Rules of the Road · Verified August 2026

Driving Laws in Iceland

Everything a visitor needs before driving in Iceland — which side to drive on, the alcohol limit, national speed limits and licence requirements.

right

Driving Side

steering wheel on the left

0.02

BAC Limit (g/dL)

general drivers

—

Motorway Limit

see note below

recommended

Intl. Driving Permit

for foreign visitors

Speed Limits

National Default Speed Limits

Urban / Built-up

50 km/h

Rural / Open Road

90 km/h

Motorway / Highway

—

Note: No motorways; gravel roads 80.

Defaults only — posted signs always override national defaults. Laws verified August 2026; rules change, so confirm with an official source before you travel.

Alcohol & Driving

Drink-Driving Rules in Iceland

General limit: 0.02 g/dL

Reaction time, judgement and night vision all degrade well below any legal threshold — the only limit that guarantees safety is 0.00. Alcohol is a factor in a large share of the world's fatal crashes, and enforcement in Iceland can include checkpoints, licence loss and jail.

Live Tracking

Iceland on the Live Map

Iceland has a WHO-estimated 2 road deaths per 100,000 people. See live accident reports and full statistics for Iceland.

Before You Go

Emergency Number

Save Iceland's emergency number before you drive — find it in our worldwide emergency numbers directory. And check your rental's tires with the tire age checker.

Nearby

Driving Laws in Neighbouring Countries

United Kingdom Ireland Norway Denmark Sweden Netherlands

Questions

FAQ

Which side of the road does Iceland drive on?

Iceland drives on the right-hand side of the road (like most of the world).

What is the drink-driving limit in Iceland?

The general limit is 0.02 g/dL BAC. Remember: impairment starts well below the legal limit.

Do I need an International Driving Permit in Iceland?

An IDP is recommended rather than strictly required for most visitors to Iceland — but rental companies and police may still ask for one, and it is cheap insurance.

Is it safe to drive in Iceland?

By the numbers, Iceland has a WHO-estimated road death rate of 2 per 100,000 people (global average about 15), which is among the safest countries in the world to drive in — it ranks 193 of 195 countries from most to least deadly. Traffic drives on the right. Most road deaths anywhere happen at night, at higher speeds and on rural roads, so plan long drives in daylight and follow the posted limits.