Guide for driving in Iceland during winter
Iceland never ceases to amaze with its beautiful scenic roads. And most of the time you will find yourself driving on those long but amazing roads while exploring the Land of Fire and Ice.
It is not that hard to drive within Iceland during summer, but during winter this may be challenging. The roads are most of the time in good condition but because of the tough weather during the cold season, it is not recommended to drive alone if you are not an experienced driver.
Despite all the weather moods, driving in Iceland in winter is beautiful.
Pay attention to the weather
Many travellers prefer to explore Iceland on a self-drive tour and this can be a nice experience as long as you don’t face the moody weather we have here.
For a foreigner who is not used to driving through strong winds, snowstorms, snow-covered roads, and low visibility it can be dangerous to drive in Iceland during winter.
That’s why a private tour is recommended during winter because you will have a local driver-guide who is used to driving in the Icelandic temperamental weather. You don’t want to be stuck in a snowstorm in the middle of nowhere far away from a safe place.
If you think you can drive through Iceland during winter and want to venture despite the recommendation here is what you need to know about driving during winter to be safe.
To drive in Iceland during winter, you will need a 4×4 car for most of the tours if you want a stressless journey. Also, before starting the tour you should check the weather forecast, the road conditions, and the weather alerts.
Here are all the websites you need to check: wind forecast, weather forecast, and road conditions. For your safety, you must check all those websites and stay updated during your journey through Iceland as the weather can be unpredictable and quite surprising (in an unpleasant way).
If there will be any emergencies you can call the emergency number 112.
During winter, all the F-roads are closed so you better check the roads you are driving on and respect the recommendations for your safety.
No matter the season, you should never stop on the side of the road if there are no designated places to stop.
You also have to be aware of the fact that there are not so many gas stations in Iceland so you have to ensure you have enough fuel to drive until the next gas station.
We strongly recommend you check our blog about Weather in Iceland to find out more about what you need to be aware of when driving in Iceland.
Have in mind driving laws applicable in Iceland
Despite all the weather-related regulations, you should also acquaint yourself with the driving laws to stay away from expensive fines. Those laws may not be too different from the ones in your country but you better check out the local regulations.
In Iceland, you will be driving on the right side of the road and overtaking on the left side. Excepting the Grater Reykjavik area and the towns in Iceland, there are roads with one lane per direction in the countryside.
You will also find many bridges with a single lane so you should pay attention to the signs.
The speed limit is 30-50km/h in populated areas, 80km/h on gravel roads, and 90km/h on paved roads. While you are driving, you are required by law to wear your seatbelts and this applies to all the passengers as well.
Also, younger children and infants have to be seated in car safety seats. It is prohibited to use your mobile phone whilst driving.
It is illegal to drive after you consume alcohol or drugs.
It is illegal to drive off-road in Iceland. There are certain roads (the F-roads) that you are allowed to drive but only during summer. As I already mentioned, do not stop on the side of the road if there are no designated places for stopping.
When you are stopping to visit a landmark, make sure you park your car in the lot. There are parking lots almost everywhere near the most famous landmarks, and many of them are free. However, when parking needs to be paid, the fee is usually small.
For parking in Reykjavik, we recommend you check our guide, which will provide all the rules, locations of the parking places, and fees.
Knowing all those rules and recommendations, it is your choice if you explore Iceland on a self-drive tour during winter and get prepared for all those challenges, or you will choose a private tour and let your driver guide deal with all impediments. No matter what you choose, all you need to do is to stay safe and enjoy your trip.
Remember to check the weather and road conditions first and then enjoy driving in Iceland in winter.
