Frequently asked questions

All of our best prices are listed on the website and in our booking engine. They are regularly updated with relevant discounts and offers. We cannot offer better prices via email.

Included insurance:

• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) (320.000 ISK Excess) 
• PAI (Personal Accident Insurance)
• Third party liability insurance

The CDW excess amount displayed at time of reservation indicates the maximum amount of money you are liable for, in the event of damage to or theft of the vehicle. This excess amount may be lowered by purchasing optional Super Collision Damage Waiver (SCDW) at time of reservation or during pick-up. Read all about our insurance options. 
 

The Ice Rental Cars car prices always include:

• Free shuttle service at Keflavik airport, pick up and drop off
• 24 hour roadside assistance
• Free cancellation (until 48 hours before pick up)
• Free reservation changes
• Studded winter tires in winter
• Cleaning of the car after drop off
• Weather warning e-mails during your trip
• Free booster seat (make sure to choose this in your booking)
• Fuel discount card with free wifi and coffee at Olís and OB gas stations.

 
Furthermore, your car rental quote takes into account all mandatory charges connected with your booking such as:

• Unlimited mileage/km
• 24% Local VAT
• Airport surcharge if applicapable

Due to the high level of uncertainty in global tourism, many people have experienced cancelled travel-related services without being reimbursed. Due to high travel restrictions around the world and unstable transport systems, there is a great deal of uncertainty about the viability of companies in tourism. In the current climate we understand that customers are generally unwilling to take risks and pay in advance for services that later may not be provided.

In view of these circumstances and to avoid the financial risk to our customers, we have decided to offer you the option to book your rental car without the need to prepay and no cancellation fees.

On arrival we accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club, JCB, Union Pay and Discover.
 

You may also be able to pay with a debit card on our website, if your card has an online payment option.

ATTN The cardholder/renter and the card used to confirm the booking online has to be present at pick up and the card that is used to pay online has to be the same card as is used to guarantee the rental agreement.

The person that owns the credit card used to pay for the booking and takes responsibility for the car has to sign the rental agreement. If that is not the same person as the main driver, we will list the driver as an extra driver.

Just keep in mind that all drivers and extra drivers have to be present at pick up to sign the rental agreement. 

Sure! You can pay online with debit cards that have the online payment option.

When you pick up the car, that same card has to be used to guarantee the rental agreement. We offer two card options:
1. We will accept a credit card as a guarantee, no deposit is required. If the credit card is not clearly marked as a credit card our front desk staff is not authorised to accept it.
2. We will accept a debit card, debit/credit card or prepaid credit card only if the card has a 15-16 digit number on the front, and you buy our Platinum Insurance package for the duration of your rental period.

If the card or card holder is not present at pick up, we will need another card to pay for the booking as well as guarantee the rental agreeement, otherwise we are not able to deliver the car.
The cardholder of this new card will be the renter, their card will be charged for the amount of the booking and the older card will be refunded.

ATTN The cardholder/renter and the card used to pay for the booking has to be present at pick up and the card that is used to pay online has to be the same card as is used to guarantee the rental agreement. 

Just remember that the cardholder/renter and all extra-drivers have to be present to sign the rental agreement at pick up. The card used also has to be valid for 100 days after the rental period ends.

The online reservation service is located on a secure server that guarantees the safety of a transaction. The system uses SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encrypting technology. SSL works by encrypting all communications between your computer and our server so the information cannot be intercepted.

You will receive a Booking confirmation within a few minutes after you have confirmed your booking. Sometimes our Booking confirmations go to people's junk or spam folders, if you do not receive your booking confirmation please check there. 

Your booking confirmation has all the information about your booking. Please have it handy on your phone or a printed out copy when you pick up your car.

All drivers must present driving licenses to rent with Ice Rental Cars.

A full driver's license must have been held for at least 12 months and must be presented at the start of the rental. Renter must be 20 years of age.
 
We accept all driving licenses issued by countries within the EU and USA/Canada. If you are from a country outside those regions we will accept your driving license if it has a license number, your photo, a valid date and is in roman alphabet. If your driving license does not fulfill those requirements you will need an international driving license to drive in Iceland.

When you pick up the car, you will need to have a valid driving license and the card used to pay the online booking with to guarantee the rental agreement. We offer two card options:

1. We will accept your credit card as a guarantee, no deposit is required. If the credit card is not clearly marked as a credit card our front desk staff is not authorized to accept it.

2. We will accept you debit card, debit/credit card or prepaid credit card only if the card has a 15-16 digit number on the front and you buy our Platinum Insurance package for the duration of your rental period.

Please note 
The cardholder/renter and the card used to pay for the booking has to be present at pick up and the card that is used to pay online has to be the same card as is used to guarantee the rental agreement.

If the card or card holder is not present at pick up, we will need another card to pay for the booking as well as guarantee the rental agreeement, otherwise we are not able to deliver the car. The cardholder of this new card will be the renter, their card will be charged for the amount of the booking and the older card will be refunded.

Just remember that the cardholder/renter and all extra-drivers have to be present to sign the rental agreement at pick up. The card used also has to be valid for 100 days after the rental period ends.

If you present a card that is not clearly marked a credit card at time of pick up, but decide not to take Platinum insurance, no refund will be made as that is considered a cancellation within our 48 hour no cancellation period.

Information about credit and debit cards
If you are in doubt whether your card is a debit or credit card, feel free to contact us and we will look up your card number. We have English, French, Polish and Icelandic speaking agents that are happy to assist you. 

We have an office in the international airport at Keflavik and in Reykjavik at Knarrarvogur 2.

Information about our office at Reykjavik KEF airport, including how to find us.

Information about our Head office in Reykjavik.

Our office by Reykjavik KEF airport is always open for pick ups. If you are dropping off a car at night during our office season you can leave the keys in the drop off box. 

Our Head office in Reykjavik is open during the following times:
Monday - Friday from 8am - 18.00 / 6pm.
Saturday - Sunday our Reykjavik office is open from 9am - 16.00 / 4pm.

You are able to return out of office hours in our Reykjavik office, by leaving the keys in the drop-box outside our main entrance. Please note that a vehicle that is returned out of office hours will not be checked in until the next business day and you are responsible for the vehicle until then.

Yes, we have a free shuttle service which goes every fifteen minutes around-the-clock between airline terminals and the rental car parking lots. Check out the route in the video below.

When you exit the customs area, continue straight ahead and outside the airport entrance. From there, you walk through a covered footpath and at the end of the path you will find the shuttle service.  (Yellow shuttle bus).  Our Reykjavik KEF airport rental office is located very close to the airport (3rd stop). 

Yes, we can pick you up in your hotel or hostel, simply choose Reykjavik hotel pick up in our booking engine. This service costs 14000 ISK.

Please note that the pick up service does not include a shuttle service back to your hotel after you drop off the car. 

Yes, you can choose this in our booking engine. If your pick up and drop off locations are different, a 5000 ISK location switch fee is applied.

No, unfortunately we do not have sales offices out in the country. However, you can choose to drop off a car in the towns of Akureyri and Egilsstaðir, the location surcharge for this service is: 

Akureyri = Drop off 74.000 ISK.
Egilsstaðir= Drop off 84.000 ISK.
 

If you will be late for some reason please let us know as soon as possible, we will of course hold the car for you. 

If we do not hear from you, we hold the car for 2 hours after your pick up time. After that we might give the car to another customer.

No, there are no surprise fees at check out. Your booking includes taxes, delivery fees (if you have chosen them), insurance and extras as well as all other fees. You can see information about your booking on your booking confirmation.

Furthermore, we do not require a deposit when you pick up the car.

Good job, you should always check road conditions and weather before you start your journey. Visit the following websites for help, you can just go to the part of the country you plan to drive through and see road conditions, wind speed, real time web-cam footage, weather alerts etc. 

Safetravel.is for weather alerts and safety information, www.safetravel.is
Weather forecast from the Icelandic Met Office, http://en.vedur.is
Road conditions and wind speed, updated every 10 minutes, www.road.is
Real time web cameras around the country, www.road.is/travel-info/web-cams

If you get a parking ticket we will pay for the ticket and then charge the credit card we have on file. 

If you get a speeding ticket we will send information about you to the police which will then contact you directly. 

If your car breaks down, please call us right away. We will decide the best course of action depending on the level of breakdown.

If the car can be repaired we will guide you to the nearest service garage where the car will be fixed. 

In cases of complete breakdown we will bring you a new car as fast as we can. 

We always try to find the best and fastest solution for both parties. 

All our rental cars have studded, winter tires in winter. We make sure the tires on our cars are suitable for driving in winter conditions out on the Icelandic roads. 

However, Icelanders do not use snow chains so we do not rent out snow chains. 

F roads are highland roads in the highlands of Iceland. You will need to drive a 4x4 car on the F roads because of the road conditions and rivers that need to be crossed.

Check out an informative brochure about F roads in the highlands of Iceland here. It contains information about road opening times and much more. 

All our rental cars have a full tank of fuel at pick up and should be returned with a full tank of fuel.
Please make sure you know which type of fuel your rental car uses. 

Most gas stations in Iceland have self-service pumps which are open 24/7. There are gas stations all over the country. 

Parking fines
There is a 5.000 ISK handling fee for all fines or charges that result from renters use of the car and the renter does not pay himself. The Car Rental will charge the renter for fines and charges plus the previously mentioned handling fee.

Speeding fines
If the renter gets a speeding fine, the car rental will send information to the police which will then contact the renter directly. A service fee of 5.000 ISK will be charged. You will be notified if this happens.

Extra cleaning
If the car is returned extra dirty inside the renter must pay 15.000 ISK cleaning fee.

Smoking in cars
We do not allow smoking in our cars. If someone smoked inside the car during the rental, the renter must pay 45.000 ISK for cleaning fee.

Picking up damaged car
If the car is damaged and needs to be picked up, the retrieve fee is a total of 350 ISK per km outside of the capital area or a minimum of 35.000 ISK.

Flat tire
If the car is returned with a flat tire, the renter is charged at the time of drop off, total of 30.000 ISK for a small and medium sized car. For a large and luxury car, the total charge is 45.000 ISK at the time of drop off. The tire will then be taken to a tire repair shop and if it is repairable, the total charge is 8.000 ISK and a refund for the difference is made immediately.

Fuel tank
Every rental car comes with a full tank of gas, but it’s the renter’s responsibility to return the vehicle with an equally full tank. Customers who won’t have the time to refuel before dropping off a rental can pay for the fuel fee when dropping off the car. Service fee is 5.000 ISK plus the price for the gas.

Vadlaheidargong tunnel
If you do not pay when you go through this tunnel in North Iceland, the car

Vadlaheidigong tunnel is a brand new 7,5 km tunnel on the ring road a little further than the town of Akureyri in North Iceland. You can read all about in on our blog post Everything you need to know about the Vadlaheidargong tunnel in North Iceland.

Driving through the tunnel comes with a cost. There are two prices; if you pay within 3 hours the price is 1.500 ISK or if you pay after 3 hours it is 2.500 ISK. The price is one way.

Please note that if you DO NOT pay at all, Reykjavik rent a car will be notified and will charge your credit card for the 2.500 ISK tunnel fee plus a 2.400 ISK service fee, a total of 4.900 ISK.

We offer the following insurance packages:

As well as a number or individual insurance. Please visit our Insurance page for details about the insurance we offer.

CDW is always included in our prices. We highly recommend adding insurance before you drive on the Icelandic roads. 

The renter is always responsible for the following damages, which are not covered by our Silver, Gold or Platinum insurance packages or individual insurance. Examples of this are: 

Damages caused to the underside of the vehicle
Damages caused when driving off road or through waters and rivers
Damages caused to the tires or the wheels of the car (unless you have (TI) tire insurance)
Damages caused by the wind blowing up the door
Damages caused by negligence or driving while intoxicated

For a full list of what is not covered as well as details about our Insurance check out our Terms page.

Yes, you can book additional extras online or at the front desk when you arrive. They involve extra cost and are subject to availability. You can read all about the extras we offer on our extras page.

We advice you to book GPS, Wifi and child seats before you arrive to make sure we have one available for you. 

We always try to provide the car you booked but we can not guarantee the brand and model. If the exact model you booked is unavailable at the time of pick up we will give you a similiar model or an upgrade.

Our cancellation policy is as follows
If you cancel up to 2 days (48 hours) prior to pick up you get full refund (100% refund).
If you cancel less than 48 hours before pick up you will not get a refund (0% refund), unless you buy our Cancellation Protection.
No shows are not refunded (0% refund).
If you pick up the car, but decide to drop off early, we do not refund the unused, or partly used rental day(s) unless amendments to booking or cancellations have been made prior to the pick-up date.

Yes, we allow you to modify or cancel your reservation after it is confirmed. This service is free of charge. You simply need to send us an email and our sales representative will assist you.

Regarding extensions, please be aware that we are not always able to accommodate your extension requests, especially during high season. Please contact us 24 hours before your scheduled drop off so we can do our best to extend.

Please note that no refunds are issued for cancellations within 48 hours or for unused rental days after the pick up has started - view the cancellation policy for details. 

For changes to reservations made via a Travel Agency, please contact the relevant agent.

You will receive a confirmation of amendment or cancellation by e-mail. 

If you are dropping off in our office by Reykjavik KEF airport we advise you to be there at least 3 hours before your flight. The airport is a busy international airport with many planes leaving at the same time. Once you have returned the car to our lot, you can take the shuttle bus to the departure hall.
 

Our Head office in Reykjavik is open during the following hours:
Monday - Friday from 8am - 18.00 / 6pm.
Saturday - Sunday our Reykjavik office is open from 9am - 16.00 / 4pm.

You can return the car after office hours in our Reykjavik office. We have a key drop box right next to the entrance on the left. Please note that a car that is returned out of office hours will not be checked in until the next business day and you are responsible for the car until then.
 

Drop off tips
Remember to fill up the tank to avoid our service fee, which is 5000 ISK (plus the price of filling up the tank).
There is no need to clean the car on the outside, but please throw away all trash before dropping off, we really appreciate it. 

And finally, please make sure you check if you have all your items with you. We advise you to check the glove compartment and under the seats especially. 

Yes you can.

What is the European Health Insurance Card?

A free card that gives you access to medically necessary, state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in any of the 28 EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, under the same conditions and at the same cost (free in some countries) as people insured in that country.

Cards are issued by your national health insurance provider.

Important – the European Health Insurance Card:

• is not an alternative to travel insurance. It does not cover any private healthcare or costs such as a return flight to your home country or lost/stolen property,
• does not cover your costs if you are travelling for the express purpose of obtaining medical treatment,
• does not guarantee free services. As each country’s healthcare system is different services that cost nothing at home might not be free in another country.

Please note: when you move your habitual residence to another country, you should register with the S1 form instead of using the EHIC to receive medical care in your new country of habitual residence.