{"id":438,"date":"2025-09-28T16:42:24","date_gmt":"2025-09-28T13:42:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aleksblog.com\/en\/?p=438"},"modified":"2025-09-28T17:04:41","modified_gmt":"2025-09-28T14:04:41","slug":"iceland-rent-car","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aleksblog.com\/en\/iceland-rent-car\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate Guide to Car Rental in Iceland"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The Ultimate Guide to Car Rental in Iceland<\/span><\/strong><\/h1>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Aleks<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Everything truly interesting, breathtaking, and extraordinary \u2014 the stuff that makes Iceland worth visiting \u2014 is found outside Reykjavik: lunar landscapes, lava fields, powerful waterfalls, geysers, glaciers, and volcanic craters. The only way to see the most is by renting a car.<\/p>\n

I went through dozens of forums and chats, noted all the key points, and personally checked everything during a week-long trip across Iceland. Today I\u2019m sharing which car is best to rent, everything about parking, how to refuel, where you shouldn\u2019t drive, and whether you can sleep in your car. At the end of the post, there\u2019s a super useful FAQ and tips.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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\"\u0410\u0440\u0435\u043d\u0434\u0430<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Which Car to Rent for Traveling Around Iceland<\/h2>\n

Highway No. 1, or the Ring Road, runs around the entire island. This is the country\u2019s main route, connecting towns and passing by countless natural attractions. All the most famous waterfalls, glaciers, and volcanoes are accessible from the Ring Road. The road is paved and in excellent condition. Any regular car will do for traveling along Highway No. 1. You can easily reach Dyrh\u00f3laey, Vik, and even Sv\u00ednafellsj\u00f6kull Glacier without any issues.<\/p>\n

You might need to drive a couple of kilometers on decent gravel to get to some spots. But that\u2019s not a problem for a regular car or a crossover if you prefer a bit more comfort.<\/p>\n

When an SUV is Necessary<\/h2>\n

If you plan to explore remote areas, like the central highlands or hard-to-reach sections marked as “F-roads,” a four-wheel-drive vehicle is essential. These roads are unpaved, often rocky, and sometimes have water crossings.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll explain what an “F-road” is later. But I hope it\u2019s clear that having an SUV doesn\u2019t automatically mean you can ford rivers. You also need the right skills for that. Since extreme driving isn\u2019t my thing, my Iceland trip was planned to hit all the top spots strictly along the Ring Road, preferably without long detours on F-roads.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Where to Rent a Car<\/h2>\n

I highly recommend booking a car in advance. It seemed to me that 90% of the cars driving on Iceland\u2019s main road are rented.<\/p>\n

Check options on DiscoverCars<\/a> \u2014 they list many local and international rental companies.<\/p>\n

I had a few important requirements:<\/p>\n