General information
Where and when can I pick up and drop off my mini camper?
You can pick up/drop off your mini camper at the Reykjavík BSÍ Main Bus Station, Vatnsmýrarvegi 10, Reykjavík 101 , all days between 3:00 and 22.00.
Location maps and more information can be found here: https://icelandminicampers.is/our-locations/
What is the appropriate length for a mini camper trip?
Most of our rentals range from 5-10 days. If you want to drive the Ring Road (1332km) around the country it is sensible to allow for 6-10 days since the whole extent requires around 17 hours of solid driving (at an average of 80km/h) and it can feel a bit hectic to drive for more than 3-4 hours per day plus stops. Check out our Travel Suggestions blog (see here: http://blog.icelandminicampers.is/) for ideas and keep in mind that the golden rule when making a travel itinerary is to avoid cramming too much driving/stops/activities into each day but instead leaving plenty of room to relax and make your own discoveries.
What is the minimum rental period?
The minimum rental period is three days.
Do I need an international driver’s license?
You need to have a driver’s license that is printed in Latin characters and has a valid date, a license number and the license holder’s photograph. If your license is from outside of the EU or N-America it is safest to get in touch with your regional Icelandic embassy or consulate.
How do I pay for my camper?
You can pay for your camper with a credit card through our fully secure website.
If something were to come up, can I change or cancel my rental?
You can change or cancel your rental free of charge right until 10 days before rental. After that time the confirmation fee is non-refundable and cancellations made less than 48 hours before pick-up render the whole amount non-refundable (see details here: https://icelandminicampers.is/terms-and-conditions/). These provisions are meant to help us recover costs since last minute cancellations often result in lost rentals and downtime for our campers.
What are your insurance options?
Information on our insurance options is available on our Terms and Conditions page (see here: http://icelandminicampers.is/terms-and-conditions/) which forms the basis of our rental agreement. Articles 19 through 26 describe the different types of insurance. In short, our campers come with the basic mandatory vehicle insurance and in addition we offer different types of insurance for instances not covered by the basic policy. These include Gravel Protection (GP), Sand and Ash Protection (SAAP), Theft Insurance (TI), Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and Special Collision Damage Waiver (SCDW). The CDW and the SCDW insure for driver liability in cases where the driver is responsible for an accident. In such cases the CDW would insure for driver liability but would still require the driver to pay an “own risk” amount. The SCDW is basically the same insurance policy but with significantly lower “own risk” amount. In plain language, this means that if the driver were to cause an accident which would damage the camper, under the basic policy he or she might be liable to pay for that damage, whereas with a CDW insurance would cover that damage minus an “own risk” expense. The SCDW would then serve to further lower the “own risk” expense in case of accident (caused by driver). The Golden Package is simply a policy which includes all the aforementioned policies (GP, TI, SAAP and SCDW). We realize this may sound rather confusing but the reason we offer different grades of insurance is to give our customers the opportunity to decide the level of coverage for themselves. In most cases we recommend the Golden Package since it insures against any contingency such as gravel, ash and theft. Moreover, the premium covers the entire rental whereas different extra insurance options are sold at a per day basis. Iceland still has a lot of gravel roads, even parts of the Ring Road are gravel, and these could possibly damage the car and seeing as there are 4 volcanoes (that we know of) ready to erupt at any moment, getting ash protection isn’t as far-fetched as it may sound.
Who do I contact in case of accident or if I have any other problem?
For all questions and minor problems regarding the camper or your rental you can reach us by phone, +354 770 2015 or email, imc@imcampers.is. If you have an accident or emergency, call 112. If you have any kind of emergency but are unsure about whether it is serious enough to merit a call to 112, call 112 and let them decide.
Our Campers
Do the campers have electrical outlets, USB ports or similar for charging phones or cameras?
All our campers come equipped with some USB charging ports (both in the cigarette lighter and in the back) that are connected to the camper’s electrics as well as three 230 V electrical sockets that can be hooked up to the power outlets provided by most campsites. We do not provide any adapters, either from the 12V car electrics (frankly, we’ve had some bad experiences and discourage the use of those) or the 230V sockets. What you plug into the 230V sockets is pretty much your own responsibility so if you plan to bring an adapter, for instance to convert the European 230V to the US 110V, we only advise you to be mindful of maximum load limitations etc.
Do I need to bring a sleeping bags, pillows, blankets etc.?
Each camper comes with a blanket and two pillows. (A full list of the equipment in each camper can be found here: https://icelandminicampers.is/campers/, just click the “details” button at the right side of each model.) We recommend that you bring your own sleeping bag(s) or rent one from us (see prices and available extras here: https://icelandminicampers.is/extras/).
What sort of cooking equipment is included?
Our campers have a built-in gas stove and come equipped with all the basic cooking utensils. A full list of the equipment in each camper can be found here: https://icelandminicampers.is/campers/ (just click the “details” button at the right side of each model).
Am I going to be comfortable in a mini camper even if the weather is a bit chilly?
Our campers are warm and cozy even if the weather can get a bit cold. We don’t keep our campers in service during winter but a couple of our customers once camped near Mývatn in -12°C without any problem. Our campers all come equipped with electrical heaters that can be plugged in at campsites but a normal sleeping bag plus blanket works well in most conditions.
How much will fuel cost?
Our website lists information about how much fuel each of our models consumes per 100km. These numbers aren’t exactly set in stone but will give you some idea of how far you can get on a full tank and circa how much fuel you will need for a specific distance. The number is usually given for “mixed driving” which includes driving both inside towns (lots of stopping and accelerating which means higher fuel consumption) and driving in the countryside (long stretches of road at a steady speed which means lower fuel consumption). Fuel prices differ between gas stations but this website maps prices and should at least give you an idea: http://gsmbensin.is/gsmbensin_web.php?language=en
Do I need to clean the camper before returning it?
We expect you to return the campers clean on the inside but the outside doesn’t matter since we always wash our campers between rents anyway. If you don’t have time to tidy up the camper on the inside we apply a flat rate cleaning fee of 60 EUR. (The cleaning fee covers dirt from any reasonable normal use. If deep cleaning is needed on the camper’s upholstery or interior we reserve the right to charge additionally for costs incurred).
Driving/camping in Iceland
What can I expect in terms of different roads and driving conditions?
The majority of highway 1, the Ring Road, is made up from a single lane asphalt road with a speed limit of 90km/h. All in all, driving in Iceland shouldn’t be that much different from driving anywhere else in Europe but before setting off in your Mini camper we recommend that you look at the some of the websites available, such as http://www.icetra.is/road-traffic/how-to-drive-in-iceland/.
What is the speed limit in Iceland?
For optimal conditions the speed limit outside of town limits is usually 90km/h but only 50km/h within towns (unless signs indicate otherwise). When driving on gravel roads it is recommended that you drive no faster than 80km/h and apply brakes every now and then to check road grip.
What is the policy in Iceland on drinking alcohol and driving?
Iceland, just as most countries in Europe and Scandinavia, has a very strict policy against drinking and driving. Failure to comply can result in heavy fines and even prison sentences for repeated or gross offenses. Also, driving under the influence voids most insurance policies which makes you personally responsible for any damages in case of accident. If you plan on having a few drinks some night, make sure you get plenty of rest before getting behind the wheel again the next day. It might also be a good idea to include an extra driver in your booking.
Can I camp anywhere I want?
Camping “in the wild” in Iceland was made illegal in July 2016. Therefore, we encourage our customers to plan their journeys around campsites, both because they provide important facilities such as bathrooms and, in many cases, electricity, but also since camping outside of designated campsites requires the landowner’s permission. However, this should not significantly limit the choices of the mini camper traveler. A great number of campsites can be found around Iceland at affordable prices (more info here: http://tjalda.is/en/) and these offer a variety of amenities that can make your camping experience more comfortable.
What should I wear?
The weather in Iceland is notoriously fickle, so bring lots of warm clothes and dress in layers (base layer, mid layer and shell). Even in summer, you might encounter chilly weather so be sure to bring something that can withstand wind and rain. The weather can be pretty mild during the summer months but temperatures usually range anywhere from 5-20°C so it might be a good idea to keep a hat and some mittens stashed away somewhere just in case.
Where can I wash and bathe while I am camping in Iceland?
Your best bet for a simple shower would be the campsites but here we’d also like to mention the many swimming pools situated everywhere around Iceland at the ratio of circa one per 1300 residents. These make good use of Iceland’s abundant geothermal energy and are situated at in almost every town. Admission is relatively cheap and swimming pools usually have different types of hot pots, sometimes even steam baths, waterslides etc. You are required to bring your own swimsuit and towel but these are also available for rent at most swimming pools.
Where can I find bathrooms/toilets in Iceland?
Bathrooms can be found at campsites, gas stations, swimming pools, cafés and restaurants all over the country. Sadly, Icelanders have been slow to react to the huge increase in visitors so bathrooms are often scarce and/or crowded around popular destinations so in these cases it might be a good idea to plan ahead, if that’s possible. Also, we really discourage our customers from doing their business “in the wild” since this is very much frowned upon among the locals.
Interesting routes/locations
How long does it take to drive the Ring Road around Iceland?
If you want to drive the Ring Road around the country it is sensible to allow for 6-10 days since the whole extent requires approximately 17 hours of solid driving at an average speed of 80km/h and it can feel a bit hectic to drive for more than 3-4 hours per day plus stops. We still haven’t gotten round to featuring the Ring Road in our Travel Suggestions blog but there are a number of webpages available with suggestions for stops (see for instance here: https://guidetoiceland.is/best-of-iceland/best-attractions-by-the-ring-road-of-iceland).
Can you recommend any interesting places in general?
Yes, loads! We write a regular blog on the subject where we share our favorite places and things to do, and make travel itinerary suggestions tailor-made for mini campers (see here: http://blog.icelandminicampers.is/). The blog also has a lot of tips, tricks and advice regarding how to get the most out of your mini camper holiday in Iceland.