Family car rental in Iceland
The short answer
Two things decide a family rental in Iceland: space and safety. Icelandic law requires a suitable child restraint for every child under 135 cm, and we arrange the right seats with your quote — tell us each child's height, weight and age. For space, the Family & Space category seats 9 including the driver on a standard category B license, and Comfort is the AWD all-rounder for up to 5.
We'd rather match you to the smallest car that genuinely fits your family and its luggage than upsell a bigger one — and every charge in the quote is itemized before you pay.
Child seats and Icelandic law
In Iceland, children under 135 cm must use suitable child-restraint equipment, and the seat must match the child — we assign infant seats, toddler seats and booster seats by height, weight and age, approved to current European standards (R129 / i-Size) within each seat's labeled range.
Child seats are arranged with your quote, subject to availability, and charged for every rental day with no cap: infant seat (0–13 kg) €10 per day, toddler seat (9–18 kg) €10 per day, booster seat (15–36 kg) €5 per day. Give the children's heights and weights in the request, we confirm the right seats, and they appear as their own line in the quote before you pay. See damage cover & extras for the seat types we stock.
ISOFIX anchor points are standard on recent European cars. You fit the seats yourself, hired ones included, and never rear-facing in front of an active airbag (rental terms 23). You're also welcome to bring your own European-approved seat — just tell us either way in the request, so the right seats are settled before pickup.
Space and luggage, category by category
An Iceland trip carries more gear than a city trip — strollers, camera bags, winter layers. Rather than promising a magic trunk, here is how the family-relevant categories compare; the exact models in each category are listed under Our cars.
| Category | Seats | Drive | Space in practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family & Space | Seats9 | Drive2WD | Space in practiceThe most space of all our cars — 9 seats including the driver, room for everyone and the luggage. Driven on a standard category B car license. |
| Comfort | Seats5 | DriveAWD | Space in practiceAn AWD SUV with extra clearance for up to 5 — the all-rounder when the family fits in five seats and you want winter confidence. |
Family & Space: the 9-seat option
One vehicle for the whole group changes the trip: one set of fuel stops, nobody split across two cars, and the day bags ride in the luggage space instead of on laps. Family & Space is our 9-seat Renault Trafic category — manual, front-wheel drive, made for paved routes (it is not permitted on F-roads), and driven on a standard category B car license.
Smaller family? The Comfort alternative
If you are five or fewer, Comfort usually fits the family and the luggage in one AWD SUV — automatic, on winter tires in season, and a sound choice for winter trips with kids.
Two drivers make family days easier
Long South Coast days are far easier shared. Each named additional driver is €10 per day, for every day of the rental (rental terms 40(c)).
Register the second driver on the booking before pickup. Only drivers named in the rental agreement may drive the car: if anyone else drives, your cover doesn't apply to that driving (rental terms 39) and a €1,000 unauthorized-driver fee is charged (rental terms 40(h)).
Costs a family budget can plan around
The flow is quote-first: send your dates and party, and the reply is an itemized quote — rental, any child seats, extra drivers and cover, each as its own line — with no online card payment today. Availability and the final price are confirmed before you book.
Rentals booked directly with us include unlimited kilometers, and Iceland's kilometer fee for rental cars shows as its own clearly labeled line — €10.50 per started rental day: the official daily rate (ISK 1,390 in 2026), passed on without markup or VAT, plus our processing charge including VAT (rental terms 41) — so that part of the budget is settled before you land.
For the back row: a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot is €10 per day with the quote, subject to availability — reliable internet for navigation up front and tablets in the back.
For winter-break trips: every car of ours is fitted with winter tires from 1 November to 14 April (rental terms 1), and they are included in the price, not an extra.
Cars with room for a family
Kia Ceed wagonEveryday · ACRISS CWMNFrom €35/day+ €10.50/day road-use charge
Nissan X-TrailComfort · ACRISS SFARFrom €56/day+ €10.50/day road-use charge
Toyota Land CruiserHighland 4×4 · ACRISS PFARFrom €136/day+ €10.50/day road-use charge
Renault Trafic (9-seat)Family & Space · ACRISS FVMNFrom €185/day+ €10.50/day road-use charge
Related guides
Plan the family trip
Tell us dates, party size and the children's heights — the quote comes back itemized, with seats and space settled before you fly.
Family questions, answered
Do you provide child seats, and what does Icelandic law require?
Yes — child seats are arranged with your quote, subject to availability: infant seat (0–13 kg) €10, toddler seat (9–18 kg) €10 and booster seat (15–36 kg) €5 per day, charged for every rental day with no cap. Icelandic law requires a suitable child restraint for every child under 135 cm; we assign the seats by the child's height, weight and age, approved to current European standards (R129 / i-Size), and you fit them yourself (rental terms 23).
Can I drive the 9-seat Family & Space van on a normal license?
Yes. The 9-seat Renault Trafic in the Family & Space category counts as a passenger vehicle for licensing: a standard category B car license, held for at least one year, covers it (rental terms 3). The minimum age for the van is 25, but at our discretion drivers aged 20–24 may rent it for the young driver fee of €15 per day (rental terms 2 and 40(d)). It is front-wheel drive and made for paved routes: only four-wheel-drive cars that the booking confirms as F-road approved may be driven on F-roads, Kjölur (35), Kaldidalur (550), Öxi (939) or roads 586 and 864, so the van may not use them (rental terms 16).
How much does an additional driver cost?
Each named additional driver is €10 per day, charged for every rental day with no cap (rental terms 40(c)). Register every driver on the booking before pickup: if someone who isn't named drives, your cover doesn't apply (rental terms 39) and a €1,000 unauthorized-driver fee is charged (rental terms 40(h)).
Which car takes the most luggage?
Family & Space — 9 seats including the driver and the most load space of all our cars. For up to five people with normal luggage, Comfort usually does the job; if you're unsure, list the party and the bags in the quote request and we'll say honestly what fits.
Is winter driving with children realistic?
Yes, with the right car and habits. Winter tires are fitted from 1 November to 14 April (rental terms 1), the AWD Comfort category is the usual family pick, and you plan shorter days around the daylight. Check umferdin.is and the weather before each leg.
Last updated: 28 September 2026