On open roads, grip the steering wheel with both hands and be prepared for sudden crosswinds, especially on bridges, causeways, and exposed heaths. Reduce your speed. If the Icelandic Met Office (vedur.is) shows orange or red wind warnings for your area, consider postponing your drive.
Daylight and darkness
Around the winter solstice (late December), Reykjavík gets roughly 4 to 5 hours of daylight. In Akureyri, further north, it can be closer to 3 hours. By late January, daylight starts returning noticeably, and by March, days are already longer than in much of mainland Europe.
For practical purposes, this means winter road trips should be planned around the limited daylight window. Pick one or two destinations per day and schedule your driving for the lightest hours, roughly 10:00 to 15:00 in mid-winter.
Driving in darkness on unfamiliar Icelandic roads requires extra caution. Roads are unlit outside of towns, sheep and other animals can appear without warning, and black ice is invisible. Use headlights at all times (this is the law year-round) and reduce speed below the posted limit when conditions are poor.
The rules of the road
Iceland's traffic laws are strictly enforced. Speed cameras are common, and fines are steep. Here are the rules that matter most for winter driving in Iceland.
Speed limits assume good conditions. In winter, driving at the posted limit on an icy or snow-covered road is often too fast. Drive to the conditions, not the sign.
One-lane bridges are common on rural roads, including sections of Route 1. The vehicle closer to the bridge has the right of way. Slow down well in advance and be prepared to stop.
In roundabouts, the inner lane has right of way. The outer lane must yield to vehicles exiting from the inner lane.
If you are new to driving in Iceland and need to convert your license, see our license conversion guide.
The kilometer road tax
As of January 1, 2026, Iceland replaced its fuel-based road tax with a per-kilometer road usage charge called the kílómetragjald (kilometer fee). This applies to all vehicles on Icelandic roads, regardless of fuel type.
For standard passenger vehicles and SUVs up to 3.5 tonnes, the rate is 6.95 ISK per kilometer driven (as of January 2026), as published on island.is. Vehicle owners must log odometer readings periodically, and the Directorate of Internal Revenue bills based on distance.
The trade-off: fuel taxes were removed from the pump price, so petrol and diesel became noticeably cheaper in 2026. Fuel prices dropped from roughly 300 ISK/L in late 2025 to around 190–225 ISK/L in early 2026, depending on the station. For most drivers, the net cost of driving per kilometer is roughly the same as before.
If you own a car, you will receive a monthly bill from the tax authorities. If you are renting, rental agencies handle the fee on your behalf, typically as a flat daily rate of around 1,390–1,550 ISK/day (as of early 2026), though the exact amount varies by company.
For more on Iceland's tax system generally, see our tax guide.
Insurance for winter driving
If you own a car, standard liability insurance (ábyrgðartrygging) is legally required in Iceland. For winter driving, consider adding gravel damage protection and windscreen coverage, as loose gravel and road debris are common hazards even on maintained roads.
If you are renting, the base Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) included with most rentals comes with a high deductible. Worth adding for winter driving:
Gravel Protection (GP) covers chips and cracks from loose road surface material. Sand and Ash Protection (SAAP) covers damage from volcanic debris and sandstorms, which can occur year-round in certain areas. Windscreen coverage handles the most common type of winter damage.
Wind damage to car doors is typically excluded from all insurance policies. The best protection is caution: park nose-into-the-wind and hold doors firmly.
For a deeper look at car insurance options, see our car insurance guide.
Essential apps and emergency numbers
Before driving anywhere in Iceland during winter, set up these resources on your phone.
112 is Iceland's emergency number for police, fire, and medical emergencies. Save it in your phone contacts.
The 112 Iceland app (available on iOS and Android) lets you share your GPS location directly with emergency responders. It also lets you log a travel plan. If you get into trouble in a remote area with no phone signal, your last known location is on file.
umferdin.is provides the live road condition map, updated frequently during winter. Bookmark it or use the Vegagerðin app.
vedur.is is the Icelandic Meteorological Office, where you check wind, precipitation, and storm warnings. The Veður app sends real-time alerts.
SafeTravel.is lets you register a travel plan so rescue teams know your intended route. It also provides travel condition alerts.
Get into the habit of checking umferdin.is and vedur.is every morning before you leave, and again before any long drive.
Winter driving habits that matter
Surviving Icelandic winters behind the wheel comes down to habits, not heroics.
Slow down. This is the single most important rule. Reduce speed on icy roads, in poor visibility, and in strong wind. The posted limit is a maximum in ideal conditions, not a target in a snowstorm.
Keep your fuel tank above half. Petrol stations can be far apart in rural Iceland, and a storm delay could leave you waiting in your car for hours. A full tank also means a warm car.
Do not use cruise control on slippery roads. Cruise control can cause loss of traction. Stay in manual control of your speed at all times.
Bridges freeze before roads do. Approach any bridge with extra caution. Even if the road feels fine, the bridge surface may be a sheet of ice.
Carry emergency supplies. A warm blanket, a phone charger, water, and some non-perishable food are worth keeping in the car from November through April. If you get stranded, stay with the car, turn on hazard lights, and call 112.
Share your travel plan. Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to arrive. Use the SafeTravel app or simply text a friend.
Turn back if conditions deteriorate. There is no shame in cancelling a drive. Icelanders do it all the time. If a road closure or storm warning appears, find the nearest safe town, adjust your plans, and try again tomorrow.
Frequently asked questions
Is winter driving in Iceland dangerous?
It is not inherently dangerous, but it demands preparation and respect for conditions. Thousands of people drive safely through Icelandic winters every year. The risks increase when drivers are unprepared, overconfident, or ignore weather warnings.
Do I need a 4WD car for winter?
For driving within Reykjavík on well-maintained roads, a front-wheel-drive car with good winter tires can be adequate. For travel between towns, through mountain passes, or anywhere outside the capital area, a 4WD is strongly recommended.
Are F-roads open in winter?
No. All highland F-roads close for winter and do not reopen until late June or later, depending on snow conditions. Attempting to drive closed F-roads is illegal and extremely dangerous.
What should I do if I get stuck in a snowstorm?
Stay with your vehicle. Turn on hazard lights so snowplows and rescue teams can see you. Keep the engine running for heat, but check occasionally that the exhaust is not blocked by snow. Call 112 if you are in danger.
How do I check road conditions?
Use umferdin.is for the live road map and call 1777 for voice updates. Check vedur.is for weather forecasts and wind warnings. Both should be checked before every winter drive.
Does the new kilometer tax affect how much I pay to drive?
The kílómetragjald replaced the old fuel tax. You now pay 6.95 ISK per kilometer (for standard vehicles, as of January 2026), but fuel prices are lower. For most drivers, the overall cost per kilometer is roughly unchanged. See island.is/en/kilometer-fee for official details.
Last updated: March 2026
A 4WD vehicle is strongly recommended for winter driving in Iceland outside the greater Reykjavík area. Two-wheel-drive cars can handle well-maintained city roads, but icy rural routes, mountain heaths, and snow-covered secondary roads are significantly safer with four-wheel drive.
All highland roads (F-roads) close for winter, typically from late September or October through late June. These roads are impassable even with a capable vehicle, and attempting them is both illegal and dangerous. Fines for off-road driving can reach 400,000 ISK per passenger.