Carsave Car Rental

F.A.Q

Frequently Asked Question

Simplify Car Rental in Iceland: Your Hassle-Free Guide

Book the car

General

How can I pay for my car rental
  • Credit card payment is the best option to pay for your rental vehicle when you book online. Visa, MasterCard, Union Pay, Discovery, Diners Club and JCB are all accepted.
  • The only credit card we don’t accept is American Express.
  • You may also be able to pay by debit card (if the online payment option is available), but a valid credit card must be presented on pick-up
Do you take deposit for rental period
  • We hold a deposit of 700€ during the rental period.
  • We just need to see a valid credit card on arrival and will take an imprint of the card as a guarantee.
What are your operating hours
  • Operating Time : 8.00 am to 10.00 pm
  • Out of operating hours return or pick up car by special request.
Is there a minimum rental period?
  • Minimum rental period is 2 days.
  • A vehicle can be rented for 2 days and returned early for the price of 2 days.
What is the minimum age to rent the vehicle?
  • You must be at least 21 years old and have had a valid driving license for a minimum of 1 year.
My flights or travel plans have changed, what are my options?
  • We are happy to make changes to the booking according to your needs, as long as there is availability for those changes.
  • Give us a call at  +354 8570646 or email us at [email protected] and we’ll be happy to help.
What's included in the rental price?
  • Unlimited mileage
  • 24% VAT
  • Collision damage waiver (CDW)
  • Third party insurance (TPL)
  • Gravel protection (GP)
  • Theft protection (TP)
  • Windshield protection (WP)
What insurance do I need? 
  • While this is for you to decide, we do recommend that you have some form of insurance, even if not purchased directly with us.
  • The weather in Iceland is always unpredictable and it’s probably the biggest factor leading to accidents or indirect car damage.
  • Read more about our insurance options.
I have my own travel insurance, can I decline yours?
  • If you need to decline our CDW please send us an email before your arrival or inform our representative when you pick up the car.
  • Please note that in the unfortunate event of anything happening to the car during the rental you will have to pay the full cost of repairs and then make a claim to your insurance provider.
  • We will be happy to provide any relevant documents for the insurance claim.
  • We also recommend that you contact your insurance provider prior to arriving in Iceland and ask them exactly what is covered by your insurance, since many insurers do not cover all incidents and risks.
Will I receive the vehicle I booked?
  • Yes. We do not carry other brands so you are guaranteed to get the car you rented and not a cheaper option within the same category. Worst case scenario, you will get an upgrade!
What kind of tires do the vehicles come with?
  • All our rental cars come equipped with studded winter tires from 1 November to 15 April each year.
  • Studded tires are only allowed during this period in accordance with Icelandic laws and regulations.
Do you offer roadside assistance?
  • Carsave Rental offers 24/7 roadside and breakdown assistance by calling +354 8570646
  • We have service partners across the country that we use in case of breakdown, accidents, damages, or other incidents that require assistance.
  • If a replacement car is needed, Carsave Rental will provide you with a new car as quickly as possible.
  • If roadside assistance is required because of a breakdown, accident, damage or other reason that is the driver/renter’s responsibility, you will pay any transport/assistance fee.
  • The fee for assistance and/or retrieval can vary between 35.000 ISK and 450.000 ISK depending on the location and what type of assistance is required. That is in addition to the damage to the rental car itself.
  • This fee is not charged if the assistance can be traced to a breakdown, accident, damage, or other reason that is Carsave’s responsibility.

Pickup

Pickup Location
  • Start Hostel
    Lindarbraut 637, 262 , Reykjanesbaer , Iceland
Which documents do I need?
  • Drivers license (needs a translation if original license is not in Latin characters)
  • Valid credit card
  • Passport or photo ID
Are all foreign driving licenses accepted?
  • Yes, as long as they are valid and can be read by our staff members (in English or with Latin characters).
  • If not, make sure you bring an international driving license or translation.
Do you accept debit cards?
  • We accept debit cards for payment of the booking
  • But we will also need credit card details for insurance purposes.
Do you offer airport pickup service?
  • Yes. We are very near to airport and could provide free airport pick up service.

  • After dropping off the car, we can send the guests to the airport.

     

Rental Period

How can I see what roads are open?
  • Go to Road.is for information about road conditions and closures around Iceland.
How can I check weather conditions during my trip?
Do I need to pay for parking?
  • Yes, you need to pay for parking wherever there is a parking zone.
  • We recommend getting the Parka app. Available for Android and Apple, it is the most widely accepted parking app.
  • Þingvellir Parking is the only location not covered by Parka. Here, payment can be made on site or online at www.checkit.is
What happens if I receive a parking fine?
  • We’ll receive an email informing us of the fine and will charge the credit card linked to the rental. Fines are usually 2.500 ISK or more.
Can I extend my booking after the rental is started?
  • If there is availability then, of course.
  • Give us a call at +354 8570646 or email us at [email protected] and we’ll be happy to assist you.

Drop Off

Drop Off Location
  • Start Hostel
    Lindarbraut 637, 262 Reykjanesbaer , Iceland
Do I need to return the car with a full tank of gas?
  • Yes, our fuel policy is full-to-full
Do I need to clean the vehicle?

  • This is not necessary. We’ll clean the vehicle after the rental.

When can I drop-off my vehicle rental?
  • 8:00 Am – 10:00 PM
  • Out of operating hours return or pick up car by special request.
If I return the vehicle early, will it be refunded?
  • Unfortunately we can’t refund for early returns.

Extras and accessories

Is the 4G wifi router necessary for my trip?
  • Not at all, but it can save you and your travel companions money on data plans during your trip.
  • It is a portable device, that can be used anywhere, in and outside of the vehicle.
  • It has unlimited data.
  • The battery should hold charge for about 5 hours.
  • You can connect up to 10 devices to the router.
  • It can be charged in the vehicle or with any USB charger.
Do all vehicles come with GPS?
  • Only some vehicles have in-built GPS.
  • We always recommend using Google Maps in Iceland because it has the most consistent GPS.
  • Vehicles that don’t offer built-in GPS: Toyota Yaris, Yaris Cross, Land Cruiser, Hilux, Proace City and Proace Verso.
  • For these vehicles we offer an Garmin GPS for 1.500 ISK per day.
Can I add a roof box to my vehicle?
  • A roof box can only be added to the Toyota Land Cruiser.
Can I charge my phone in the vehicle?
  • All of the vehicles have at least 1 USB Port (different models have either a USB A or USB C port)
  • Some vehicles also offer wireless charging.

4x4

All roads that are formally open for traffic by the Icelandic Road Authorities.
  • All roads that are formally open for traffic by the Icelandic Road Authorities.
Can I cross rivers in a 4x4 vehicle?
  • Yes, but with care.
  • The risk is always yours, no insurance covers any damage caused by crossing rivers (damages can cost thousands of euros/dollars).
  • Do NOT enter the river where it seems calm – this is a sign of deep water.
  • Plan the route you are going to take before entering the water and drive slow (5 km/h) and steady. Do not change gears while in the water.
  • If you’re unsure about crossing a river then don’t do it, just turn around.
  • Find out more about river crossing here: https://safetravel.is/highland-driving
We plan on driving on F-roads. What cars are allowed and what do you recommend?
  • The vehicles we allow on all F-Roads are: Toyota Corolla Cross, Toyota RAV4, Toyota Hilux and the Toyota Land Cruiser.
  • The Toyota Yaris Cross and Toyota Highlander are not allowed on F249 and F88 even though they are 4×4, their ground clearance is really low. They are not suitable for Highland Roads because these roads can be hard to drive and are also non-serviced.
  • The best vehicle for these roads is the modified Land Cruiser LX with a snorkel air intake, raised suspension and 33 inch tires.

Main Office

Where is the office located?
  • Address: Holmbergsbraut St 5, 230 Keflavík
I will be arriving in Reykjavik on a cruise ship. How close is your office and how can I get there?
  • Our office and pickup location around 1 hour from the Reykjavik
Do you offer a shuttle service in Reykjavík?
  • Unfortunately we don’t offer the shuttle service in Reykjavík.
Can I drop-off a vehicle outside opening hours?
Out of operating hours return or pick up car by special request.
What is the best way to reach your office from downtown Reykjavík?
  • Taxi is usually the quickest way to reach us.