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 lane seats 9 including the driver on a standard category B licence, Comfort is the AWD all-rounder for up to 5, and the Campervan seats and sleeps two.
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 is itemised in the quote 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 boosters by height, weight and age, approved to current European standards (R129 / i-Size) within each seat's labelled range.
Child seats are arranged with your quote: 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 insurance & extras for the seat types we stock.
ISOFIX anchor points are standard on recent European cars. 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, lane by lane
An Iceland trip carries more kit than a city break — buggies, camera bags, winter layers. Rather than promising a magic boot, here is how the family-relevant lanes compare; the exact models in each lane are on the fleet pages.
| Lane | Seats | Drive | Space in practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family & Space | 9 | 2WD | The most space in the fleet — 9 seats including the driver, room for everyone and the luggage. Driven on a standard category B car licence. |
| Comfort | 5 | AWD | An AWD SUV with extra clearance for up to 5 — the all-rounder when the family fits in five seats and you want winter confidence. |
| Campervan | 2 | 2WD | Seats and sleeps two, with bedding and a cooking kit — a couple's option, not one for bigger families. |
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 boot instead of on laps. Family & Space is our 9-seat Renault Trafic lane — manual, front-wheel drive, made for paved routes (it is not permitted on F-roads), and driven on a standard category B car licence.
Smaller family? Two alternatives
If you are five or fewer, Comfort usually fits the family and the luggage in one AWD SUV — automatic, on winter tyres in season, and the popular pick for winter trips with kids.
Travelling as two? The Campervan seats and sleeps exactly two, with bedding, a heater and a cooking kit — honest limit: it is a couple's vehicle, not a family bus.
Two drivers make family days easier
Long South Coast days are far easier shared. Each named additional driver is ISK 1,250 per day, capped at 11 rental days — on a longer rental the charge stops adding up after that.
Register the second driver on the booking before pickup. Only registered drivers may drive the car — an unregistered driver can void your cover.
Costs a family budget can plan around
The flow is quote-first: send your dates and party, and the reply is an itemised 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.
Standard rentals include unlimited kilometres, and Iceland's kilometre fee for rental cars shows as its own clearly-labelled line — ISK 1,550 per started rental day: the official daily fee plus a processing estimate — so that part of the budget is settled before you land.
For the back row: a 4G Wi-Fi hotspot is ISK 1,700 per day with the quote — reliable internet for navigation up front and tablets in the back.
For winter half-term trips: Icelandic law requires rental cars to be fitted with winter tyres in season — approximately 1 November to 15 April — and they are included in the price, not an extra.
Related guides
Plan the family trip
Tell us dates, party size and the children's heights — the quote comes back itemised, 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. Icelandic law requires a suitable child restraint for every child under 135 cm; we assign infant seats, toddler seats and boosters by the child's height, weight and age, approved to current European standards (R129 / i-Size).
Can I drive the 9-seat Family & Space van on a normal licence?
Yes. The 9-seat Renault Trafic in the Family & Space lane counts as a passenger vehicle for licensing: a standard category B car licence covers it. It is front-wheel drive and made for paved routes — it is not permitted on F-roads.
How much does an additional driver cost?
Each named additional driver is ISK 1,250 per day, capped at 11 rental days — on a longer rental the charge stops adding up after day 11. Register every driver on the booking before pickup; an unregistered driver can void your cover.
Which car takes the most luggage?
Family & Space — 9 seats including the driver and the most load space in the fleet. 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 tyres are fitted in season (approximately 1 November to 15 April) as Icelandic law requires, the AWD Comfort lane is the usual family pick, and you plan shorter days around the daylight. Check road.is and the weather before each leg.
Last updated: 17 July 2026