Driving and safety
Safetravel
When traveling in Iceland you need to check the weather and road conditions, especially in the winter. On the webpage safetravel.is you can find alerts and learn about good preparation for traveling in Iceland. There you can also submit your travel plan for safety.
Weather
The weather in Iceland changes very fast and it is important to check the weather forecast before you start your journey. In the website of the Icelandic Met Office you can see the weather forecast, information about earthquakes and the aurora forecast.
You can also call them, tel: 902 0600
Road conditions
You can check the Icelandic road administration’s website road.is (vegagerdin.is) for information on the road system, road conditions as well as webcams and a road viewer or check safetravel.is
For information about road conditions you can also telephone them, tel: 1777
We recommend that you make it a habit to check the road condition before you travel in the winter.
Motor vehicle checks (bifreiðaskoðun)
It is mandatory to take all motor vehicles for regular checks with inspection bodies.
The sticker on your number plate indicates what year the next checks are due, and the last figure of the registration number indicates the month in which checks should be carried out. If the last figure is 0, the car should be inspected in October.
Frumherji offers service in Húsavík, Kópasker and Þórshöfn
Haukamýri, 640 Húsavík
Tel: 570 9208
Auto repair shops/ garages (verkstæði)
In Húsavík there are two auto repair shops/ garages (verkstæði)
Bílalega Húsavíkur:
Garðarsbraut 66 – 640 Húsavík
Tel: 4641888 and 4642500
E-mail: husavikcarrental@husavikcarrental.is
Bílaþjónustan ehf
Garðarsbraut 52, 640 Húsavík
Tel: 464 1122 and 894 0872
In Kópasker:
Röndin ehf verkstæði
Röndinni 5, 670 Kópaskeri
Tel: 465 2124 and 867 0718
Car insurance – Bílatryggingar
It is compulsory to purchase liability and accident insurance for all vehicles from an insurance company.
Liability insurance covers damage suffered by others as a result of a collision for which you are at fault. Accident insurance pays compensation to the driver of a vehicle if they are injured and to the owner of the vehicle if they are a passenger in their own vehicle.
You are free to purchase other types of insurance, such as windscreen insurance and collision damage waiver insurance. Collision damage waiver insurance covers damage to your own vehicle even if you are at fault.
Road toll
On the road to Akureyri ther is a road toll at the Vaðlaheiða tunnel. Please note fees must be paid online within 3 hours of using the tunnel or fines will be imposed. It is possible to drive another longer way to Akureyri but in the winter time it is wise to check the road conditions first. Residents can bulk buy tickets for the tunnel, making each journey significantly cheaper and avoiding the need for rapid payment on use.
All information about the road toll
Driving schools
Driving lessons for normal passenger vehicles may begin at the age of sixteen, but a driving licence may only be awarded at the age of seventeen. The legal age for light mopeds (scooters) is fifteen and for tractors, sixteen.
To commence driving lessons, you must contact a certified driving instructor. You’re driving instructor guides you through both the theoretical and practical parts of your study and refers you to a driving school where theoretical study takes place.
In Norðurþing there are a few certified driving instructors:
Brynjúlfur Sigurðsson driving instructor
Tel: 868-8294
Ökuskóli Gunna Jó
tel: 864 2507
Ökuskóli Húsavíkur ehf tel: 464 1586
894 1486
Sigurlína Jóh Jóhannesdóttir driving instructor
Snartarstöðum 2, 671 Kópaskeri (dreifbýli)
Tel: 465 2169, 895 2169
Foreigners can drive in Iceland on a European Driving Licence
