So How Awfully Dangerous Is It to Drive in Iceland in Winter?
Thursday, June 07, 2018 Iceland 1 Comments

So How Awfully Dangerous Is It to Drive in Iceland in Winter?

Is it safe to drive in Iceland in winter? It seemed like the most inane question I questioned my buddies, who apparently all wanted to drive in Reykjavik in February. They all kept quiet as I went diplomatically ballistic over the emergencies and inefficiencies of driving in a foreign world that’s blanketed with what seemed like heaven’s bedrock. All my licensed driver friends, who have been driving around the roads of chaotic Manila, felt so confident that they can ace the driving lessons in Reykjavik, no matter how the crazy the road conditions were! I felt slightly relieved by this fact, because I know how treacherous it is to drive in the streets of Manila, Philippines. So yes, after several cursory glances at the safety measures shared, I caved in and off we went to experience the best self-drive tour in winter you can ever pray for. Let me share some snowball of snapshots, firsthand experiences, and some practical tips on what to do when driving in Iceland in the winter season.

My best travel buddy friends decided to travel to Reykjavik, Iceland from around the near end of February. Although I hate to admit that we did not do a ton of research, we did google search on how to the so called self-guided tour method of Iceland. We were up for some DIY adventure and of all the recommendations, what appealed the most was the idea of a rental car and a whole lot of driving. Of course, me being a student driver, driving in Iceland was my ultimate concern, especially since I did not want to end up like in one of those gory Final Destination movie endings that my insane imagination decided to focus on. But one thing I’ve learned is that a road trip around Iceland is a must, and it’s even better if it’s during winter! It’s a trip of a lifetime.

Since there aren’t any trains in this country, and public buses within and outside the city center aren’t that mainstream, the most optimistic and practical way to explore the places in Iceland is by renting a car. Not only does it give you the freedom and flexibility to do the things you like, at your own pace, at your own place-of-choice (perhaps the Golden Circle?), and at your own preferred path, the Icelandic roads will definitely be a travel experience that will transform your perception on how landscape should look like! It’s absolutely out-of-this-world, you’ll want to drive here forever!!

There are several recommended vehicle rental places in Iceland, and of course the bare minimum are the age limits & driver’s licenses: generally, you must be 21 to rent a regular car in Iceland and 23 to rent a 4WD vehicle (with no maximum age limit is in effect), but company policies may vary, so Google search and do a face-to-face confirmation before booking. Good news is that all national driver's licenses are recognized, so you do not need an international one. Depending on which vehicle rental company you choose, you can have the vehicle ready at the international airport, or the nearest place possible, but definitely will not be delivered in your exact accommodation place.

I recommend booking with a reputable car rental company, even if it’s slightly more expensive, because you are much guaranteed to have better vehicle options and thorough guidance on what to do. Also, this will be ideal since you’ll feel assured that you’ll have greater chances of taking your car to nearby service shops around the country that’s partnered to this reputable rental company. If you can check their website AND visit their actual office before booking, that’ll be better. This is to assure yourself you’re choosing the right one; plus, they might be able to recommend better options too. There are nice choices like Reykjavik Rent a Car, Thrifty Car Rental, Sixt Rent a Car, RED Car Rental, Europcar Iceland, and of course, out top choice: ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR.

So, then the question remains, even after all the preparations and excitements going on: is it safe to drive in Iceland in winter? It’s a yes, but it’s not for the faint of heart! Especially if you come from a place that is warm and that does not experience any form of winter weather. After we paid for the car rental, the guy sitting at the desk told us with a genuine smile, “Driving in Iceland has nothing to do with driving wherever you are from”. And yes, it’s true. In Iceland, actually, the weather can change in an instant and the roads sometimes don’t look like roads anymore, because they become unrecognizable because of the whiteness of everything you see.

It’s not called the land of ice for nothing: SNOW is everywhere and everything! But fear not, believe me, I know, I survived. The important thing is that you decide to rent a 4WD (four-wheel drive vehicle) WITH INSURANCE and preferably, a vehicle that has studded tires, which help on slippery and icy covered areas. Of course, since you’ll be renting a vehicle, you can bring all the essentials with you inside the car (ie. water bottles, emergency stuff, jackets, cameras, go pros, snacks, etc.) Never ever forget to keep your eyes on the road and follow the guide provided. Necessary reminders like checking the map, the GPS, fuel, and daylight times are some of the things we took note of that are super helpful, since we wanted to maximize our time on the road and not get sidetracked by just looking at the landscapes all day.

Be vigilant for potential accidents like flat tires or unknown parking spots, but also be excited to anticipate wild horses and magnificent real-life postcards that you’ll see along the way! Here are some of the surreal snapshots you will potentially be enjoying should you finally decide to do a self-drive around Reykjavik, Iceland! Good luck and hopefully you live to tell the story too, I know I did! :-)