Pros: Very close to the airpot - walkable distance, better to skip to shuttle busCons: Sixt pricing is not transparent - change from limited number of KM to unlimited distance, apart from the expected upgrade charge, also changes the base rate for the car. It makes it impossible to compare with other companies and importantly, confuses a lot when picking up the car. It's unclear.
10.0 Excellent19 Feb 2020
Pros: Friendly staff, fast pick-up and drop-off, shiningly new car.Cons: -
5.2 Okay28 Oct 2019
Cons: There was an extra mileage few that wasn't disclosed when I booked the car that more than doubled the cost
8.4 Excellent25 Oct 2019
Pros: Staff was friendly, car was good, not a long wait.Cons: They tried to sell me a bunch of insurance I didn't need. It got uncomfortable.
4.0 Okay23 Oct 2019
Pros: The car was greatCons: The service. Charged us for automatic gas refill even though we declined it. Also waited an hour at airport outside in cold for rental shuttle to pick us up. Not efficient
4.0 Okay15 Oct 2019
Cons: Staff were rude and attempt to pressure you heavily into unecessary add-ons. Almost confrontational drop-off and pick-up experience. Overall poor experience and complete lack of customer service skills. Unpleasant
10.0 Excellent23 Sep 2019
Pros: The staff was amazing. Best customer experience ever.Cons: Nothing! They were great!
10.0 Excellent13 Aug 2019
Pros: The staff was very friendly and helpful. They gave us a free upgrade to include navigation which was great in Iceland where our cell service was not always the best. The car itself was great!
4.8 Okay5 Aug 2019
Pros: A car was availableCons: Renting agent took advantage of our family’s lack of knowledge, using fear to persuade us to pay more for unnecessary options. This substantially raised the price from our prepaid amount and was not a “warm welcome” on our travels to a new place.
4.4 Okay22 Jul 2019
Cons: There were a lot of extras we were charged for that were not included in the initial price.
Pros: car was perfect, snow tires were recommended and were very helpful! staff was great with warnings and weather and all informationCons: the premium insurance was very expensive but I do not regret getting it as the conditions were very extreme. It would be great to have some kind of road service feature for people, we were fine but we did see cars along the way that needed help, not sure if this exists but it would be good for people and we would have got it
8.4 Excellent8 Apr 2019
Cons: Pick-up took a very long time. Too much paper work. Ordered a 4wd vehicle. Got a 2wd vehicle with no price adjustment. No big deal. Since weather was nice.
4.8 Okay23 Feb 2019
Pros: Car was cleanCons: Was very unsafe! Tires were terrible!!! Will not use again
6.8 Good10 Aug 2018
A Mazda Crossover is not an SUV...Cons: We were a little surprised when the car pulled up - it was a very small, low to the ground Mazda crossover SUV. We had booked an SUV ("SUV Jeep Wrangler or Similar") because we knew we would be driving on many rocky and dirt roads and this, while it had all wheel drive, was closer to a Sedan. We were nervous about driving on these roads with such a low car and were nervous about the car getting scratched on the bottom. All my emails for my reservation said "Jeep Wrangler or Similar". This was no Jeep Wrangler.
8.0 Excellent30 Jul 2018
Iceland 2nd VacPros: Fast service.Cons: Doesn’t have chairs in the waiting area. At least they were fast.
10.0 Excellent29 May 2018
Pros: ease of rental process and drop off.
10.0 Excellent23 May 2018
Pros: Great car for the price. Folks were nice at the counter. Airport location was easy. No shuttle bus was needed.
4.8 Okay17 May 2018
CitroenPros: Size of carCons: Poor mechanical performance. Car was not clean. Many scratches on car. Rattling noises. Goofy controls.
9.2 Excellent29 Mar 2018
worth the moneyPros: the Mazda CX3 was able to handle al the non paved roads we took to reach the obscure sight seeing locations in IcelandCons: the visibility on the passenger side, and back window isnt great. the defroster isnt very strong, it needed to be on max heat with the upper body vents closed to defrost the front window.
7.6 Good12 Mar 2018
Not what I asked for but worked out great in the endPros: Car was clean, efficient, had every amenity you could want and had great tires on it which made our trip very safe the whole time we drove through the north of the island.Cons: It’s was a little low riding for the time of year and the snow. I requested a 4WD car and the Mazda CX3 is a AWD car. It worked out okay but I only noticed after our first day with it and I was uncomfortable when we started getting more north and the road conditions got worse. It would have been nice to get the type of car I paid for. This Mazda kept me safe for my whole trip but I did request a 4WD car
Pros: The staff member was nice and once we were able to finally see someoneCons: The rental system needs to be cleaner, having an individual walk out to the car is rather slow since then you loose a agent and leave people waiting way to long (we waited an hour and a half.
5.2 Okay15 Aug 2019
Pros: Staff in Iceland was helpful.Cons: I booked a SUV (Jeep Wrangler or equivalent) and when I arrived I found out that my reservation was for an economy car (Mazda CX-3). I was mislead by Kayak /Dollar, if I had know that for the price I was getting economy instead of SUV, I would not have booked.
9.6 Excellent15 Aug 2019
Pros: The staff were great.Cons: It can take a little while to pick up -it gets busy when several flights come in at once. But that's understandable.
9.2 Excellent2 Jul 2019
Cons: We needed a car for 27 hours, but there was no way to adjust an booking (online or in person) to charge anything less than a full 48 hour rental.
6.8 Good22 May 2019
Pros: friendly staff. efficient airport p/u & d/o. additional options such as hotspot were a life saver.Cons: costly & mandatory insurance purchase should be better disclosed on booking.
10.0 Excellent21 May 2019
Pros: Reasonable rates and extremely helpful staff. Highly recommended.
7.6 Good20 May 2019
Pros: Drop off was easy.Cons: System was down when we picked up car. Also, the car seemed like it had not been cleaned in a while, and seemed old for a rental car fleet..
8.8 Excellent15 May 2019
Pros: The Peugot 9(really 7) passenger van was super with a torquey diesel. Got an off the beaten path tip when checking in, visited a great waterfall valleyCons: Gas gauge was 1/8 down when rented, took picks and brought it back at same. A little huffiness but we prevailed. Laughable stickers in the van about no food and drink, really? The walk is shorter than it looks, wait NOT for the bus that runs infrequently.
10.0 Excellent10 May 2019
Pros: Friendly staff and ended up with a brand new vehicle which was a nice change in pace after a bad experience with Hertz during our previous 5 days using a rentalCons: Checkin/checkout could have been faster but 15-20 minutes wasn’t bad at all
Cons: The representative was a bit rude. although the tank was full, he insisted that I will add another 6-7 liters to the tank.
2.0 Mediocre10 Sep 2017
KAYAK advertises false informationPros: They were able to upgrade us to what we paid forCons: We ordered a 5 person SUV and the rental was not a 5 person SUV. The rental company said they didn't offer a 5 person SUV at the price we paid and that KAYAK site was displaying false information about the class of car we paid for. There are no 5 person SUVs available in the class of car we paid for but on KAYAK the option we chose said 5 person SUV and that description on KAYAK was the deciding factor. In other words we chose this car and this company because o KAYAKS descritpion. If steps they're not taken to compensate us I will be filing complaints with staying local and private officials
10.0 Excellent18 Jul 2017
Pros: Very easy pickup and dropoff. When we got contract at pickup, it was different than price quoted but they changed it right away. Very friendly. Someone came and picked us up at the guesthouse.Cons: Didn't advertise that they would do pickup but guesthouse proprietor said that was usually done and she called. Would have been nice if we knew that up front.
2.0 Mediocre26 May 2017
Window broken, dirty, 2.5 hr wait with a bookingCons: Window was broken and wouldnt roll up. With heavy winds and 30 degrees outside, this was not ideal. Since it took 2.5 hrs waiting in line to get the car i prebooked, and since rhe airport was 45 min away, i didnt have any time to return the car on my short stopover or i would have missed the time window to see beautiful iceland. Instead i had to spend more money and book a driver. The car had not been cleaned on the inside either.
9.6 Excellent28 Apr 2017
Upgrade sagaPros: Wifi in the car. It was fun. Worth the up charge.Cons: It was abut pricey.
2.0 Mediocre20 Mar 2017
Massive lineCons: Queue was absolutely massive while other car hire company's queue were minimal. Instead of waiting hours, we sadly decided to rent with another provider even though we had pre-paid with budget. Pretty pathetic business practice
4.0 Okay2 Jan 2017
Initially good customer service, but headaches folCons: I was charged for multiple extra days because I used an after hours key drop. This is in the process of getting worked out (hopefully), but has created a major headache.
4.8 Okay1 Jan 2017
Poor Customer ServicePros: The car itself.Cons: The lack of communication regarding the price as well as the drop off time/location. They told us to drop the car off by 5 pm and they closed at 1pm. They also told us that there would be a shuttle to take us back to our hostel and there wasn't. Finally, the woman who gave us the rental said she would charge us for one day instead of two and didn't.
2.0 Mediocre7 Nov 2016
Pros: The rental facility had moved and the organization Budget never informed us of the change. When we contacted corporate, they said they were not responsible for the iceland local. This is the worst service we have ever received. You should not have them listed as a choice!!!
Pros: The team at the Hertz. The pick up and drop off was excellent!Cons: The price can be more competitive.
6.0 Good7 Aug 2018
Pros: I liked the pick up at the hotel. The car drove fine.Cons: The quote that I received on Kayak was about $20 less than when I went to pick up the car. I declined any extra insurance. I spoke with Hertz rental and they said the the Iceland office was an independent office and would check with them. They basically said that that was the price and here is your invoice of what you paid. It seems that there is nothing that I can do about this. I work in the airline industry and will not recommend Kayak, unless this is rectified.
10.0 Excellent6 Sep 2017
Excellent ServicePros: We had a last min. change of plans that brought us to Iceland for a few days. Hertz was great at getting us a rental car with virtually no notice. Wonderful people at the desk and a far better car rental experience then anything I've used in the USCons: The shuttle back to our hotel was a surprise bonus!
9.2 Excellent25 Jul 2017
Pros: I liked the friendly staff. They were kind when I had to wait 20 minutes for my car to be cleaned and gave me a discount for the inconvenience. Made the wait more tolerable for sure!Cons: A little pricey, but I hnderstand the market and season is just high priced
7.2 Good27 May 2017
Insurance confusionPros: Nice new carCons: Insurance was confusing. I thought it was included in initial offer but was advised later it was missing. Price with insurance id never have rented from Hertz.
10.0 Excellent30 Apr 2017
Pros: The staff were very nice and made sure I had all of the information to make the best decisions about renting a car in Iceland. The car was very clean, comfortable, and drove well.
10.0 Excellent4 Mar 2017
Staff were very helpfulPros: Hertz staff were extremely helpful. Some of the roads were closed on our route so they helped program our GPS to avoid those roads and gave suggestions of places to stop on the way.
10.0 Excellent28 Sep 2016
Pros: Good staff - not pushy with extras/insurance
Holmbergsbraut 1 (for Gps Use Fuglavík 1)+354 571 7222
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Recent reviews
2.0 Mediocre6 Jul 2018
Didn't get the car we chose/were billed forCons: We were a party of 6 adults with 6 pieces of large luggage and 6 pieces of small luggage. We requested, had a confirmation and paid for a Toyota Sienna van with room for 7 adults and lots of luggage, but received a Citroen Picasso with room for 6 adults and no luggage. There was nothing else available at pick up and there was nothing they could do to make it better. Would not provide a roof rack unless we paid for the rental of it. We were therefore extremely crowded and uncomfortable for the entire time of the rental. The rental location was very hard to find as it was not at the airport as expected, where all the other rental companies were located. Would never rent from them again.
6.0 Good23 May 2017
Not the best valuePros: Staff were friendly and easy to communicate with. Insurance was offered at a reasonable rate.Cons: Rental was actually through Fair Car, not Economy Rent a Car. While somewhat cheaper than other large car options, we still paid a lot for a car that was a tight squeeze for five people and our luggage. We changed the pick up by only a few hours, which led to a noticeable change in price. After it was all said and done, the car was almost $200 more than expected. It looks like we were originally quoted a price in euros, not US dollars and local taxes were omitted.
7.2 Good6 May 2017
Pros: Cheap and fair.Cons: We were not informed that the Iceland Economy Car Rental company does a "pick up service" since their building is not in the airport. This meant we were not looking for the driver when we landed and missed him. This created great confusion as we did not have cell service there to contact the company and had to find airport help.
Pros: Totally unacceptable. I rented the car (one way) well in advance and the guy at the local Avis called me that morning (Sunday) to say they had no cars, no one had returned, and there was nothing he could do about it. I spent hours calling around my area trying to find one but it was a medical emergency, and we ended up renting an Uber, hugely expensive.Cons: Everything. Avis in Westport is really bad.
8.4 Excellent27 Jun 2017
Excellent service, slow pickupPros: Great car, awesome drop-off experience. Attentive employees who knew what they were doing.Cons: The pickup still took more than 1.5 hours, even though I had reserved/booked in advance, which made me miss my hotel check-out time. One unfortunate employee was left to deal with a long line of customers who hadn't booked in advance, further penalizing those who had planned ahead.
Pros: Staff was friendly, good price performance ration.Cons: Unluckily if you book the car and you are there only one day with the cruise ship to pick up the car (no matter if with reservation or without) took more than one hour. This made our day trip very stressful, because we lost so much time. Employees should not work as tourist information if long line.
5.2 Okay7 Jul 2019
Cons: I had booked my reservation to be picked up at 1 and dropped off at 3 and when I arrived at the return the agent charges us an extra $80 usd for the addition two hours because our reservation didn’t note the addition two hours
Cons: GPS we rented did Not work at all and when we returned the car we told the agent about and he didn’t even say anything at all.
2.0 Mediocre13 Aug 2019
Pros: Their staff seems to be nice while they rip you off under the table. Should have read the reviews before I booked. What people say about it being a scam is completely true.Cons: - They charge arms and legs for insurance deposit and damages that weren't even done by you (lots of Google reviews from multiple people about this). - Pickup in my experience took 3 hours. Multiple people had to wait with me for several hours.
2.0 Mediocre7 Aug 2019
Pros: Nothing.Cons: They could have had our car we reserved. Instead they didn't have anything so we were forced to rent else where.
6.0 Good2 Jan 2018
Generally good - but could easily be improvedPros: Slick car pick up / drop off Good, friendly staffCons: Transport at the airport - the pickup bus was later arriving and no obvious signage on where to get picked up / meet My car had some damage on pick up - all noted fine, but the headlights were affected by the damage. Should have been fixed before re-hiring.
10.0 Excellent31 May 2017
Absolutely hassle freePros: Very friendly and helpful staff. I had my own insurance cover and they didn't even try to sell their own insurance. They gave me a free map, coupons for fuel discounts, and some good advice on my travel itinerary. The pick-up and drop-off was seamless with virtually no waiting time. The car was new and very well cleaned. Overall, I am very happy with the service I received and will definitely use them again on my next trip to IcelandCons: none really
2.0 Mediocre18 Feb 2017
AVOID. An abysmal service. Extortionate profiteeriPros: They gave me a car for 6 days I supposeCons: Picked up late from Keflavik in a dangerously overloaded van. Rude and unpleasant staff. Charged £650 for replacement of a damaged windscreen that was present on collection (over double the rental cost). Go somewhere else to rent a car in Iceland.
Looking to rent a car during your time in Reykjavik? For travelers landing at Keflavik International Airport, the hire 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 hire desk on the west side of the airport and the Hertz hire 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 petrol 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 a car hire in Reykjavik for £29 or less
Book your car hire in Reykjavik at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
Off-airport car hire locations in Reykjavik are around 7% cheaper than airport locations on average
Economy car hires in Reykjavik are around 51% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about hiring a car in Reykjavik
Some car hire 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 Sixt, Budget and Avis
On average a car hire in Reykjavik costs £39 per day.
In the past 72 hours, the cheapest car hires were found at Global Rent A Car (£29/day), Ice Rental 4x4 (£32/day) and Ice Rental Cars (£36/day). In the last 72 hours the cheapest hire car price was found at Ice Rental Cars Knarrarvogur 2 104 (1 miles from the city centre).
Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car hire companies in Reykjavik are Dollar (8.3, 146 reviews), Thrifty (8.2, 91 reviews), and Sixt (6.8, 318 reviews).
The average price of fuel in Reykjavik is £3.54 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a tank of fuel costs between £42 and £56, depending on the car size.
Mini (Hyundai i10 or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in Reykjavik.
Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.
A Mini car hire in Reykjavik costs £30 per day, on average.
A Economy car hire in Reykjavik costs £36 per day, on average.
A Intermediate car hire in Reykjavik costs £54 per day, on average.
In Reykjavik, cars are most frequently hired at Ice Rental Cars Keflavik airport (26 miles from city centre).
On average hiring a car in Reykjavik costs £274 per week (£39 per day).
On average a car hire in Reykjavik costs £1,174 per month (£39 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.
In part due to its isolated location, Iceland, features very high petrol prices. In general, drivers will find that petrol prices range from 805 ISK ($6.50) to 867 ISK ($7.00) per gallon. Also, it is important to note that petrol will be purchased per liter and not per gallon.
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.