Driving Permit for Iceland
Driving in Iceland with a foreign license? An IDP is required only if your license is not in the Latin alphabet. Most EU, UK, US and Canadian licenses are accepted without one.
- Drive on
- Right
- Convention
- 1949 Geneva
- IDP validity
- 12 months
- Processing time
- 24 hours
Do you need an IDP to drive in Iceland?
Iceland drives on the right and recognises the International Driving Permit (IDP) under the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic. Whether you actually need one comes down to a single thing: the alphabet on your national licence. If your driver's license is printed in Latin (Roman) characters, carries a photo, and shows a valid issue and expiry date, you can generally drive and rent a car in Iceland on that licence alone. This means most visitors from the EU and EEA, as well as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, do not need an IDP for Iceland. EU and EEA licences are recognised outright and require no additional paperwork.
An International Driving Permit becomes relevant when your national licence is issued in a non-Latin script, such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Cyrillic or Hebrew. In that case the IDP (or an official translation) acts as a certified translation of your existing licence and must be carried together with the original, since the permit has no standing on its own. You should obtain the IDP in your home country before you travel, as it is issued to you as a licence holder in the country where your licence was granted. Rental desks and, if you are stopped, the police will want to see both documents together.
On the ground, the deciding factor is the rental counter. Icelandic car-hire companies require an original physical licence (digital or photocopied licences are not accepted), typically held for at least one year, plus an IDP where the script rule applies. Minimum age varies by vehicle class, commonly around 20 for economy cars and higher for 4x4s, vans and luxury models. Carrying an IDP is inexpensive and removes any ambiguity at the desk, so many drivers from non-EU countries bring one even when their licence is in Latin characters. Iceland's real challenges are its roads and weather rather than the paperwork: gravel F-roads in the highlands, single-lane bridges, sudden weather changes and strict speed limits demand more attention than the licensing rules do.
Iceland recognises the IDP under the 1949 Geneva Convention.
Iceland is a signatory to the 1949 Geneva Convention. In practice, an IDP issued by another signatory country is recognised for your permitted visitor stay — in Iceland, plan on 12 months.
What you need to drive in Iceland
Have these ready before you pick up the keys.
License held for 1 year min.
Latin characters or IDP.
An IDP is a translation of your national driver's license, not a stand-alone document; you must carry the original licence with it at all times.
EU and EEA driving licences are fully recognised in Iceland and do not require an IDP.
Licences from countries such as the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are generally accepted without an IDP as long as they are in Latin characters, show a photo and carry a valid expiry date.
An IDP or an official translation is required if your national licence is written in a non-Latin script such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Cyrillic or Hebrew.
It is best to obtain your IDP in your home country before departure, since it is issued in the country where your driving licence was granted.
Rental companies require an original physical licence (not a photo or digital copy), typically held for at least one year, with minimum age varying by vehicle class (commonly around 20 for smaller cars and higher for 4x4s and vans).
What to know before you turn the key
Iceland drives on the right — the driver sits on the left, and roundabouts flow anti-clockwise.
Carry your IDP and your original license together — rental desks and police checks will ask for both documents.
Weather changes rapidly.
F-roads require 4x4.
Iceland enforces a strict drink-driving limit of 0.02% blood alcohol, headlights must be on at all times day and night, and driving off marked roads or tracks is illegal and carries substantial fines.
Local rules to watch in Iceland
Low-emission zones, tolls, and city-specific rules that catch visiting drivers out.
Iceland does not have the low-emission zones, congestion charges or road-toll vignettes found in parts of mainland Europe; the main paid road is the Vaðlaheiði tunnel near Akureyri, which is billed automatically by number plate.
Many highland F-roads are legally restricted to 4x4 vehicles and are closed in winter; off-road driving anywhere in Iceland is illegal and heavily fined regardless of your licence or IDP.
Signs you'll meet on the road
Eight internationally recognised signs — including which side of the road Iceland keeps.
Common questions about driving in Iceland
Drive Iceland, confidently.
Apply online in minutes and get instant digital access to your IDP translation — with an IDP PVC card option if you want one in your wallet.