Guide to Driving in Iceland

Iceland is a really nice country to drive in; it offers some really spectacular views and various types of relief. However, it’s an Arctic country so you should be extremely caution, especially during the winter. In fact, there is ice all year round in some areas of Iceland. Even if the weather conditions are poor, the roads are in great shape. The local authorities are doing their best to keep the roads at the highest level. You’ll encounter 2 types of roads: gravel and paved. In Reykjavik most of the streets are paved so you shouldn't have any problems. However, as you’re moving to the East, the road will gradually change its shape. Remember to adapt your speed to the road conditions. Parking in Reykjavik is not that tricky; there are a lot of specially designed areas and parking lots put to use. There are 4 regions in the city, numbered from P1 to P4, P1 being the most expensive while P4 is the cheapest. Other cities are really small and they could be taken as villages. There are no motorways around Iceland, so no toll system at all. Most of the road signs, especially in the capital, are in English. However, as you’re driving away from Reykjavik you will encounter signs in Icelandic. In terms of documents you need your domestic license, your passport as an identification card, the vehicle’s third-party insurance and your vehicle’s registration.

Police cars in Iceland are white with thin blue and red stripes on the sides. The word you’ll see on them is ‘LOGREGLAN’. Even if there are not many speed cameras mounted around the country, if a police officer sees that you’re having a reckless style of driving, you’ll be pulled over. In terms of mandatory equipment you need a reflecting triangle and a reflective vest.

Essential Driving Information

• It’s considered illegal to use any mobile device while driving. You need to have an appropriate hands-free system attached to the device in order to be on the right side of the law.
• Seatbelts are mandatory for all the occupants of a vehicle, including the ones in the rear seats.
• It is considered illegal to take an off-road route if there’s no road at all. Always drive on the roads, even if they’re in rough condition.
• Dipped beam should be used at all times, regardless the weather.