Iceland - car hire?
Discussion
Just wondering if anyone has any recommendations for car hire in Reykjavik? Ideally at the airport but in the city itself if sufficiently advantageous.
Pricing seems keen to say the least with FC insurance included. I think it’s warranted though.
I would normally not bother and use my excess policy. Only just looking at the documentation and Iceland is specifically excluded.
Is there a reason for this? Is it a case of suck it up and it is what it is?
Pricing seems keen to say the least with FC insurance included. I think it’s warranted though.
I would normally not bother and use my excess policy. Only just looking at the documentation and Iceland is specifically excluded.
Is there a reason for this? Is it a case of suck it up and it is what it is?
Hired a car (Jeep Wrangler) for ten days on my honeymoon 15 years ago, it was bloody pricey then. Pretty sure it was this lot: https://www.geysir.is/cars/
shirt said:
I would normally not bother and use my excess policy. Only just looking at the documentation and Iceland is specifically excluded.
Is there a reason for this?
Lots of unmade roads and tourists going off piste in vehicles that can't handle it or rental agreements that don't allow it, plus potential sandstorm, ash and hail damage.. it's a bit of an oddity in that respect. Definitely a destination that requires a bit of research and respect.Is there a reason for this?
We booked via Blue car rental and picked up/dropped off at the airport a couple of years ago - couldn't fault them.
You'll see they do a Dacia Duster 'used model', which means higher mileage and also means they aren't as precious about checking them over and expecting them to come back without stone chips - which is useful in Iceland!
Got a 4wd 1.5dci model with heated seats, studded winter tyres, and 160,000 km on the clock - it was ideal.
You'll see they do a Dacia Duster 'used model', which means higher mileage and also means they aren't as precious about checking them over and expecting them to come back without stone chips - which is useful in Iceland!
Got a 4wd 1.5dci model with heated seats, studded winter tyres, and 160,000 km on the clock - it was ideal.
Edited by yellowbentines on Tuesday 2nd July 22:36
yellowbentines said:
We booked via Blue car rental and picked up/dropped off at the airport a couple of years ago - couldn't fault them.
You'll see they do a Dacia Duster 'used model', which means higher mileage and also means they aren't as precious about checking them over and expecting them to come back without stone chips - which is useful in Iceland!
Got a 4wd 1.5dci model with heated seats, studded winter tyres, and 160,000 km on the clock - it was ideal.
This ^You'll see they do a Dacia Duster 'used model', which means higher mileage and also means they aren't as precious about checking them over and expecting them to come back without stone chips - which is useful in Iceland!
Got a 4wd 1.5dci model with heated seats, studded winter tyres, and 160,000 km on the clock - it was ideal.
Edited by yellowbentines on Tuesday 2nd July 22:36
We went January last year, Duster with studded tyres, got the wifi thingy so we always had maps. Buy the full insurance, covers wind, stone chips etc. Better to have it an not need it
The Blue offices are a 2 minute walk from Keflavik airport, you can see them when you walk out if the airport. Seamless collection and drop off.
Car did great, not all roads were cleared, some were compacted ice. When filling it up to take back, the sensor had frozen so we had no idea what was in the tank, they just shrugged it off.
When we went in Feb '22 we hired via Autoeurope, which used Payless (which in turn was directed to the Budget/Avis Desk)
As with poster above, we ended up with a Dacia Duster with Studded tyres - which, for our stay ended up being essential.
Its quite a thing to walk into the car park, which was essentially one big ice rink (which genuinely isn't an exaggeration) get in the car and just drive off like your on tarmac.
When we did the golden circle we were also driving through snow covered roads alot of the time and the studded tyres were an experience to drive on.
In terms of the hire itself, collection was in terminal so very straight forward, drop off was at the budget/avis slightly off the airport - but straight forward enough and they shuttled us over the the terminal so painless - at a push could of walked.
Looking back, we paid £231 for 4 days rental, category chose was Dacia Duster or other 4x4.
As with poster above, we ended up with a Dacia Duster with Studded tyres - which, for our stay ended up being essential.
Its quite a thing to walk into the car park, which was essentially one big ice rink (which genuinely isn't an exaggeration) get in the car and just drive off like your on tarmac.
When we did the golden circle we were also driving through snow covered roads alot of the time and the studded tyres were an experience to drive on.
In terms of the hire itself, collection was in terminal so very straight forward, drop off was at the budget/avis slightly off the airport - but straight forward enough and they shuttled us over the the terminal so painless - at a push could of walked.
Looking back, we paid £231 for 4 days rental, category chose was Dacia Duster or other 4x4.
Hire car places will all give you stern warnings about not driving through rivers, and usually have a big poster of a hire car floating down a river behind the counter 
The first time we went we hired a Polo and it was absolutely fine everywhere but I was a bit nervous doing a u-turn on an unmade road they were in the process of grading and had several inches of deep sandy dirt in the centre. We had a Grand Vitara the next time and a Jimny last time. A hatchback is fine but personally I'd go for something like those or the suggested Duster for a bit more ground clearance.
The first time we went we hired a Polo and it was absolutely fine everywhere but I was a bit nervous doing a u-turn on an unmade road they were in the process of grading and had several inches of deep sandy dirt in the centre. We had a Grand Vitara the next time and a Jimny last time. A hatchback is fine but personally I'd go for something like those or the suggested Duster for a bit more ground clearance.
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