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Car Hire Iceland
Iceland is a magical place full of winter wonders and experiences. Beautiful backdrops and landscapes that will take your breath away too small idyllic towns and villages that you will not want to leave will ensure that driving and exploring with booking a rent a car Iceland is a must for your trip. There is so much to experience in Iceland that you will want an uncomplicated way to get around. The roads are well made and maintained, so you can use your Iceland car hire to see everything from the Tectonic Plates in the Þingvellir National Park to sitting under the stars watching the Aurora Borealis, Iceland rental car is a handy way to get around this beautiful and immense country.
There are places of interest for the traveller to see in Iceland. Car hire Iceland lets you take in the history and its culture that the country has to offer. From the capital Reykjavik to Saudarkrokur, Iceland is a wonderful country for the traveller to explore. Rental car Iceland is popular and convenient method, you will need to book well in advance to get the dates and the type of car you desire.
A wish to explore the country you are visiting is really important so rent a car Iceland lets you take it easy along the roads of the country and also get from place to place in comfort and style. There are many options for car hire Iceland that you will want to decide early and get the most from your trip. If you want to take a tour the Golden Circle or a visit to the Blue Lagoon, it is easy to make a booking and the cars are modern and well-maintained. So don’t worry about your Iceland rental car experience – it will be just like driving your own car!
The Country
Iceland is on most people’s ‘bucket list’ as one the top places to visit. Beautiful ice covered scenery to its volcanic mountains and gushing geysers and the warmth of its people is a big draw for tourists alike. And after all the hiking and exploring, relax and chill looking at the Northern Lights. But first visit places such as –
- Gullfoss – The Golden Falls
- Snæfellsjökull National Park
- Eyjafjallajökull – volcano
- Dynjandi (Fjallfoss) – waterfalls
There are other cities and sights, as we will see later in this guide.
The country is home to approximately 350 thousand people, with Icelandic being the main spoken language. Iceland is an island in the North Atlantic sea covering 103,000 square kilometres (40,000 square miles), making it the most sparsely populated country in Europe.
Despite its name Iceland has mild winters with an average temperature of around 0°C. The weather in the country is temperate, with four distinct seasons.
The main traditional sport in Iceland is Glíma, which is a form of wrestling thought to have originated in medieval times. More modern popular sports are football, skiing, snowboarding and Telemark skiing.
Popular Cities in Iceland
The capital of Iceland is Reykjavík and is the largest city in the country, with over 123,000 people. It’s a cosmopolitan city that draws in tourists from all around the world not just for the nightlife and architecture but for the stunning countryside. So, make this city your base and get your Reykjavík car hire and get ready for an adventure!
Akureyri
Akureyri is a town in the north part of the country, with just around 18,00 inhabitants. Akureyri located at the head of Eyjafjörður which is one of Iceland’s longest fjords. With car hire Akureyri you be free to see all that the town has to offer. Using Akureyri rent a car you can explore Eyjafjörður alongside the surrounding towns and villages.
Egilsstadir
Egilsstadir is a small town located in East Iceland. With rent a car Egilsstadir you will be able to visit Iceland’s third-largest lake, Lagarfljót, and see if the myth is true of a large monster living in the depths of the lake. So, make most of it with Ekaterinburg rental car and go explore what Iceland has to offer.
Höfn
Höfn is another small town in East Iceland and sites by the lagoon, or fjord Hornafjörðr. Rental car Hofn is the best way to explore this picturesque town. Visit Vatnajökull and its guild of glaciers. So, with your car hire Höfn will be able to visit and explore Europe’s largest glacier.
Húsavík
Húsavík a small town located in North Iceland with approximately 2,500 residents. Get your Húsavík rental car booked early and rent a car Húsavík will help you explore the town, the stunning snow-capped scenery, and its biggest draw is that Húsavík is Iceland’s whale watching capital, one thing that you cannot miss on your visit.
Isafjordur
Isafjordur is a town in the Westfjords region of northwest Iceland and is known for its dramatic landscapes. With rent a car Isafjörður you will be able to explore the town and its heritage, along with its charming old timber and tin-clad buildings, many unchanged since the 18th century.
Keflavik
Keflavik is a town in the Reykjanes region in southwest Iceland and is twinned with Njarðvík. Together they’re known as ‘Reykjanesbær’. With car hire Keflavik you will be able to venture afield and explore the countryside. Rental car Keflavik will give you the freedom to have Keflavik as your base as you visit Iceland at your own pace.
Sauðárkrókur
Sauðárkrókur is located in North Iceland alongside the Jókulsá river. Rental car Sauðárkrókurr is the best way to explore this picturesque town. Using your car hire Sauðárkrókur you will be explore the gateway to treasures around Tindastóll, and excursions to offshore Drangey.
Driving Tips
As with any new experience, you will need to know what you are letting yourself in for. Check all the rules of the road before you leave for Iceland to ensure you stay safe, do not draw attention to your hire car and making sure that nothing is left in the vehicle when it is unoccupied. Here are some of the more important ones –
- The driver is responsible to make sure all occupants of the car wear seat belts at all times.
- It is illegal for children under the age of 12 to travel in the front seat unless using a restraint system appropriate to size.
- Iceland has a zero-tolerance policy with regards to drink driving. If a driver is caught, the driving licence can be suspended for four months and a penalty fine imposed of 100.000 ISK.
- They drive on the right-hand side of the road in Iceland and overtake on the left.
- You must carry an international driver licence (IDP) with you at all times while on the road in Iceland, legal age to drive a car in the country is 18.
- Car headlights must be used at all times, day or night, when driving in Iceland
- The use of a mobile phone while driving is prohibited and is a serious offence.
- It is more than advisable to carry warning triangles, a first aid kit, headlight deflectors, spare bulbs, a fire extinguisher and a reflective jacket in Iceland.
- If you’re in an accident, you MUST notify the Police and the car rental supplier and get an accident report for insurance purposes. Failure to do so may result in you footing the whole bill.
- If you break down, you must put on your reflective jacket and place the reflective triangle behind the vehicle to warn other drivers. You must notify the rental car company and suppliers for advice and assistance.
- The major cities can be very busy at rush hour so leave plenty of time for your journey
- For updated information about which roads are open and their condition at any given time, visit road.is or call the number 1777 for information in English.
- Off-road driving is illegal in Iceland and is punishable with high fines.
- Iceland has a Ring Road that extends around the coast with a total length of 1,339 kilometres (832 miles).
- The speed limit is 30-50 km/hour in populated areas.
- The speed limit is 80 km/hour on gravel roads in rural areas.
- The speed limit is 90 km/hour on paved roads.
Make sure you know what to do when driving in Iceland be safe and stay on the right side of the law.
Airports in Iceland
Iceland has transport links to the rest of the world through trade and other activities. Here are some of the busiest airports in Iceland –
- Akureyri Airport
- Reykjavík Airport
- Keflavík International Airport
- Ísafjörður Airport
- Hornafjörður Airport
- Sauðárkrókur Airport
- Bíldudalur Airport
The best way to get the most from your car hire Iceland is to book from the airport so you know you have the transport you need. Do this in advance to get the best prices available.
When driving on the roads of the Iceland you want to be safe. You should research the rules of the road, as said before, but also have the following numbers programmed in your phone on case of emergency. For the police, ambulance and fire brigade is 112.