Driving in Iceland

But if you’re planning a road trip around Iceland, it’s essential you’re fully prepared ahead of time as driving there has many differences to the UK. 

To make your visit as safe and effortless as possible, we’ve put together a guide to everything you need to know before you go, from required documents to rules of the road.  

Driving a rented vehicle? Jump to the advice for driving a hire car in Iceland section.

RAC offers travel insurance. Cover will include medical expenses, baggage, personal money and belongings, among many other benefits.

• A valid, full UK driving licence (you must also be 18 or over)
• Your motor insurance certificate
• The V5 registration document for your own car or the hire car paperwork for a rental

Do I need an insurance green card?

From 2nd August 2021, drivers will no longer require an insurance green card for taking their vehicles to Iceland.

Aside from the documents above, there are some legally-required items you must bring with you to drive in Iceland.

Unless your headlights can be adjusted, it's a legal requirement to carry headlamp converters (stickers for your headlights when driving on the right, so your lights don't dazzle motorists coming the other way).

A warning triangle is also compulsory to carry in vehicles in case of a breakdown.

It's also recommended to have:

• Spare bulbs for your car's external lights
• A fire extinguisher 
• A first-aid kit
• A reflective jacket

You can pick up all the car kit you need from RAC Shop.

• In Iceland, you drive on the right and overtake on the left. Vehicles from the right, buses and emergency vehicles have priority
• Wear a crash helmet if you're riding a motorcycle
• Use dipped headlights day and night, all year round
• Horns may be used when overtaking or in cases of immediate danger
• There are no motorways in Iceland, so no tolls to pay
• If you meet another car on a rural road, you must reduce speed to avoid windscreen breakage that can result from flying gravel and stones
• If you're caught committing a motoring offence while driving through Iceland, you could be given an on-the-spot fine. Penalties range from 2,500 ISK (about £14) for a parking offence to 160,000 ISK (around £880) for driving under the influence of alcohol 
• Seat belts should be worn in all seats where a belt is available
• Children under the age of 3 must be placed in an approved restraint adapted to their size. Children over 3 and under 150cm in height must use a suitable child restraint
• The drink-drive limit for all drivers is 0.05%. Random breath testing and blood testing in hospital may be carried out 

The speed limit is 50km/h in built-up areas. On open roads, the maximum speed allowed depends on the type of road surface – on gravel the limit is 80km/h, while on asphalt it’s 90km/h.

• From October to May, much of the road network is unusable because of heavy snow, and some roads are only passable in a 4x4 vehicle
• To protect Iceland’s flora and fauna, it is against the law to drive outside marked roads or tracks. This regulation is strictly enforced
• Unleaded petrol and diesel are readily available, but you can’t get LPG. Many petrol stations in Reykjavik and other cities have automatic pumps that are open around the clock
• ​Parking can be limited in built-up areas, with restricted zones signposted. Cars parked illegally may be towed away by the police 

In an emergency

112 - Here's a really important bit of knowledge; you can dial 112 from anywhere in Europe and an operator will connect you to an emergency service in the country you're visiting.

Operators can answer your call in their native language, English or French.

Not all of the information in the guide above will be relevant to those looking to rent a hire car in Denmark.

Though it might be a good idea to read through everything anyway, here are the most important things to know for drivers of rental vehicles:

Rental information

• The minimum age to hire a car is 20, although this may vary depending on the vehicletype
• You need a full, valid UK driving licence and usually a second proof of ID (passport)
• Car rental companies ask that you have held your licence for a minimum term of 1 year
• Most companies require you to use a credit card for deposit
• You may not be able to drive outside of Iceland unless planned in advance - check with your hire company first
• Make sure you get car hire excess insurance before your trip to protect yourself from unexpected costs. It's almost always cheaper to do this with a separate insurer and in advance

Hire car driving tips

• Icelanders drive on the right and overtake on the left - the opposite to the UK
• The national speed limit in Iceland 50km/h in built-up areas. On open roads, the maximum speed allowed depends on the type of road surface – on gravel the limit is 80km/h, while on asphalt it’s 90km/h.
• Dial 112 in an emergency
• It’s compulsory to wear seat belts in the front and rear seats
• The blood alcohol content limit for drivers of private vehicles is 0.05%. That's lower than the 0.08% in England Wales and Northern Ireland, but the same as Scotland.

UK Government travel advice

See up-to-date travel advice