What should I check before driving in Iceland?

Before every drive, check road.is for road conditions and vedur.is for weather and wind warnings. Register your plan at safetravel.is, top up fuel before remote stretches, and be willing to change your route if wind warnings are up.

Do I need a special card for fuel in Iceland?

Yes. Most fuel stations outside towns are unmanned and require a PIN-enabled card. Carry a backup card and tell your bank you are travelling so the temporary pre-authorisation hold does not get declined.

What should I keep in the car when driving in Iceland?

Snacks, water, a charged power bank, offline maps, and an extra warm layer year round. In winter add an ice scraper, de-icer, and a blanket in case you have to wait out weather.

Iceland Driving Checklist: Tick Off What You Need

📋Before You Book

Decisions that are far easier to make now than at the rental desk

Match the car to your route. A regular 2WD is fine for paved roads. Only book a true 4x4 if you plan F-roadsAdd gravel protection (GP) and sand and ash protection (SAAP) on top of basic CDWRead what your insurance does NOT cover: wind damage, river crossings, off-road drivingBudget for the per-kilometer road tax (6.95 ISK/km). It is added to your final invoiceAdd every driver to the rental agreement. An unlisted driver voids the insurance

🪪Licence & Documents

What to have on you to pick up the car and stay legal

Valid full driving licence in the Latin alphabet (US, UK, Canada, EU all fine)Provisional or learner licences are not accepted by any rental company in IcelandInternational driving permit if your licence is in a non-Latin script (Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic)Credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit holdRental confirmation saved offline (screenshot, not just an email link)Confirm you meet the minimum age (often 20, and 23 to 25 for 4x4s)Check you have held your full licence for at least one year (many companies require this)

🌦️Before Every Drive

Two minutes here can change your whole day

Check road.is for live road conditions and closuresCheck vedur.is for weather and wind warningsRegister your plan at safetravel.is (free, two minutes, helps rescue find you)Top up fuel before remote stretches. Stations can be far apartIf wind warnings are up, be willing to delay or change the routePlan to arrive before dark. Daylight is short in winter and roads feel very different at night

🚗On the Road

The habits that keep Iceland's roads simple

Drive on the right. Steering wheel is on the leftStick to limits: 90 km/h paved rural, 80 km/h gravel, 50 km/h in townsSlow to 60 to 80 km/h on gravel and watch for loose stones from oncoming carsAt single-lane bridges, the car closer to the bridge has right of way. Yield if unsureHold car doors firmly in wind. Gusts can rip them off their hingesNever stop in the road for photos. Use marked pull-offs and lay-bysNever drive off-road. It is illegal, damages the land, and voids insurance

⛽Fuel & Payments

How not to get caught out at an unmanned pump

Carry a PIN-enabled card. Most stations are unmanned and need oneBring a backup card in case one gets flagged abroadTell your bank you are traveling so the pre-auth hold (~15,000 ISK) does not declineKnow the main chains: N1 and Orkan

🧰Keep in the Car

Small things that make a remote drive comfortable and safe

Snacks and water. Towns and food stops can be far apartCharged power bank and a car charging cableOffline maps downloaded. Signal drops in remote areasAn extra warm layer and a hat, even on a sunny dayIce scraper and de-icer (rentals usually provide one, check)Blanket or emergency layers in case you have to wait out weatherSunglasses. Low sun and glare off snow and water are blinding

Victoria's Tip

If you only remember one habit: check road.is and vedur.is before every single drive, and be willing to change your plan. The weather decides here, not your itinerary. There is no shame in waiting it out.

Want to know why each of these matters?

Read the full driving guide →

The three checks, in this order

1. vedur.is for the weather and any warnings.
2. road.is for road status and closures.
3. Can I drive today? which reads both feeds for your exact spot and answers in one line: Go, Caution, or Not today.

You might also need

Driving Guide

The roads, wind, bridges, and what to expect

Transport & Getting Around

Airport transfer, buses, taxis, car rental basics

Parking in Iceland

Rules, zones, fines, and how to pay

Road Tax

The per-kilometre charge, explained