excited_confused

Hi, I know there has been much discussion on this topic but I just found 2 websites - 'Guide to Iceland' and 'Northbound' that I have not come across before, while trying to check car rental rates for our family trip to Iceland in August. The prices were a little better and they had some automatic diesel vehicles too.
Has anyone heard of 'My Car'?
https://guidetoiceland.is/car-rental...tic-2015-1/347

and Northbound?
https://www.northbound.is/rent-a-car-in-iceland

Actually looks like the car I am looking at on Northbound is supplied by Thrifty, but is much cheaper than what's on the Thrifty website.. Not sure why it says Citroen Berlingo MANUAL 5 seater in the description below. Anyone familiar with a Citroen Berlingo?
It does give me the option of paying 15% only now and says can be cancelled within 48 hours for a full refund. Though the site keeps hanging up while trying to get to the payment screen!

Citroen Berlingo Automatic or similar
Thrifty Car Rental
Pickup:
10. Aug 2017 08:00
Keflavík Intl. Airport (Free)
Blikavellir 3, 235
Dropoff:
20. Aug 2017 16:00
Keflavík Intl. Airport (Free)
Blikavellir 3, 235
Insurances:
Super Collision Damage Waiver
€90
Sand and Ash Protection
€150
Collision Damage Waiver
Free
Third Party Liability
Free
Personal Accident Insurance
Free
Extras:
1x Extra driver
€50
Paid Now: €1,443
Paid on arrival: €0
Total amount: €1,443

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION

Citroen Berlingo Manual 5 seater (or similar)
Transmission: Automatic
Drive: FWD
Seats: 5 Bags: 6 Doors: 5

Low fuel consumption. Great space for people and very large luggage space. High seating position with good visibility.

*Not suitable for highland F-roads or Kjölur (Road 35) and Kaldidalur (road 550).
Thrifty Car Rental

Anyone know if these are legitimate?
Thanks!

Melnq8

I'd made bookings through Thrifty and Budget...then I read the reviews.

Cancelled and booked with Lagoon at last minute. Didn't buy any insurance and had no issues.

Our car was supposedly a five passenger car, but the passengers would have had to be legless to fit. One suitcase fit in the trunk, the other in the back seat. Renault Clio, manual. $403 for ten days.

Diesel and petrol prices are very similar in Iceland. I'd get what you're used to so there's no worry about using the wrong fuel out of habit.

Your price quote sounds crazy epensive. If I were you, I'd keep looking.

excited_confused

Melnq8, I have been checking for months and for a 10 day rental, this is the best I can find for an automatic. I just checked Lagoon and that is 1560 euros for a regular car. Can anyone else weigh in on if the rate is too high?

Melnq8

Lagoon offers automatics for just slightly more than manuals.

We booked our two days before departure. I can only assume it has something to do with time of year. August is high season.

Good luck.

excited_confused

Anyone familiar with the size of a Suzuku Vitara? Will it seat 4 adults comfortably? Since we will be in the car a lot for 10 days, that is really important! DH was not impressed with the Citroen Berlingo though we have no first hand experience of either.Does anyone else?

Best rate I have found so far - €1,542, also from Northbound but rental company is Ace. Anyone have any experience with them that they can share?

Thanks!

Suzuki Vitara Automatic or similar
Ace Car Rental
Pickup:
10. Aug 2017 07:00
Keflavík Intl. Airport (€22)
0
Dropoff:
20. Aug 2017 15:00
Keflavík Intl. Airport (€22)
0
Insurances:
Sand and Ash Protection
€148
Theft Protection
Free
Gravel Protection
Free
Super Collision Damage Waiver
Free
Third Party Liability
Free
Extras:
1x Extra driver
€40
Paid Now: €231
Paid on arrival: €1,311
Total amount: €1,542

excited_confused

Melnq8, were you not hesitant to rent without insurance? Seems like all insurance must be denied for the credit card insurance to be effective and apparently all rentals in Iceland come with basic CDW included, which is a no-no to be able to claim against credit card insurance if needed....

Melnq8

Nope. We never buy rental car insurance, regardless of what country we rent in.

We depend on our Visa card for rental car insurance - they even cover the deductible. One or two countries are excluded - I think Ireland is one, not sure.

I once asked Visa about having to deny all coverage, in order for the credit card coverage to apply as we've run into the same thing in NZ - basic CDW is included in the rental price - they said the refusal for coverage only applies to coverage that you can actually decline. You can't decline what's already built into the rental cost, which is more a local regulation than anything. Rental cars in the US have some built in insurance too in states that require it by law. They just don't advertise it.

I'd obtained proof of insurance from my company to provide the rental car company in Iceland, but didn't need it. I never have had to show any proof, I just decline and sign.

You do know that rental car companies make their money by selling insurance?

excited_confused

Yes, and we never normally buy insurance but reading all the stories about Iceland makes me think twice!Just so we are not stressing during the trip in case we get hit by a pebble!
How thoroughly did they inspect the car when you returned it to Lagoon? Seem like some companies like Sixt use it as a money making tool.

Melnq8

We had no issues whatsoever with Lagoon. We returned the car early in the morning, an employee walked around it, checked the petrol level and that was it.

I read those Iceland rental horror stories before our trip too.

Which is one reason we switched to Lagoon - they came highly rated and don't seem to play games.

We saw some interesting driving while we were in Iceland though - one guy hit a sheep and was frantically looking around his rental car looking for damage (and the sheep). Another guy managed to drive his car off the road and into a lava field and was trying to dig it out with a shovel.

If you're a confident and competent driver, you don't take your car where you're not supposed to, and you take the usual precautions, you should be fine.

Only you can decide your comfort level.

basingstoke2

In Iceland we recently used a VW Golf automatic from Avis and the price per day was far less than quoted by the OP. Whether or not you need a 4wd with high ground clearance or need to buy the gravel damage insurance of course depends on where in the country you plan to go. We travelled extensively in the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and the roads were quite good and smooth. The few gravel roads we used were hard packed and there was no gravel damage. The VW worked well for us.

Minnietheminx

I have not heard about those companies. Lagoon? yep that one I do know it is well known in Reykjavik

It is indeed important to check their terms and conditions as they might be some hidden charges, you do not want any surprises on the reception desk! I also would not go without any gravel protection insurance. many roads in Iceland are gravel roads and chances of a pebble hitting your windshield is high : (

I googled for the most known companies in Iceland and here you have a comparison in case you want to check prices in all of them:
http://www.iamreykjavik.com/car-rental-iceland

FernandoMartin

That's true what it has been mentioned that rental agencies make profits with the insurances

Melnq8

If you have insurance elsewhere, as on a credit card, you don't need any insurance. Gravel is covered, ash is covered , etc.

Does the OP have insurance elsewhere? Or even travel insurance?

You might find you're already well covered. Why buy into the scare tactics?

girlonthego

We were there recently and bought Blue Car rental insurance. They come with lots of basic built in insurance. I did buy all the insurance and I never get that stuff. We did not go off roading at all, but even some main roads are gravel for miles and I was glad I had the gravel insurance. I dd hose down the car at a gas station (free to do this) before I returned it.

I found the rental prices outrageous. We stayed in the city and rented the car two days in the middle and two at the end of an 8 day trip. I would have kept it but the two days inbetween added another 400 dollars and we wouldn't be using it. So no thanks. We needed it to get to one area in the middle of the trip, thus adding it. One of the adventures we wanted to do didn't offer pick up.

We ordered a Kia Soul because it is so ugly it is cute idea, but received a smaller wagon the first time and a sedan the second. Both cars had small backseats. Cars were automatic and in good condition. We prepaid the cars in advance, another thing I never do, but when in Iceland...

Good luck. Lots of car rental companies get bad raps there. Make sure you note any dings on the car before you leave the lot and have them put them on the paper. Save the paper. You will have no problem.

excited_confused

Thanks Melnq8.

basingstoke2, I will check Avis again but had seen nothing cheaper that what I posted above.

For now I have booked a Subaru Forester with Lagoon for 1378 euros and after Melnq8's comments and a conversation with my insurance company, have decided not to get insurance. Wish us luck!

FernandoMartin

I would always go for a local icelandic one! They are reliable enough, and taxes remain in Iceland