The Best Family-Friendly Car Rental in Iceland
If you’re planning a family trip to Iceland and have a few small children in tow, you’re sure to have an amazing time and a vacation that your children will likely talk about forever. The magical landscapes of Iceland appeal especially to the young and young at heart.
When travelling with children in Iceland, it’s important to take a few precautions and plan properly. While a trip to Iceland is filled with wonder and amazing sights and experiences, it can also come with some challenges, like little in the way of public transit and unpredictable weather.
We always recommend travellers book a car rental in Iceland, for ease of getting around and greater flexibility in their itinerary, and that recommendation goes double for families. A car rental can make a family trip all the more convenient and greatly lessen the stress that sometimes naturally comes with travelling with kids.
Not all car rentals in Iceland for families are the same, though. Here’s why you’ll need one, how to pick the best option for your family and why you should pick Lava Car Rental for your Iceland rental car.
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Why Renting a Car in Iceland Is Ideal for Families
As mentioned, any trip to Iceland can come with its hurdles, but those hurdles can be easily overcome if you have the right car rental in Iceland. At the same time, as any family traveller will tell you, travelling with little ones also comes with its hurdles. Toddler meltdowns, diaper changing, belated nap times and more can all make travelling with kids a headache — but again, if you’re travelling to Iceland specifically, having a car rental in Iceland can greatly help you avoid any avoidable stress that might pop up when travelling with kids.
And, on that note, Iceland in general is a great destination if you have little ones! The country is generally known to be very kid-friendly. For example, you’ll easily find changing areas in restrooms, restaurants readily offer child seats and we have lots of kid-friendly and free things to do, such as visiting playgrounds and nature sites.
So, what are the various benefits you can expect if you book a car rental in Iceland for your family? Here are all the various ways that a car rental is going to make your trip more enjoyable and convenient.
Flexibility and Comfort
If there’s one thing that’s important in parenthood, it’s flexibility…but also schedules. You have to be flexible enough to go with the flow and adapt to your family’s needs, but you also likely want to stick to some sort of schedule when it comes to mealtimes, nap times and bedtime.
Luckily, when you’re travelling through Iceland in your own vehicle, you can strike this perfect balance of flexibility and scheduling. If you need to stop during the middle of your explorations to find a bathroom or a snack, you can do so. If you need to make sure you’re back to the hotel for a nap by a certain time, you can make it happen.
The alternative, unfortunately, is relying on tour providers who definitely aren’t going to cater the entire group’s schedule to appease a child’s needs, relying on Iceland’s limited public transit or staying within the walkable areas around Reykjavik — and when there’s so much of Iceland to see and explore, who wants to do that?
All the while, as you’re enjoying setting your own schedule thanks to your family-friendly car rental in Iceland, you’ll also enjoy the added comfort a rental car can provide. Lava Car Rental’s vehicles offer large, roomy interiors and all the creature comforts to keep the entire family happy.
Access to Family-Friendly Attractions
As alluded above, if you don’t have a car rental in Iceland, and if you don’t rely on rigid tour providers, then you’re not going to be able to see many of the super-cool, family-friendly attractions throughout Iceland, such as Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir in the Golden Circle, Seljalandsfoss and Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon.
When you book a rental car for your family in Iceland, you can also plan a road trip to these spots. You can conveniently explore the Golden Circle, the South Coast or the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, all while keeping close to civilization.
Room for Everyone and Everything
Remember how we said that Lava Car Rental’s vehicles offer large, roomy interiors? Well, that’s especially important for families, as you often travel with far more than the average solo traveller or couple. You’re likely not travelling with just your carry-ons.
From multiple suitcases to diaper bags to strollers and car seats, you need a place for it to go, and Lava Car Rental’s large vehicles can hold it all, plus your crew, without ever feeling crowded.
Stress-Free Driving Experience
Worried that driving in a foreign country might be a little stressful? Don’t be! Driving in Iceland — particularly if you stick to certain areas of the country and visit during the summer — is considered pretty easy, as the roadways in the most populated areas are very well-maintained and good road signage makes navigation simple.
The important part, though, is to ensure you book a car rental in Iceland for your family that will make the driving experience even more stress-free — and that’s where we get into what to look for in a family-friendly car rental in Iceland.
What to Look for in a Family-Friendly Rental Car
So what should you specifically look for when renting a car for your family’s trip to Iceland? You’ll want to pick both your vehicle and your rental provider with care, as making the right decision is paramount to enjoying a safe, comfortable, convenient and stress-free trip.
Safety
First and foremost, safety is key. You never want to travel anywhere with your children, or in any manner with your children, that could jeopardise their safety.
As such, before booking any car rental in Iceland, be sure that your rental will come outfitted with all the necessary safety features, including not just airbags, but also ABS brakes, traction control and rear-view cameras. In Iceland specifically, the car should be outfitted with winter tyres, if you’re visiting during the winter.
Child Safety Seats
On the same note of safety, it can be nice to book a car rental with a provider that will give you a child safety seat with your rental. That will keep you from needing to bring your own child safety seat from home.
Don’t think your child needs a safety seat any longer? Iceland requires that all children use a safety seat in the car until they’re 135 centimetres tall, or about four feet, six inches tall.
Modern and Spacious Vehicles
Beyond safety features, it’s also a good idea to look for a family-friendly car rental in Iceland that will likewise keep you comfortable. For travelling families, we recommend a larger vehicle, like an SUV or Dacia Duster, that can accommodate everyone and all of their extra luggage or gear.
Not only do these larger vehicles provide more space, but they also often have greater traction and more safety features than an economy vehicle might.
Flexible Cancellation
While just renting a car overall will give you added flexibility in your trip, also look for a rental car provider that likewise offers flexibility, in terms of delays and cancellations. You don’t want to reserve your vehicle, need to cancel at some point and then find out that you’ll be charged the full cost of your rental anyway, due to an inflexible policy on the provider’s part.
Peace of Mind
Lastly, look for a provider that will give you all of the details of your rental up front, at the time of reservation, so you know exactly what you’re paying and what all is included. You want to have all the fine print at your fingertips, so you know everything about your rented vehicle, insurance coverage and any included fees — before you arrive in Iceland to pick up your rental.
Why Lava Car Rental is the Best Car Rental for Families in Iceland
Lava Car Rental serves families travelling to Iceland regularly. Here’s how we can offer you all of the above.
Wide Range of Family-Friendly Vehicles
Our fleet of vehicles includes a wide range of family-friendly car options. Our rental options are modern, spacious and outfitted with all the safety features you need to feel comfortable during your trip. Check out our range of 4x4 options, from the Toyota Landcruiser to the Dacia Duster to the Dacia Jogger.
Child Seats Available
Lava Car Rental provides a variety of child seats that will be included in the cost of your booking, so that’s one less thing you need to worry about packing and travelling with. Options include infant seats, baby seats, child seats and booster seats and all meet Icelandic requirements and are cleaned between uses. Just let us know which you need at the time of booking to guarantee availability.
Flexible Terms
As mentioned, you need flexibility as a family and Lava Car Rental ensures that you have that flexibility, through benefits such as a 48-hour cancellation policy, no hidden surprise fees and no young driver fees. We also make things even more flexible by offering self-service options for easier pick-up and drop-off. Meanwhile, we’re just a convenient five-minute drive from Keflavik Airport.
Essential Insurance Included
We also include essential, comprehensive insurance in the base rate of your rental. If you rent through the Lava Car Rental website directly, you’ll receive the following coverage:
- Third-Party Liability Insurance (TPL)
- Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)
- Super Collision Damage Waiver (SCDW)
- Gravel Protection (GP)
- Theft Protection (TP)
There is also the option to upgrade to a full protection package, which comes with further coverage and waives all liability.
Good Service
Still on the fence about whether or not you should book your family-friendly car rental in Iceland with Lava Car Rental? Don’t take our word for it, regarding all that we can offer your family. Lava Car Rental has received high rankings for our customer service on platforms like Google and Trustpilot, with a 4.6/5 Trustpilot ranking, and thousands of reviews on both platforms.
Friendly Local Support
Lastly, Lava Car Rental is a family-owned and locally owned and operated company. This personal touch allows us to directly understand your needs and wants as a travelling family, so we can give you the best service possible, from the time of booking until your trip’s end.
Tips for Driving in Iceland with Kids in Iceland
Ready to start planning your kid-friendly trip to Iceland? Here are a few final, more general tips.
- Visit some of Iceland’s best kid-friendly attractions. Iceland isn’t all just hiking and visiting volcanoes. There are plenty of kid-friendly attractions, such as the Perlan museum in Reykjavik. Check out our full guide to the best family activities in Iceland.
- Build breaks into your itinerary. As you build out your itinerary, be sure to add in lots of breaks so that the kiddos aren’t stuck in the car for long stretches of time. Stop into small villages and head to the playground. Stop into a public, naturally fed swimming pool. Drop by a farm or petting zoo, then head back out onto the road again.
- Pack snacks and drinks. Sometimes you can drive for long distances in Iceland without coming across a place to grab a bite to eat or a drink. As such, stock up on snacks at Iceland grocery stores before any road trip.
- Wear layers. Iceland’s weather changes rapidly. You can have a chilly morning, a rainy afternoon and then a balmy evening. As such, bring layers and rain gear for everyone in your family.
- Keep an eye on the weather. Before you head out on the road or to any outdoor activity, be sure to check the weather, even if you checked it yesterday. The weather changes quickly. Always check road conditions, too.
Ready for Your Family Adventure in Iceland?
An Iceland car rental will make your family trip to Iceland all the more convenient and enjoyable. Book your family-friendly rental car with Lava Car Rental today. You’ll find exactly the vehicles you need to keep your family comfortable and safe among our many options.
