Can rental cars drive on F-roads in Iceland?

What are F-roads?

F-roads (marked with an “F” prefix on Icelandic maps — F208, F225, F26, F910 etc.) are the unpaved Highland mountain tracks that cross Iceland’s rugged interior. They are rough, remote, and often involve fording glacial rivers. They are not part of the paved Ring Road network. Some mountain roads without an F, such as Kjölur (road 35 from road 37 to road 732) and Kaldidalur (road 550), follow the same rules in our terms.

F-roads are summer-only tracks: they usually open in June or early July — each road on its own date, depending on snow — and close again from around mid-September. No fixed opening dates are published in advance — conditions vary year to year. Always check umferdin.is / Vegagerðin for live status before you set out.

The rule in our terms: approved four-wheel drive only, when open

Our terms allow F-roads and the other restricted roads only in a four-wheel-drive vehicle that the booking confirms as F-road approved (rental terms, clause 16): in any other car the risk of getting stuck, damaging the vehicle or needing an emergency rescue is too high. A hybrid qualifies too, as long as it has four-wheel drive and the booking confirms it as F-road approved. On our website the Comfort, 4×4 Adventure and Highland 4×4 categories can be booked as F-road approved; Comfort is all-wheel drive with medium ground clearance, and the two 4×4 categories have more clearance for rougher F-roads. If we have to substitute an approved car, the replacement is approved too, or you may cancel with a full refund (rental terms, clause 1). Always check the current road status before you go.

Which F-roads can an approved car use?

When your booking confirms the car as F-road approved, you may drive these roads once they are officially open:

• Kjölur (road 35 from road 37 to road 732) and Kaldidalur (road 550)
• Öxi (road 939) in the East Fjords
• Roads 586 and 864
• Landmannalaugar via the northern F208 from road 26, then F224
• Other F-roads that are officially open and not on the excluded list

River crossings: entirely at your own risk

Iceland’s glacial rivers swell unpredictably — meltwater, rainfall, and upstream glacial outbursts can raise a river’s depth significantly within hours. If water covers the road, turn back and find another route or wait for conditions to change.

Off-road driving is also illegal in Iceland

Beyond the cover implications, driving off marked roads in Iceland is prohibited by law. Iceland’s highlands contain fragile lava fields and mossy terrain that take centuries to recover from vehicle damage. Fines are substantial and the authorities actively monitor highland areas; on top of that, no waiver covers damage caused off road, and our terms add a €1,000 off-road driving fee (rental terms, clauses 16 and 40). Stay on marked roads — do not create improvised shortcuts.

Our cars for F-road trips

Our 4×4 Adventure category (Suzuki Vitara 4x4, Dacia Duster 4x4 or similar) and our Highland 4×4 (Toyota Land Cruiser or similar) have four-wheel drive and more ground clearance for rougher F-roads; our Comfort category (Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, Nissan Qashqai, Nissan X-Trail or similar) is all-wheel drive with medium ground clearance. All three can be booked F-road approved and have winter tires from 1 November to 14 April. F-roads are allowed only when your booking confirms the car as F-road approved, so tell us about F-road plans when you book. If we have to substitute an approved car, the replacement is approved too, or you may cancel with a full refund (rental terms, clause 1).

Even in an approved car, rivers remain entirely at your own risk. If water covers the road, turn back — don’t attempt a crossing.

Common questions

Last updated: 7 October 2026