car in Iceland?

E.g. in the auxilliary or insurance services they seem to offer 'sand and ash' cover to reduce your liability in case of damage from sand or ash storms. How likely would it be that this would come handy in summer time? How about the windscreen or flat tyre covers?

Anything else that's worth noting there? We are planning to stay in the SW corner of the country, within 200-300 km of Reykjavik but may venture off to smaller side roads to explore (which means I need to check the T&C's for a permission to drive on unsealed roads).

 

[tgh]

Normal cars are not permitted on secondary roads , my experience was that if not bitumen you really need high clearance aka 4x4.
I saw many little cars scrambling over rock bars trying to access a "sight" and assume they would have received a massive bill upon return.

 

[Bundy Bear]

paging @kpc who has hired a car in Iceland.

 

[cewpitt]

Hire a heavier car. We were very pleased to have a large SUV in the strong winds along the ring road. Would have been frightening in a small car.

 

[kpc]

paging @kpc who has hired a car in Iceland.

If you are planning to drive the F (inland) roads, you need a 4 WD by law; otherwise a 2 WD is fine....I wouldn't get the smallest car as we did as the wind can be very strong eg >100 km per hour...we were given warnings to get off the road....you must heed those warnings otherwise your insurance is void. All rental cars are tracked by gps so you cant lie where you are. We took the extra insurance for ash and sànd storms as well as windscreen and tyre insurance but in the end did not need them...depending on where you will.be going, there will be some gravel road driving.

Check road and weather conditions constanty: www.road.is

 

[Cynicor]

Never noticed any wind when we were there, wonder what season that is worst?

No tips from me, we had an i30 and that was fine for a 2 week lap of the island. Unable to do the smaller internal roads but there is plenty to see and do without them, too, so it’s up to you.