Good to know
Protection & extras
What each cover option adds, what it costs per day and what you'd pay if something happens — and what no option covers, in plain figures from our rental terms.
Choose your cover
Every price on this site already includes BASIC + SCDW. Upgrade if you'd rather pay less when something happens.
BASIC + SCDW
Included in every price
€0already in your price
- Most you pay per incident (excess)
- €1,000
- Card hold at pickup
- €1,000
- Included: Collision and theft cover
- Not included: Windshield hit by gravel from another car
- Not included: Tire damaged on its own
- Not included: Rims damaged on their own
- Optional add-on: Sand and ash damageadd-on, €15 a day
PLUS
Adds Tire and Windshield Protection
+€20per day
- Most you pay per incident (excess)
- €1,000
- Card hold at pickup
- €1,000
- Included: Collision and theft cover
- Included: Windshield hit by gravel from another carthe new part itself
- Included: Tire damaged on its ownthe new part itself
- Not included: Rims damaged on their own
- Optional add-on: Sand and ash damageadd-on, €15 a day
- Our pick
MAX
The least to pay if something happens
+€40per day
- Most you pay per incident (excess)
- €0
- Card hold at pickup
- No hold
- Included: Collision and theft cover
- Included: Windshield hit by gravel from another carthe new part itself
- Included: Tire damaged on its own
- Included: Rims damaged on their own
- Included: Sand and ash damageincluded (€15 a day on its own)
You choose your cover when you book. Nothing paid is pre-selected, and your quote shows the total before you book.
Booked through a travel agency or booking site? Those bookings usually include BASIC: a €3,000 excess, and €3,000 held on your card. Every price on our site includes BASIC + SCDW.
Already covered for rental cars? If your own card or travel insurance covers rental cars in Iceland, you can decline CDW at the same price. You are then liable for damage up to the value of the car, and €3,000 is held on your card.
Not covered by any option, MAX included: undercarriage and water damage (river crossings), off-road driving and the other exclusions. That damage is charged in full; for undercarriage or water damage, we may hold up to €10,000 on your card after the return inspection. With every option, a €150 damage administration fee is added each time damage is charged. What isn't covered →
Tire and Windshield Protection pays for the new tire or front windshield itself (for a windshield damaged by gravel from another vehicle), not fitting or labor. Sand and Ash Protection doesn't apply in an area under an orange or red wind warning. Amounts are confirmed when you book.
Which cover for which route?
A rough guide, not a rule: you can choose any option for any trip, and your quote shows every price before you book.
| Route | Our suggestion | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The Ring Road in summer | Our suggestionThe included BASIC + SCDW | WhyIt suits most trips: collision damage is capped at your €1,000 excess per incident, at no extra daily cost. |
| The South Coast and the east in windy, sandy conditions | Our suggestionAdd Sand and Ash Protection (+€15/day), or choose MAX | WhyWindblown sand and ash can strip paint and pit glass within hours. Without one of the two, that damage isn't covered; with either, it is, with no excess — except in an area under an orange or red wind warning. |
| Gravel-heavy routes and the Westfjords | Our suggestionConsider Tire and Windshield Protection — PLUS, +€20/day | WhyStones from passing cars chip windshields and gravel cuts tires. With it, a new tire or front windshield is paid for (the part itself); without it, a new front windshield is €550–850 and a tire €115–280 on the Price List. |
| The Highlands and F-roads, in a four-wheel-drive car (4×4 or AWD) your booking confirms as F-road approved | Our suggestionMAX (+€40/day) | WhyYour excess drops to €0, and wheels and tires are covered too. Water damage (river crossings) and underside damage are never covered by any option, MAX included. |
Why PLUS is +€20 here: our Price List shows PLUS at €25 a day, but that price includes Super CDW, which every price on this site already has — so here you only pay for the Tire and Windshield Protection part.
With and without cover: three examples
What you would pay for the same damage with each option, using the excess and Price List figures on this page:
1. A collision repair costing more than €3,000
- Without CDW (declined)
- The full repair cost
- BASIC (travel agency or booking site)
- €3,000
- BASIC + SCDW (included) or PLUS
- €1,000
- MAX
- €0
2. A front windshield cracked by gravel from another vehicle
- BASIC + SCDW (included)
- The actual cost of the new windshield, never above the Price List (€550–850 by car size) — damage to the windshield alone isn't covered
- PLUS or MAX (Tire and Windshield Protection)
- €0 for the new windshield itself; fitting isn't included
3. Sand and ash damage to paint and glass on the South Coast
- Without Sand and Ash Protection or MAX
- The full repair cost — and after the return inspection we may hold up to €10,000 on your card for it
- With Sand and Ash Protection or MAX
- €0 — unless the area was under an orange or red wind warning
Illustrative. In every case the €150 damage administration fee is added each time damage is charged, with every option, and water and underside damage are never covered by any option.
Our handover promise — evidence first
Nobody wants to argue about damage at the end of a trip. This is how we take the argument out of it:
- Checked together, sent to you. At pickup we check the car together with you and record all existing damage in the Vehicle Condition Report, which you sign and get a copy of. We photograph the car, record a 360° video and send both to every renter — you're welcome to take your own photos too.
- Point it out before you drive off. Damage that isn't recorded at pickup is presumed to have happened during your rental unless you can show otherwise, so anything you spot goes on the report before you leave.
- Actual repair cost, itemized. New damage is charged at the actual repair cost (the invoice, or a repair shop's itemized estimate), never above the Price List for the items it lists (tires, windshields, keys and more). If your cover applies, you pay at most your excess, plus the €150 damage administration fee. We send you notice with photos within 10 days of the return. Nothing is charged until 20 days after that notice unless you agree in writing (for damage your cover doesn't include, we may place a hold on your card first).
- An independent check binds us. Within 20 days of the notice you can ask in writing for an independent Cabas assessment by a repair shop. Its result binds us: if it's lower, we pay for the assessment and refund the difference.
- Deleted after 30 days. Our handover photos and video are deleted within 30 days of the return unless a claim is open — Persónuvernd Rules 50/2023.
The full process — Vehicle Condition Report, Damage Liability Form, the Price List and disputes — is on How damage works →
What each cover option includes — and what it doesn't
Line by line, what each cover option includes, as set out in the rental terms (clauses 36 and 38) — and, below the table, what no option covers, MAX included. Your amounts are confirmed when you book — see the rental terms.
| Type of damage | BASIC + SCDWincluded in every price | PLUS+€20/day | MAX+€40/day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collision and other accidental damagebodywork, glass and lights damaged in an accident — you pay up to the excess shown, per incident, plus the €150 damage administration fee each time damage is charged, with every option | BASIC + SCDW excess €1,000 | PLUS excess €1,000 | MAX excess €0 |
| Theft of the carthe Theft Waiver is included with every option, even without CDW, and applies if the car was locked with the windows closed, you return the keys and you reported the theft right away — not stolen parts or belongings, or a theft made possible by keys left in the car or by gross negligence | BASIC + SCDW Theft Waiver €0 | PLUS Theft Waiver €0 | MAX Theft Waiver €0 |
| Front windshield onlygravel thrown up by another vehicle: Tire and Windshield Protection pays for the new windshield itself, not fitting or other labor — other damage to the windshield alone is not covered by any option | BASIC + SCDW not covered | PLUS new part €0 | MAX new part €0 |
| A tire damaged on its owna puncture, cut or blowout: Tire and Windshield Protection pays for the new tire itself, not fitting, labor or transport to a tire shop — with MAX, wheels and tires are covered | BASIC + SCDW not covered | PLUS new part €0 | MAX €0 |
| Wheel rimsdamage to the wheels alone — Tire and Windshield Protection does not cover rims; MAX does | BASIC + SCDW not covered | PLUS not covered | MAX €0 |
| Sandstorms, erosion and volcanic ashwith Sand and Ash Protection (€15/day) or MAX, all sand and ash damage is covered with no excess — except in an area under an orange or red wind warning from the Icelandic Met Office; without either, it is not covered: it is charged in full, and after the return inspection we may hold up to €10,000 on your card for it | BASIC + SCDW with add-on: €0 | PLUS with add-on: €0 | MAX €0 |
If you decline CDW (same price), nothing limits what you pay for damage: you are liable up to the value of the car. The Theft Waiver still applies. All amounts are confirmed when you book; see the rental terms.
What isn't covered, whichever option you choose
None of our cover options, MAX included, covers the damage below, except where Tire and Windshield Protection, Sand and Ash Protection or MAX is named. You pay for this damage in full, up to the value of the car. For undercarriage or water damage, or sand and ash damage without Sand and Ash Protection or MAX, we may hold up to €10,000 on your card for it after the return inspection (rental terms, clause 7). We show every exclusion before you book:
- Intent, vandalism or gross negligence — damage caused on purpose, by vandalism or through gross negligence.
- Alcohol, drugs or being unfit to drive — damage while the driver is under the influence or otherwise unfit to drive.
- Racing, speed tests and driver training — and damage from war or civil unrest.
- Animals — damage caused by or involving animals, such as sheep on the road. Report it to the police and to us right away.
- The interior — including burns in seats, carpets or mats.
- Wheels, tires, suspension, batteries, windshield, roof or radios alone — damage only to these parts, or stolen parts and the damage the theft causes, except the tire and windshield damage Tire and Windshield Protection covers (the part itself). With MAX, wheels and tires are covered.
- Undercarriage, drivetrain, engine and chassis — damage to the undercarriage, or to drivetrain, engine or chassis parts from rough roads, gravel ridges or stones.
- Driving where it is not permitted, and water — paths, glaciers, frozen lakes, snow off maintained roads, beaches and tidal areas, or damage from rivers, streams or water getting into the car, unless you were forced off the road. Driving into or across any river, stream or ford, even on a permitted F-road, is entirely at your own risk. F-roads are open only to a four-wheel-drive car your booking confirms as F-road approved, and only when officially open. Off-road driving is illegal in Iceland (€1,000 fee).
- Windblown sand, gravel, ash, pumice or earth — except the sand and ash damage covered by Sand and Ash Protection or MAX (not in an area under an orange or red wind warning).
- Ferries and sea transport — including sea spray. Domestic ferries are at your own risk, and the car may not leave Iceland without our written consent.
- An unauthorized or unlicensed driver — only drivers named in the rental agreement may drive.
- Clutch, transmission and wrong fuel — damage to the clutch or transmission, or from misfueling. If you put in the wrong fuel, don't start the car: call us.
- Damage that doesn't match the report — damage that is materially inconsistent with the incident as you reported it (it is up to us to show this).
Excess amounts and day rates are shown during booking, before you pay. Read the full damage explainer → · Fees & charges (fines, cleaning, tolls) → · F-roads guide → · Contact us with questions.
Excess and card hold: how they work
Your excess is the most you pay per incident for damage your cover includes. With every option, MAX included, a €150 damage administration fee is added each time damage is charged. If you decline CDW, there is no limit: you pay the full cost of damage to or loss of the car and its extras, up to their value. Your quote shows your exact excess before you book.
- We don't take a deposit at pickup. Instead, we place a hold on your card (a pre-authorization) for the excess of your cover option. A hold is not a charge and not a deposit: the amount is reserved, not taken, and released after you return the car, depending on your card issuer's processing time.
- With MAX there is no hold at pickup.
- The card must be a physical credit or debit card in the renter's name (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, China UnionPay, Discover or Diners Club), showing the card number and expiry date, valid for 90 days after the rental, with enough funds or credit for the hold. Bring it even if you pay with Apple Pay or Google Pay. We don't accept prepaid, purchasing, anonymous or virtual cards.
- We add no card surcharge; fees your own bank or card issuer charges, such as for currency conversion, are yours.
- We keep the card on file as a secure token and may charge it, during the rental and for a reasonable time after, for amounts due under the rental terms — after the rental, only once we have emailed you an itemized statement with supporting documents.
- After the return inspection, damage that no cover option includes — such as undercarriage or water damage, or sand and ash damage without Sand and Ash Protection or MAX — is charged in full, and we may place a hold of up to €10,000 on your card for it; any unused part is released.
Cover options and add-ons
CDW, SCDW, the zero-excess waiver in MAX, Tire and Windshield Protection, Sand and Ash Protection and the Theft Waiver are Ring Road Cars' own damage waivers under your rental agreement: they limit what you owe us if the car is damaged or stolen. They are not insurance policies. Two insurances are required by Icelandic law and included in every rental: third-party liability insurance, up to the amount set by law, and personal accident insurance for the driver and owner. Ask us for the insurer's name and terms.
Super CDW tops up CDW: it lowers your excess for collision damage from €3,000 to €1,000 per incident, and the hold on your card goes down with it. It is included in every price on this site and is not sold on its own.
- Excess: €1,000 per incident
- Card hold at pickup: €1,000
- It doesn't cover damage only to a tire or the windshield, or sand and ash damage — that is what Tire and Windshield Protection and Sand and Ash Protection are for
BASIC + SCDW with Tire and Windshield Protection. On our Price List, PLUS costs €25 a day. Super CDW is already in every price on this site, so here you get PLUS by adding Tire and Windshield Protection for €20 a day.
- Excess: €1,000 per incident; card hold at pickup: €1,000
- A tire damaged on its own, or a front windshield damaged by gravel from another vehicle, is replaced at no cost for the part itself
- Not included: wheel rims, fitting or other labor, transport to a tire shop, or emergency fees
- Sand and ash damage is not included — add Sand and Ash Protection (€15 a day)
RecommendedFor a stress-free trip — most of our customers choose MAX.
BASIC with a zero-excess waiver, Tire and Windshield Protection and Sand and Ash Protection: your excess is €0 per incident, and wheels and tires are covered too. €40 a day on top of the price, added only if you choose it and confirmed when you book.
- Excess: €0 per incident, and nothing is held on your card at pickup
- Tire and Windshield Protection and Sand and Ash Protection included; wheels (including rims) and tires covered
- Not covered: damage only to the suspension, batteries, roof or radios; every other exclusion still applies
- The €150 damage administration fee is added each time damage is charged
Pays for the new part, with no excess: a tire when only the tire is damaged, and the front windshield when gravel from another vehicle damages it. On this site, adding it gives you PLUS. It is included in MAX.
- The new tire or front windshield itself, with no excess to pay
- Not included: wheel rims, fitting or other labor, transport to a tire shop, roadside assistance or emergency fees — Roadside Assistance Protection covers roadside labor in an emergency
- Without it, a new tire costs €115–280 and a new front windshield €550–850 (Price List)
Covers all damage from sandstorms, erosion and ash, with no excess to pay — not just the paintwork. It does not apply in an area under an orange or red wind warning from the Icelandic Met Office. Windblown volcanic sand and ash can strip paint and pit glass within hours.
- All sand and ash damage, with no excess to pay
- Not in an area under an orange or red wind warning (check vedur.is)
- Without it (or MAX), sand and ash damage is not covered: it is charged in full, and after the return inspection we may hold up to €10,000 on your card for it
A service add-on, not damage cover. In an emergency, you pay no call-out, labor or recovery fees, including towing, for a flat battery, a tire puncture or a lock-out.
- Not included: wrong fuel, replacement keys or tires, running out of fuel, recovery from closed or restricted roads, non-emergency call-outs or self-inflicted incidents
- Without it, a call-out for a flat battery, a tire puncture or a lock-out is charged at our towing rate: €4.50 per km both ways, minimum €200
- Help with a breakdown you didn't cause is free for every renter, with or without Roadside Assistance Protection
Included in every rental, even if you decline CDW. If the car is stolen, you pay €0 for it as long as it was locked with the windows closed, you return the keys and you reported the theft to the police and to us right away.
- Included in every rental — nothing to add
- Not stolen parts or belongings
- Not theft made possible by keys left in the car, or by gross negligence
You can decline CDW when you book, or at pickup after reading our notice about declining. The price stays the same, but you then pay the full cost of damage to or loss of the car and its extras, up to their value, and €3,000 is held on your card at pickup. Only do this if your own card or travel insurance covers rental cars in Iceland. The Theft Waiver and the two insurances required by law still apply.
- You are liable for damage up to the value of the car
- Card hold at pickup: €3,000
- You can still add Sand and Ash Protection and Roadside Assistance Protection; PLUS and MAX need CDW
Third-party liability insurance, personal accident insurance, the Theft Waiver and the Collision Damage Waiver (CDW). CDW is collision damage cover: it limits what you pay for collision damage to €3,000 per incident. BASIC is what you usually get if you book through a travel agency or booking site; every price on this site adds Super CDW on top.
- Excess: €3,000 per incident for damage CDW covers
- Card hold at pickup: €3,000
- CDW is not sold on its own: if you booked elsewhere without it, you can add it (€10 a day) only together with PLUS or MAX
Choose your cover when you book
Every price includes BASIC + SCDW. Add PLUS or MAX in the booking — nothing paid is pre-selected, and your quote shows the total before you book.
Add-ons & extras
Optional extras you can add to your booking. Selected extras are priced in your quote or booking summary before you confirm, and optional items are only added when you choose them. Per-day prices are charged for every rental day, without a cap.
- Additional driver
Each named additional driver is €10 a day, with no cap. Add them to the booking before pickup; every driver shows a valid physical license and ID at pickup.
€10 / day - 4G WiFi hotspot
A portable 4G router with an Icelandic SIM card for mobile internet around the country — useful for live road conditions, navigation and staying in touch in remote areas. A lost or damaged device is €95, a cable €10 (Price List).
€10 / day - Infant seat (0–13 kg)
Rear-facing infant seat from birth to about 1 year — never in a front seat with an active airbag. Approved to current European standards (UN/ECE R129 / i-Size), within the seat's labeled height and weight range. Book by the child's height and weight.
€10 / day - Toddler seat (9–18 kg)
Harnessed seat for after the infant seat, for about 1–4 years. Rear-facing is preferred where the seat allows; forward-facing only when the child meets the seat label — never before 15 months on R129 seats. Book by height and weight.
€10 / day - Booster seat (15–36 kg)
Positions the car's seat belt correctly for older children, about 4–12 years. In Iceland, children under 135 cm must use suitable child-restraint equipment. Approved to current European standards, within the seat's labeled range. Book by height and weight.
€5 / day
Mobile network. Coverage can be patchy outside towns and is limited in the highlands and some valleys. Check your phone supports 4G/5G and keep it charged. Our 4G WiFi hotspot is a reliable backup; the emergency number is always 112.
Child seats — safety & the law. We assign seats by the child's height, weight and age. In Iceland, children under 135 cm must use suitable child-restraint equipment, and children under 150 cm must not sit in front of an active airbag. All seats are approved to current European standards (R129 / i-Size), within the seat's labeled height and weight range. Seats are subject to availability, and you fit them yourself, even when hired from us (rental terms, clause 23); a lost or damaged seat is €250 (Price List).
If you need something that isn't listed here, ask us before you book and we'll tell you whether we can help. Anything agreed is priced in your quote or booking summary before you confirm.
Ask us →