Iceland's Ring Road (Route 1) is 1,322 kilometers of volcanoes, glaciers, waterfalls, and black sand beaches circling the entire island. It is the definition of a bucket-list road trip. And it starts with a paperwork question that many visitors do not think about until they reach the Keflavik Airport rental counter.
IDP Rules in Iceland
Iceland does not require an International Driving Permit by law. A licence printed in the Latin alphabet is generally accepted on its own, which covers most visitors. An IDP mainly earns its place if your licence is in a non-Latin script, where it turns a card the agent cannot read into one they can. Iceland accepts both the 1949 and 1968 Convention formats.
Rental terms are a separate matter from the law, and some companies ask for an IDP as a condition of their own contract. Read your booking conditions before you fly, because there is no quick way to obtain one at Keflavik Airport.
Recommended, not required. A Latin-alphabet licence is generally accepted alone; an IDP mainly helps holders of non-Latin-script licences. Both convention types accepted. Check your rental terms, which may ask for one regardless.
The 10-Day Ring Road Itinerary
Days 1-2: Golden Circle and South Coast. Start with the Golden Circle (Thingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss), then drive the south coast past Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls to Vik.
Days 3-4: Glacier Lagoon and East Fjords. Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon is the photographic highlight of the trip. The Diamond Beach beside it is unforgettable. Continue through the dramatic East Fjords.
Days 5-6: Myvatn and North Iceland. Lake Myvatn's volcanic landscapes feel like another planet. Visit the Godafoss waterfall and the whale-watching town of Husavik.
Days 7-8: Akureyri and Snaefellsnes. Iceland's northern capital Akureyri is charming. The drive west to the Snaefellsnes peninsula passes through the remote Westfjords-adjacent territory.
Days 9-10: Snaefellsnes and Reykjavik. The Snaefellsnes peninsula is called "Iceland in miniature" with its own glacier, lava fields, and fishing villages. Return to Reykjavik.
Driving Conditions and F-Roads
F-roads require 4x4. Iceland's highland F-roads are gravel tracks that cross rivers and require a 4x4 vehicle. Your rental agreement will specify which roads you are allowed to drive. Driving a 2WD car on an F-road voids your insurance and can result in massive towing fees.
Weather changes in minutes. Iceland's weather is notoriously unpredictable. Check road.is and vedur.is every morning before driving. Roads can close without warning due to wind, snow, or flooding.
Bookmark road.is before your trip. This official website shows real-time road conditions, closures, and weather warnings for every section of the Ring Road. Check it every morning before driving.
Vehicle and Insurance
Rent a 4x4. Even if you stick to Route 1, a 4x4 handles Iceland's wind, gravel sections, and occasional unpaved stretches far better than a standard car. The extra cost is worth the peace of mind.
Get full insurance. Standard CDW does not cover gravel damage, wind damage, or sand/ash damage. These are real risks in Iceland. The supplemental insurance options (SCDW, gravel protection, sand/ash protection) are genuinely necessary here.
1. Domestic license, plus an IDP if it is not in the Latin alphabet or your rental terms ask for one. 2. 4x4 rental vehicle. 3. Full insurance including gravel and wind. 4. road.is bookmarked. 5. Warm layers in the car. 6. No F-road driving without 4x4. 7. Fuel up at every station. 8. Emergency kit with blankets.
The Ring Road delivers landscapes you will not find anywhere else on Earth. A 4x4, the right insurance, and paperwork the rental desk can read are what get you onto one of the world's greatest driving adventures.