Driving in Iceland for Indian Travellers
Choose a route and vehicle that match your experience, the season and the conditions—not just the distance shown on a map.
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Driving in Iceland for Indian travellers involves more than adapting to a rental car. Traffic keeps to the right, daylight changes greatly by season, and weather can alter a route quickly. Decide whether you want to drive before building a holiday around a long road trip.
Check the rental requirements before paying
Ask the rental company to confirm its requirements for your exact Indian driving licence, including whether it needs an International Driving Permit or an accepted translation. Check minimum age, licence-holding period, payment-card requirements, deposit and additional-driver conditions. Do not rely on another traveller’s experience with a different company.
Read what the rental agreement covers: permitted roads, damage exclusions, roadside help and the procedure after a breakdown. Photograph the car’s existing damage with the provider at collection and make sure you understand the fuel or charging arrangements.
Make the first driving day an easy one
Allow time to get used to the controls and road position. Avoid a demanding drive immediately after an overnight journey. If you are tired or uneasy about the conditions, an airport transfer and a night of rest can be a better start than forcing the itinerary.
Before leaving the rental location, locate the lights, demister, hazard lights and the assistance number. Ask questions there, while help is available.
Three checks before every journey
- Icelandic Met Office: weather, wind and warnings.
- Umferðin: road conditions and closures.
- SafeTravel: destination alerts and safety guidance.
Check again during the day when conditions are changing. A navigation app is useful for directions, but it is not permission to enter a closed road.
Habits that matter on Icelandic roads
SafeTravel advises drivers to keep their lights on, wear seatbelts, slow down before gravel surfaces and adapt speed to the actual conditions. Leave the phone alone while driving. Use a proper parking area for photographs instead of stopping on the carriageway or road edge.
Approach single-lane bridges cautiously and make sure the way is clear. Weather can bring winter-like conditions outside the middle of winter. If you lack experience on ice, choose another plan rather than testing your ability on an unfamiliar road.
Review the official driving guidance and driving checklist before collecting the vehicle.
Do you need a 4×4?
Start with the intended roads and your rental company’s conditions. A larger vehicle does not remove the risks of ice, wind, poor visibility or fatigue. Highland routes need separate preparation and suitable access; they are not an automatic extension of a first trip.
Off-road driving is prohibited. An open road, the correct vehicle and permission under your rental contract are separate questions. For highland travel, read SafeTravel’s highland guidance and confirm the plan with a qualified local provider.
Make a plan you can shorten
Our seven-day itinerary deliberately focuses on a smaller area. Keep meals, breaks and hotel check-in times in the schedule. In winter, a city base and guided trips may be more enjoyable than daily hotel changes.
For emergencies, call 112. For a routine rental problem, use the assistance contact supplied with your vehicle. Keep your location and planned overnight stop available offline.
Allow money and time for a changed plan. Arriving safely matters more than completing a list of attractions.