Frequently Asked Questions

At Lava Car Rental, the minimum age to rent a car in Iceland is 20 years old. Unlike other rental companies that may charge a young driver fee or restrict certain vehicle categories until you're 23, we offer all vehicles with no extra fees starting at 20. Enjoy full access to our entire fleet at Lava Car Rental, hassle-free!

To rent a car with Lava Car Rental, you'll need:

• A valid driver’s license
• A valid credit card

Additional drivers must also present a valid driver’s license. Foreign licenses are accepted if they are in the Latin alphabet. If not, an official English translation is required.

If you cannot provide a credit card for imprint, you’ll need to purchase the Full Protection waiver.

For rentals through a travel agency, simply present the agency’s voucher.

The minimum rental period at Lava Car Rental is 48 hours. While you can rent a car for 24 hours, the charge will be for the full 48-hour period.

You can pay for your car rental with a debit* or credit card. When booking, you have the option to either pay the full amount upfront or make a down payment, with the remaining balance due upon arrival.

We accept major card providers, including VISA and MasterCard. Prepaid cards are also accepted.

*If you book with a debit card, you need to purchase the Full Protection Insurance along with your rental car.

In most cases, the vehicle you select on our website is available for your chosen dates. If it’s not, we’ll provide a similar car at no extra cost. If no similar vehicle is available, we’ll upgrade you to a higher category for free.

For every reservation made on the Lava Car Rental website, the following is included:

• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)
• Super Collision Damage Waiver (SCDW)
• Third-Party Liability Insurance (TPL)
• Gravel Protection (GP)
• Theft Protection (TP)
• Unlimited mileage
• Free pick-up from Keflavik International Airport
• Fuel discounts
• Essential equipment for campervan bookings
• Access to manage your booking online

Certain costs are not included in the car rental price, such as fuel expenses, entrance and parking fees, tolls, towing, and any damages not covered by your selected insurance.

Lava Car Rental offers additional insurance options and extras that can be added to your reservation. For more details, click here.

Yes, you can modify or cancel your booking up to 48 hours before your scheduled pick-up. If you cancel more than 48 hours in advance, you’ll receive a full refund. There will be no refund for cancellations made less than 48 hours before pick-up. 

If you booked directly on the Lava Car Rental website, email info@lavacarrental.is to make changes. For third-party bookings, please get in touch with them directly via email.

Yes, extending your reservation is very common and can be easily arranged if the vehicle is available for your desired dates. Simply contact our team at info@lavacarrental.is to check availability and make the extension.

Every car rental reservation made through Lava Car Rental’s website includes the following insurance coverage as standard, with liability of 150,000 ISK:

• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)
• Super Collision Damage Waiver (SCDW)
• Third-Party Liability Insurance (TPL)
• Gravel Protection (GP)
• Theft Protection (TP)

For extra peace of mind, you can upgrade to our Full Protection insurance, which increases coverage and reduces your liability to zero. Learn more about our insurance options.

Yes, our Full Protection insurance is a zero-deductible package, providing complete coverage for a worry-free trip. It includes all standard insurance: Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), Super Collision Damage Waiver (SCDW), Third-Party Liability Insurance (TPL), Gravel Protection (GP), Theft Protection (TP), plus additional Sand and Ash Protection (SAAP) and Tyre Protection (TIP)—with no liability.

With Full Protection insurance, you can also enjoy the flexibility to pick up and drop off your car anytime.

Learn more about our insurance options.

No, we don’t require a deposit while you have the rental car.

We only need to see a valid credit card upon arrival, and we’ll take an imprint as a guarantee—no funds will be held.

If you can't provide a credit card, we do accept debit cards, but you'll need to purchase the Full Protection insurance package.

Yes, you can decline our insurance at the time of pick-up. However, be sure your credit card insurance provides sufficient coverage. Please note, that there will be no refund for declining our insurance.

Yes, we have 24/7 emergency breakdown assistance. The breakdown assistance is designed to help you in case of accidents and breakdowns. You can call our emergency hotline at anytime at +354 519 4141 during office hours, or +354 419 2400 if you need immediate assistance outside of office hours. 

If you cannot use the car to continue your trip, we will provide you with another car as soon as possible. 

Keep in mind that if the damage is the driver’s responsibility, Lava Car Rental will charge you a service fee.

At Lava Car Rental Office:

• Pick-Up: Arrive at our office, where you'll be greeted, complete your paperwork, and drive off in your car.
• Drop-Off: Simply return the car to our office.

At Keflavik International Airport:

• Pick-Up: Our free airport shuttle will meet you just outside the departure hall and take you to our car rental office, only 5 minutes away.
• Drop-Off: Return the car to our office, and we'll shuttle you back to Keflavik Airport at no cost.

Read our airport pick-up page for more details about the meeting point.

Our office is located at Flugvellir 23, 230 Keflavik, Iceland, just a 5-minute drive from Keflavik International Airport. Conveniently situated near the airport, we’re ready to welcome you as soon as you arrive in Iceland, and you can easily drop off the car right before you leave the country. You can find us on Google Maps.

Yes! For pick-up and drop-off at Keflavik International Airport, we provide a free shuttle service between the airport and our office, which is just a 5-minute drive away. The shuttle operates during our office hours and is scheduled according to client arrival times for your convenience.

If you need to pick up or return the car outside of office hours, our self-service option is also available and includes free shuttle service.

For more details, check the self-service conditions.

Yes, you can pick up and return your car at any time! During our regular opening hours, this process is straightforward. If you need to pick up or drop off your vehicle outside of these hours, we offer a convenient self-service option. To use this service, simply book your rental on the Lava website, select the Full Protection insurance package, and complete the online check-in a few days prior to your arrival. For full details, visit our self-service page.

If you inform Lava Car Rental at least 48 hours before your scheduled pick-up time, you are eligible for a refund of the price difference. However, if you notify us less than 48 hours in advance, no refund will be issued.

To modify your booking, if your reservation was made directly on our website, please request a change by emailing us at info@lavacarrental.is. Kindly note that all requests must be made in writing; we cannot process changes over the phone.

It depends on your vehicle. To access the Highlands, you'll need to drive on F-roads, which are suitable only for 4-wheel drive vehicles (4x4/4WD).

F-roads are typically open only during the summer months, so you'll need to plan your trip accordingly. On our website, vehicles approved for F-roads and Highland travel are labeled as "Suitable for F-Roads" when you check availability for your dates. However, even if a vehicle is classified as "suitable for F-roads," you should always verify road conditions and weather forecasts before your trip. Some F-roads may include river crossings, which can become much deeper and more challenging after heavy rain.

Yes, you can rent a car with a debit card at Lava Car Rental. However, to do so, you will need to purchase the Full Protection Insurance package. This insurance ensures that you can pick up your car with just a debit card, without requiring a credit card at pick-up. Additionally, when booking through our website, the Full Protection Insurance package allows you to use our convenient self-service option, enabling you to pick up and return your car at any time. For more details, please visit our Rent with Debit Card page.

From November 1st to April 15th, all our vehicles are equipped with studded winter tires to ensure optimal safety and traction on icy and snowy roads. For the rest of the year, our cars come with standard tires suitable for regular driving conditions.