Please enjoy your hire car in Iceland
Are you going on holiday to Iceland? To see
as much as possible and to get the most out of Iceland, the
best way of transport is certainly by car. But of course you
will have to abide by Iceland's law of driving. Below you
will find some useful information about driving in Iceland.
Documents you need when driving in Iceland:
To drive a foreign registered car legally in Iceland you must
have the following documents with you, which are your full
driving licence, vehicle registration document and certificate
of motor insurance minim Third-party cover. All European and
US licences are valid in Iceland. Visitors from other countries
should check with their local motoring organisation.
Special rules you must follow:
When driving in Iceland it is compulsory for all vehicles
to have a Warning Triangle and a First Aid kit. For all passengers
it is compulsory to wear both front and rear seatbelts. The
police are able to issue and collect 'on the spot fines' for
not obeying these rules.
Minimum age:
The minimum age of a driver in Iceland is 20 years. Children
must be secured by either safety belts or with a safety approved
car seat.
Parking:
Parking in Iceland is similar to Britain with car parks and
parking meters. Finding parking space in the towns in Iceland
is relatively easy. In Reykjavik and Akureyri there are Multi-Storey
car Parks and large parking lots, which are cheaper than the
parking meters.
A few basic rules:
In Iceland, they drive on the right hand side and overtake
on the left, pay full attention especially at roundabouts.
Your driving licence and vehicle documents should be carried
at all times. Always observe speed limit signs, Keep your
headlights and seatbelts on at all times and enjoy the freedom
of the open road. All of the roads in Iceland are easy to
follow and are numbered. Be aware for farm animals grazing
by the roadside and straying into or crossing the road. Drivers
who cause injury or death to these animals are liable to claims
for compensation.
Speed limits:
Built-up areas: 50 kph (31 mph)
Major roads outside towns: 80 kph (49 mph)
Highways: 90 kph (55 mph)
Bus:
The bus services are efficient and cheap where it connects
all parts of the island during the summer. In the winter the
buses operate to a limited number of destinations. There are
Holiday tickets (Omnibus Passport) and Air/Bus Rovers available,
which are valid for unlimited travel by scheduled bus services,
there is also a Full-Circle Passport available, which is valid
for circular trips around Iceland without any time limit.
Taxi:
Taxis are available from all hotels and airports.
Travel times:
The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours
and minutes) from Reykjavík to other major cities/towns
in Iceland.
Road:
Isafjördur 9.00
Saudakrokur 3.30
Akureyri 5.00
Husavik 6.00
Höfn 9.30
Westmann Is. 1.00
Egilsstadir 14.00
Driving in Iceland will be a pleasurable
experience as long as you remember you are in their country
and abide by their laws. Please remember it is not a good
enough excuse to plead ignorance, as you are a foreigner,
you are the driver and it's your responsibility to know the
law.