Winter car rental in Iceland
What you need to know
All our cars have winter tires from 1 November to 14 April at no extra charge (rental terms, clause 1). Iceland requires tires appropriate to the conditions; studded tires are permitted (not mandatory) during the winter period, roughly 1 November to 14 April, and from 1 November to 14 April the legal minimum tread depth is 3 mm. Winter conditions last roughly from October to April. From November to March an AWD or 4×4 car with winter tires is strongly recommended; a two-wheel-drive car with winter tires is legal on Route 1 and manages in mild weather, mainly in the southwest. Daylight is short (about 4 hours at midwinter in Reykjavík) and weather can change within hours — check umferdin.is and vedur.is before every day on the road.
Winter tires: fitted 1 November–14 April, included in your rental
Under our rental terms (clause 1), every car has winter tires from 1 November to 14 April. They have at least 3 mm of tread, the legal minimum from 1 November to 14 April. Winter tires are not an extra — they are included in your rental.
Winter conditions can start in October and linger into late April, especially in the north and on mountain passes. If you rent in October or the second half of April, ask at the desk for a car that already has winter tires — it's free when one is available, but we can't promise one — and check umferdin.is and vedur.is before driving.
Which drivetrain for winter: AWD or 4×4?
From November to March an AWD or 4×4 car with winter tires is strongly recommended. A two-wheel-drive car with winter tires is legal on Route 1 and manages in mild weather, mainly in the southwest, but it leaves less margin when conditions turn. Between AWD and 4×4, the right choice depends on your route:
- AWD SUV (Comfort): the right choice for the Ring Road and standard tourist routes in winter. More traction than 2WD, fuel-efficient, easy to drive in icy conditions. Our Comfort category includes AWD models like the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross and Nissan X-Trail, with winter tires fitted.
- Proper 4×4: worth it if you are heading to the Westfjords, Snæfellsnes Peninsula in rough conditions, or any route where you might encounter deep snow, icy mountain passes, or need the extra ground clearance. Our 4×4 Adventure category includes vehicles with genuine four-wheel drive and high clearance.
Checking road conditions: umferdin.is is essential
umferdin.is (Vegagerðin — the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration) provides live road status, closures, ice warnings, and F-road opening dates. Check it every morning before driving. In winter, sections of Route 1 can close temporarily for storms or ice, and mountain passes may be restricted to 4×4 vehicles only on specific days.
Weather forecasts in Iceland are short-range reliable (12–24 hours) but longer forecasts are uncertain. A mild morning can become a storm by afternoon, particularly on the south and east coasts. Build flexibility into your itinerary rather than committing to strict daily targets.
Daylight hours in winter Iceland
Indicative hours of daylight per day — plan your driving windows accordingly.
| Month | Approx. daylight (hours) | Planning note |
|---|---|---|
| January | 5 hours | Still short — plan shorter driving days |
| February | 9 hours | Noticeably more light; good for driving |
| March | 12 hours | Spring approaching; roads improving |
| April | 15 hours | Great touring month — light evenings begin |
| May | 18 hours | Long bright evenings; near-midnight sun |
| June | 21 hours | Nearly 24-hour daylight — midnight sun |
| July | 20 hours | Peak summer — warmest month |
| August | 16 hours | Still long days; late-summer touring |
| September | 13 hours | Autumn colors; first northern lights chances |
| October | 10 hours | Shortening fast; winter tires from 1 November |
| November | 7 hours | Winter — plan 2–3 stops per day |
| December | 4 hours | Shortest days; mostly dark |
Sunrise-to-sunset hours in Reykjavík (southwest Iceland) in the middle of each month, 2026 (timeanddate.com), rounded. Northern Iceland has less daylight in deep winter — about an hour less in Akureyri at midwinter.
Daylight in Reykjavík (1st → last day of the month)
| Month | Daylight in Reykjavík (1st → last day of the month) | Planning note |
|---|---|---|
| November | 8 → 5 hours | Good for northern lights; plan 2–3 stops per day |
| December | 5 → 4 hours | Shortest days (about 4 h around 21 December); much driving in twilight or dark |
| January | 4½ → 7 hours | Increasing — still plan for short driving windows |
| February | 7 → 10 hours | Noticeably more light; good winter driving month |
| March | 10 → 13½ hours | Spring approaching; roads improving; still cold |
Sunrise-to-sunset times for Reykjavík in 2026 (timeanddate.com), rounded; twilight adds some usable light at each end. Akureyri, in the north, gets about an hour less around midwinter.
F-roads are closed in winter
F-roads (Highland mountain tracks) are closed from around mid-September until June or early July — they are summer-only routes. Driving a closed road breaks the rental terms — no waiver covers the damage and a €1,000 prohibited-road fee may apply (rental terms, clause 16) — and it is extremely dangerous. Even in summer, only a four-wheel-drive car your booking confirms as F-road approved may use them. Read our F-roads guide for the full rules.
Practical winter driving tips
- Check umferdin.is every morning before driving — closures and ice warnings update frequently.
- Drive to conditions, not the speed limit — Iceland's limits assume dry roads in good visibility.
- Keep the fuel tank above half in remote areas — fuel stations are far apart in the east and north.
- Brake gently and early on ice — winter tires grip well, but stopping distances are still longer than in summer.
- Open car doors with both hands in wind — Iceland's gusts can rip a door off its hinges.
- Tell someone your itinerary if driving remote routes; mobile coverage disappears in parts of the Ring Road.
- Pack an ice scraper, a flashlight, and warm clothing as backup — even for short drives.
All-wheel and four-wheel-drive cars for winter
Mitsubishi Eclipse CrossComfort · ACRISS SFARFrom €56/day+ €10.50/day road-use charge
Nissan QashqaiComfort · ACRISS SFARFrom €56/day+ €10.50/day road-use charge
Nissan X-TrailComfort · ACRISS SFARFrom €56/day+ €10.50/day road-use charge
Dacia Duster 4x44×4 Adventure · ACRISS CFMRFrom €35/day+ €10.50/day road-use charge
Suzuki Vitara 4x44×4 Adventure · ACRISS IFARFrom €37/day+ €10.50/day road-use charge
Toyota Land CruiserHighland 4×4 · ACRISS PFARFrom €136/day+ €10.50/day road-use charge
Related guides
See our cars for winter
All vehicles include winter tires from 1 November to 14 April. AWD models are available in both the Comfort and 4×4 Adventure categories.
Common questions
Are winter tires included in Icelandic rental cars?
Yes. Under our rental terms (clause 1) every car has winter tires from 1 November to 14 April at no extra charge, with at least 3 mm of tread, the legal minimum in that period. In October and the second half of April, ask at the desk for a car that already has winter tires: it's free when one is available, but we can't promise one.
Do I need a 4×4 for winter driving in Iceland?
From November to March an AWD or 4×4 car with winter tires is strongly recommended. A proper 4×4 adds further ground clearance (and, in our Highland 4×4, low-range gearing) — worth it if you plan to visit the Westfjords, Snæfellsnes or remote mountain roads in winter conditions. A two-wheel-drive car with winter tires is legal on Route 1 and manages in mild weather, mainly in the southwest, but has less margin in the worst conditions Iceland delivers — check umferdin.is and vedur.is before driving.
What are driving conditions like in Iceland in winter?
Highly variable. A clear, cold morning can turn into a whiteout or icy road within a few hours. Around midwinter, daylight in Reykjavík lasts only about 4–5 hours. Some sections of Route 1 close temporarily in severe weather. Check umferdin.is every morning before setting out, drive to conditions rather than speed limits, and budget more time between stops than in summer.
Can I drive to Landmannalaugar or F-roads in winter?
No. F-roads (the Highland mountain tracks) are closed in winter — usually from around mid-September until June or early July, depending on snow. Driving a closed road is dangerous and breaks the rental terms: no waiver covers the damage and a €1,000 prohibited-road fee may apply. Check umferdin.is for current F-road status.
Is Iceland worth visiting in winter for driving?
Absolutely — the northern lights, winter landscapes, and glacier walks are unique to the season. The Ring Road remains open (with occasional temporary closures) and is manageable in an AWD vehicle with winter tires. Just plan for shorter days, slower driving, and more flexibility in your itinerary.
Which cover makes sense for a winter trip?
Every price on our website includes BASIC + SCDW, with an excess of €1,000. Two add-ons matter most in winter. Tire and Windshield Protection (TWP, €20 a day) covers at no excess a tire when only the tire is damaged, and the front windshield when it is damaged by gravel from another vehicle: the replacement part only. Without it, damage only to tires or the windshield is not covered by any waiver. Sand and Ash Protection (SAP, €15 a day) covers all damage from sandstorms, erosion and ash at no excess, except in an area under an orange or red wind warning from the Icelandic Meteorological Office. MAX (€40 a day) includes both, takes the excess to €0 and also covers wheels and tires. No cover option covers undercarriage or water damage.
Last updated: 2 October 2026