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Driving in Iceland – Recommendations, Tips and Tricks

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14. All cars must be equipped with the warning triangle. Travellers, who plan to visit the country during the period from early November to mid-April, need to equip their vehicles with winter tires. The period of their use may vary depending on weather conditions.

15. The presence of the first aid kit, a set of spare bulbs and a fire extinguisher is a recommendation. During the period starting from mid-November to mid-April, motorists are allowed to use studded tires.

16. If you plan to travel a lot in the countryside, it is worth remembering one more important rule. Local people are very concerned about their nature and environment, so you can ride on marked roads only.

Hints on Car Hire in Iceland

When choosing a car for your Iceland trip, don’t forget to check and compare the franchise amount (indicated in the rental conditions) for all cars considered in your selection. The franchise may vary from 200 to 2000 euro/dollars even for cars of the same class. A thorough comparison will allow you to choose the option with the lowest franchise.

During your booking, we will offer you to take a full coverage of the franchise ('No Risk' or 'No Excess' package). If you book a car without full coverage, it is recommended to take it at the pick-up time - this will substantially reduce your financial liability in Iceland for the whole rental period.

During your car pick-up in Iceland, do not forget to check what to do in breakdown-, accident- or theft-cases. Most of our offers include 'Breakdown Assistance' package. Besides this, every rental office would be happy to assist you with this package.

Prior to the car return, please check your voucher for the fuel conditions. If it is indicated that a driver shall return the car with a full tank, do not forget to refuel it on the way back, this will save you from additional charges at the rental office.

If you are looking for a car hire in Iceland, we advise you to check OrangeSmile.com actual rental offers. Just use the orange search form at the top. We guarantee that you would not be able to find better rates anywhere else!

17. In winter, as well as in off-season, only experienced drivers are recommended to drive on local roads. In winter, many roads are covered with snow, so mountain roads become very slippery and dangerous. Strong wind is another source of problems for motorists. It is especially noticeable in open areas.

18. The fact that there are not many vehicles in Iceland significantly eases the situation. Even in capital it will not be difficult to find a free parking place. All cities in the country have a sufficient number of parking sites of different types and sizes.

19. Many parking lots are equipped with special payment machines, and the payment is charged per hour of use. If the parking lot has no payment machine, then you need to find a cashier and make the payment.

20. The cost of one hour of parking can be from 50 to 150 kronur, depending on the type and location of the parking lot. In the capital, in addition to usual parking lots, there are also multi-level parking lots.

21. Reykjavik has the heaviest traffic in the country, but outside of the capital roads are literally empty. You can drive for several hours on a country road and do not see any oncoming vehicle. Despite a little number of cars on local roads, motorists should not relax and forget about basic traffic regulations as they are strictly monitored.

22. In summer, Iceland is attended by a large number of tourists, so the number of cars on local roads increases significantly. In summer, motorists have an opportunity to ride on the most challenging mountain roads that are usually closed in winter.

23. Drivers will find it simple to find petrol stations in cities, while in the countryside they are quite rare. When starting a long journey, it is recommended to fill the tank once you have an opportunity. The distance between petrol stations can be very large.

24. In the central part of the country, there are absolutely no roads, so it is possible to move around only on horseback or in an off-road vehicle. In Iceland, motorists can ride on rather unusual roads, the surface of which is compacted lava.

25. The so called “super trucks” are one of the main distinguishing features of local roads. Super trucks are jeeps with modified suspension, and such vehicles are actively used by some locals. It is very convenient to travel on such upgraded jeeps in wild places.

Popular cities in Iceland with OrangeSmile.com rental points

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