Iceland
Drives on the right · ISK · Emergency 112Speed limits
Urban
50 km/h
Rural / outside built-up areas
90 km/h
Motorway
No general limit
Alcohol limits
General limit
0.2‰
Novice drivers
Same as general limit
Mandatory equipment
- •Warning triangle
Winter tires & snow chains
Winter tires (studded tires permitted seasonally) are effectively required for much of the year given conditions. Driving on unpaved F-roads (mountain/highland routes) generally requires a 4x4 and is only accessible in summer — standard rental cars are often prohibited from F-roads by the rental agreement.
Tolls
System
Toll booths
Most roads are toll-free; a small number of tunnels (e.g. Vaðlaheiðargöng in the north) charge a toll, usually paid online within a set window rather than at a barrier.
More things to know before you drive
Seatbelts
Mandatory front and rear for all occupants.
Mobile phone use
Hands-free only; holding a phone while driving is prohibited.
Child seats
Children must generally use an appropriate child restraint until around 135 cm tall.
Headlights
Dipped headlights are required at all times, day and night, year-round.
Low-emission & restricted zones
No low-emission zone network; central Reykjavík has some pedestrianized/restricted streets.
Right of way & roundabouts
Priority to the right at unmarked intersections. Single-lane bridges are common on the Ring Road — the first vehicle to reach the bridge generally has priority.
Parking
Paid parking is common in central Reykjavík via meter or app; free in most towns and rural areas.
Speed cameras
Fixed and some mobile cameras are used, mainly on the Ring Road and near Reykjavík.
Good to know
Not in the EU but in the Schengen area. Currency is the Icelandic króna (ISK). Weather and road conditions can change very quickly — check official conditions before longer drives, especially outside summer.