Looking to rent a car during your time in Reykjavik? For travelers landing at Keflavik International Airport, the rental car counters can be found in the Arrival Hall of the airport’s main terminal. If you are arriving in Reykjavik Airport on a domestic flight, you will find the Europcar rental desk on the west side of the airport and the Hertz rental desk on the east side of the airport.
Travelers should be aware that many of the tunnels and bridges in Iceland are one way and the right of way is given to whoever arrives first. This is particularly important because these bridges and tunnels tend to be quite narrow, and nobody wants to have to back up on a tiny bridge.
One of the major advantages of renting a car in Reykjavik is that it truly enables you to visit any part of the country. Many wonderful sites and natural wonders are easily accessible on a day trip from Reykjavik such as the Blue Lagoon, Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, and Kirkjufjara Beach. However, make sure to keep an eye on your fuel tank, as gas stations are sparse in Iceland.
Despite its relatively small size, Reykjavik still experiences the typical morning rush hour from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and evening rush hour from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. However, drivers will be happy to hear that the congestion is by no means severe, so, besides a few of the downtown streets backing up, there isn’t too much to worry about.
25% of our users found rental cars in Reykjavik for C$ 96 or less
Book your rental car in Reykjavik at least 6 weeks before your trip in order to get a below-average price
Off-airport rental car locations in Reykjavik are around 24% cheaper than airport locations on average
Mini rental cars in Reykjavik are around 11% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in Reykjavik
Some car rental companies in Reykjavik which have updated their car rental health and safety policies due to COVID-19 to make sure vehicles are clean and disinfected include Hertz, Europcar and Enterprise
On average a hire car in Reykjavik costs C$ 139 per day.
In the past 72 hours, the cheapest rental cars were found at Economy Rent a Car (C$ 75/day), Alamo (C$ 81/day) and Fair Car (C$ 132/day). In the last 72 hours the cheapest rental car price was found at Fair Car Njarðarbraut 11 260 (35 kilometers from city center).
Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car rental companies in Reykjavik are Dollar (8.2, 159 reviews), Thrifty (8.1, 96 reviews), and Sixt (6.8, 328 reviews).
Yes, automatic cars are available in most car renting companies in Reykjavik. As cars with manual transmission are more common in many countries, you might have to pay an additional charge for renting an automatic car.
The average gas price in Reykjavik is C$ 11.12 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between C$ 133 and C$ 178, depending on the car size.
Mini (Hyundai i10 or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Reykjavik.
A Mini car rental in Reykjavik costs C$ 107 per day, on average.
A Intermediate car rental in Reykjavik costs C$ 164 per day, on average.
A Compact car rental in Reykjavik costs C$ 131 per day, on average.
In Reykjavik, cars are most frequently rented at City Car Rental Njarðarbraut 11 (37 km from city centre ).
On average a rental car in Reykjavik costs C$ 973 per week (C$ 139 per day).
On average a rental car in Reykjavik costs C$ 4,171 per month (C$ 139 per day).
Weather and time of year are two of the main factors to take into consideration when choosing a car for your time in Reykjavik. In summer, for instance, small cars will be able to handle the roads with no issues. However, come winter, small cars can struggle with the weather, so it may be better to go with a midsize car instead.
The standard speed limit on urban roads in Reykjavik is 50 km/h (31 mph), while on rural gravel roads it is 80 km/h (50 mph) and 90 km/h (56 mph) on rural paved roads. In residential areas, typically, the speed limit is 30 km/h (18 mph). There are also lower advisory speed limits posted along many of the roads.
Drivers will be happy to hear that parking in Reykjavik is always free after 6:00 p.m. and all day on Sundays. Aside from that, parking rates go by the area (P1 - P4), with P1 being the most expensive and P3 being the cheapest; P4 is a separate weekend only designation. The general rule of thumb is that, as you get closer to Laugavegur High Street, parking becomes more expensive. Also, there are plenty of parking garages to be found in Reykjavik.