Before You Drive: The Iceland Rental Car Damage Risks You Should Know About
You probably aren’t thinking about car damage when you arrive in Iceland.
You have places you want to see. You’ve rented the car, packed your bags, figured out some version of an itinerary, and you’re ready to go.
But some of the things that can damage a rental car in Iceland may be completely unfamiliar if you’ve never driven here before. Gravel can easily chip a windshield, and sand and ash can damage the paint. Renting a 4x4 doesn’t mean you can take it down every road that appears on Google Maps.
Before you leave the Ring Rental office, you should know what to watch for. It’s also worth knowing which kinds of damage your protection covers and which ones it doesn’t.
Gravel Is Everywhere
You don’t have to go looking for gravel roads in Iceland. You’ll find them pretty much everywhere, even if most of your trip stays on paved roads.
Slow down before you move from pavement onto gravel. Changes in surface can cause you to lose traction, especially if you’re driving too fast.
You’ll also want to leave more room between you and the car ahead. Loose stones kicked up by another vehicle can chip the windshield, headlights, or front of the car.
Oncoming traffic is something to watch out for too, especially on narrower gravel roads. Slow down when another vehicle approaches rather than keeping the same speed and hoping for the best. If you’re new to driving on gravel, give yourself time to get used to how the car responds before settling into your pace.
Ring Rental road tip: Don’t wait until you’re already on the gravel to slow down. Reduce your speed before the road surface changes.
Ring’s Premium Protection includes Gravel Protection for damage from loose stones to the front windshield, headlights, and front of the vehicle. Platinum includes Gravel Protection as well.
Don’t Let the Wind Take the Door
This one surprises some people. You pull into a parking area, somebody opens the door, and a strong gust catches it. Icelandic wind can be powerful enough to damage the door, hinges, or frame.
Check which way the wind is blowing before everyone gets out. Hold onto the door when you open it, and make sure your passengers do the same.
Ring customers should also know that wind damage to doors, frames, and hinges is excluded under Ring’s current protection terms. If the wind is strong, take a second before anyone gets out of the car.
Sand and Ash
If you’ve rented cars elsewhere, sand and ash damage may never have crossed your mind.
In Iceland, strong winds can blow loose sand, ash, and other material against a vehicle hard enough to damage the paint and exterior. This is a particular concern in parts of the South Coast, although conditions can occur elsewhere.
Pay attention to the forecast, especially when high winds are expected. If there’s a weather warning for an area you planned to drive through, you may need to change your plans.
Ring’s Basic Protection does not include Sand and Ash Protection. Premium Protection does, and Platinum includes the Premium benefits with a 0 ISK excess for covered damage.
Tires and Wheels
Potholes, rough gravel, rocks, and poor road conditions can all be hard on tires and wheels. Driving too fast for the road surface only makes that worse.
The vehicle you drive matters, too. A smaller rental car may be perfectly suitable for a summer trip around Route 1 but not for a rough road that requires more ground clearance or a 4x4.
Ring Rental’s Platinum Protection currently includes eligible tire and wheel damage with a 0 ISK excess. If you get a flat, however, you’re still responsible for changing the tire or arranging transportation to a tire shop when necessary.
Before leaving the Ring Rental office, make sure you know what equipment is in your vehicle and what to do if you have a tire problem.
Watch the Undercarriage on Rough Roads
Rocks, deep ruts, potholes, and uneven roads can damage the underside of a vehicle, particularly if you’re moving too quickly or driving a car that isn’t suited to the road.
Under Ring Rental’s current terms, damage to the chassis and undercarriage is excluded from insurance coverage.
That doesn’t mean you need a 4x4 just because you’re driving in Iceland. If you’re staying on the Ring Road and other standard roads in good summer conditions, a regular rental car may be all you need.
If you’re planning to venture onto Highland F-roads, check your vehicle before you go. Ring identifies which vehicles in its fleet are approved for F-road use.
A 4x4 Still Has Limits
Ring rents several vehicles approved for Highland F-roads, including the Dacia Duster 4x4. But F-road approval doesn’t mean a vehicle can handle every road in every condition.
One Ring customer found that out during a weeklong trip in late April. He rented a Dacia Duster 4x4 with a rooftop tent and wrote afterward that the vehicle handled mud and rough conditions without a problem. He also learned pretty quickly that he’d rented a passenger 4x4, not an ATV, and that roads marked impassable needed to be taken seriously.
Some F-roads are suitable for medium 4x4s such as a Duster. Others require larger vehicles because of river crossings, rough terrain, or ground clearance.
Ring’s rental terms also prohibit driving on F-249 and driving off-road.
Ring Rental road tip: If you’re not sure whether your vehicle is suitable for a particular F-road, ask us before you go. Road conditions can change quickly, so check those before setting out as well.
Be Careful With River Crossings
Some Highland roads include unbridged rivers, and conditions at those crossings can change quickly after rain or changes in weather. Turn around if you aren’t sure whether a river can be crossed safely. River crossings should only be attempted in an appropriate 4x4.
Ring Rental’s terms state that water damage, including damage caused during river crossings, is not covered. Driving through rivers or other watercourses is at the renter’s responsibility.
If you reach a crossing you aren’t confident about, find another route.
Watch for Sheep Along the Road
Sheep are a common sight along Icelandic roads, particularly once you leave more populated areas.
SafeTravel gives drivers one useful thing to watch for: if you see a lamb on one side of the road and sheep on the other, slow down. The lamb may suddenly try to cross to reach the rest of the group.
Ring Rental’s Platinum Protection currently includes eligible damage caused by animals. Lower protection levels do not.
Regardless of your coverage, slow down when you see animals near the road and give them room.
What If You Get Stuck?
Snow, mud, sand, and rough terrain can leave a vehicle stuck even when the car itself isn’t damaged.
Ring Rental’s protection packages do not cover towing and recovery costs in situations such as getting stuck in snow, mud, or sand. Ring offers a separate Road Assistance Waiver that can reduce Ring’s roadside-assistance charges to zero.
Don’t rely entirely on Google Maps when deciding whether to continue down an unfamiliar road. Navigation apps don’t always reflect road closures or impassable conditions accurately. Check current road conditions first.
Know What Your Protection Covers
Every Ring Rental vehicle currently includes Third Party Liability, Collision Damage Waiver, and Theft Protection in the rental price.
Basic Protection carries an excess of 350,000 ISK for cars and 4x4s and 480,000 ISK for motorhomes.
Premium adds Super Collision Damage Waiver, Gravel Protection, and Sand and Ash Protection, with an excess of 110,000 ISK for cars and 4x4s and 150,000 ISK for motorhomes.
Platinum includes all Premium benefits, reduces the excess to 0 ISK for covered damage, and adds tire, wheel, and animal-damage protection.
Even Platinum doesn’t cover everything. Wind damage to doors, undercarriage damage, water damage from river crossings, certain towing and recovery costs, prohibited driving, and damage caused by negligence are among Ring’s current exclusions.
Read the current terms before you choose your protection. If you’re unsure about something, ask us.
Before You Go
You don’t need to be nervous about driving in Iceland. You do need to pay attention.
Before you pull away from Ring Rental, take a few minutes to get familiar with the car. Adjust your mirrors and seat, locate the headlights and windshield wipers, and make sure you know how to use any equipment you might need during the trip. If you’ve rented a 4x4, this is also the time to ask questions about the roads you’re considering.
Make sure you understand your vehicle and your protection, especially if you’re planning to drive beyond the Ring Road. It’s much easier to sort out a question in the Ring Rental parking lot than for the first time on the side of an unfamiliar road.
Once you’re driving, slow down before gravel, hold onto the doors when it’s windy, and check the weather and road conditions every day.
Then go enjoy Iceland.
