How to Rent a Campervan in Iceland
Don’t want to read this blog? Check it out on Youtube instead!
Last time we told you all about our Elopement in Iceland – how we arranged it, what paperwork we needed to do, and how much it cost us.
After the elopement, we embarked on a 7-day campervan honeymoon around Iceland’s Ring Road.
Like many of you reading this right now, we did a lot of research via Youtube and blogs to find out which company, van, and features were best for us. We’re going to break that down for you.
The Company
There is no shortage of campervan rental companies in Iceland. Here are a few examples:
And more!
We opted for LAVA as they had great reviews, a good selection of vans available when we wanted to go, and straightforward amenities. But honestly you’d have a great time with most of these companies. They were very easy to work with and we were able to easily get in touch with them if we had any questions while on the road.
Cost Factors
There are several factors that determine the cost of your rental, including the following:
Manual or Automatic
We opted for automatic! It kept things easy. You will save money if you select a manual transmission.
Van Capacity
We wanted a 2-3 passenger cabin with a 2 person sleep space. We honestly didn’t want to spend extra money unnecessarily on a larger rental. We also didn’t want to find ourselves with a large vehicle on roads that were unknown to us.
Driving Capability
We chose a 2WD instead of a 4x4. 2WD cars are not authorized to drive on F roads or in the Highlands. We didn’t have plans to do this on the trip anyway, so a 4x4 vehicle wasn’t necessary.
Driving conditions are usually conducive to 2WD cars in May.
Be advised: Do not drive your 2WD vehicle on F-Roads. Emergency services will likely need to rescue you.
Number of Drivers List on the Rental
We both wanted to be able to drive so we added a second listed driver for the rental.
This is where it’ll be important for your drivers to have an international driving permit
If you’re based in the US, you can get it at AAA for about $20 for a license that lasts a year
Insurance Coverage
The following was included on the base level of our rental:
Super Collision Damage Waiver (SCDW)
Theft Protection
Gravel Protection
Optional coverage:
Sand & Ash Protection
Tire (Tyre) protection
No matter what, be sure to check your policy to understand whether or not your policy covers wind damage. The winds can be very strong – strong enough to bend your door on the hinges if you happen to open it without being careful. Not only could that leave you in a difficult position on your drive, it will not be an inexpensive repair.
Whether it is included or not (it was not included for us), exercise caution at all times and assume that the conditions can become windy.
Amenity kits
We made sure our rental included the following:
sleeping bags
gas stoves
kitchen kits
Electric cooler
water jugs
a diesel heater
Folding chairs and table
Wifi hot spot
Make and Model
We got a Renault Kangoo. It had good fuel efficiency, it was a great size for easy parking and handling, and it had just enough space for the week with two adults.
What We Learned
After a great week driving the Ring Road, here are some takeaways:
Rent a bigger van than you think, it’s worth the money for both of you to lay down comfortably. The Kangoo was just big enough, meaning if we wanted to move to the back to camp, we had to move our things up front. When we wanted to drive, we had to empty out the cab and move everything to the back.
Be sure the rental includes a gasoline discount card. This will be an offer to refill your petrol at specific stations at a discounted rate. Fuel in Iceland is not cheap, especially compared to the U.S. Our rental had a discount card and we really appreciated it!
Look for promo codes and discounts before committing! With so many great companies, sometimes it comes down to a difference of a few dollars. Company websites, blogs, and your favorite youtubers may be offering a deal for you to bring down costs.
Planning to hit the road right away? See if the company you’re looking at offers airport pickup. That might save you some money staying overnight in Reykjavik or grabbing the airport bus to town.
Test equipment before you leave town! We cannot stress this enough. These are great companies and they’ll attend to these issues quickly, and it’s much easier when you’re still in town. Think about looking at your diesel heater, your electric cooler, and your wifi hotspot.
All in all we had an amazing time!! And we plan to tell you all about it.
Have you rented a campervan in Iceland? Comment below and tell us about your experience!
Thanks for getting away with the Mays!
Until next time,
Anna & James
