Iceland drives on the right; most cars place the steering wheel on the left, and drivers normally pass on the left.
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Traffic leaving Keflavik International Airport (KEF) should feel familiar to drivers from the United States: keep right at the first roundabout and stay in the right lane on two-way roads. For anyone checking what side of the road they drive in Iceland, the practical rule is right-side traffic, left-side overtaking, and added caution on narrow rural roads.
The traffic side is easy to learn. Iceland’s gravel shoulders, blind crests, one-lane bridges, fast weather changes, and unusual roundabout rule demand more attention than the right-side layout itself.
How Does Right-Side Driving Work In Iceland?
Icelandic traffic keeps to the right, while oncoming vehicles pass on your left. A standard rental car also places the driver on the left side of the cabin, much like a car in the United States or mainland Europe.
Use a simple mental cue when leaving a parking lot or fuel station: the driver should sit near the center line, not beside the road shoulder. That cue is useful after a stop, when visitors are most likely to fall back into habits learned in a left-driving country.
- Right turns: enter the lane closest to the right edge unless road markings direct you elsewhere.
- Left turns: cross the oncoming lane only when the way is clear, then finish in the right lane.
- Passing: overtake on the left and return to the right as soon as there is safe room.
- Roundabouts: yield to vehicles already circulating and watch the inner lane before exiting a two-lane roundabout.
Driving In Iceland: Right-Side Rules To Know
Iceland combines familiar right-side traffic with several rules that surprise visiting drivers. The table below covers the actions that matter most before leaving the airport area.
| Road Rule | What The Driver Does | Useful Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Normal lane | Keep right | Use the left lane mainly for overtaking |
| Passing | Pass on the left | Move back right when the pass is safely complete |
| Two-lane roundabouts | Yield to an inner-lane car that is exiting | The outer lane does not automatically have priority |
| Headlights | Turn on headlights and taillights | Lights are required day and night; an auto setting may not light the rear |
| Standard speed limits | Follow signs and conditions | Usually 50 km/h urban, 80 km/h gravel, and 90 km/h paved, or about 31, 50, and 56 mph |
| Seat belts | Buckle every occupant | Children under 135 cm need a restraint suited to their size |
| Phones | Use hands-free equipment only | Holding or operating a phone while driving is prohibited |
| Alcohol | Plan for zero alcohol before driving | The legal blood-alcohol limit is 0.2 per mille, equal to 0.02 percent |
| Single-lane bridges | Slow down and assess both approaches | The vehicle closer to the bridge has priority |
| Off-road driving | Stay on established roads and tracks | Driving onto untouched land is illegal, including beside an F-road |
The keep-right rule is written into Iceland’s Road Traffic Act, Article 18, which directs drivers to stay as far right as conditions allow and normally use the left lane to pass.
Narrow Roads Demand More Space
Iceland’s rural roads can shrink from a normal paved highway to gravel, a blind crest, or a one-lane bridge with little warning. Reducing speed before the surface or sight line changes gives the tires and the driver time to respond.
Three situations deserve a deliberate approach:
- Gravel transitions: brake while the car is still on pavement, keep steering inputs smooth, and avoid a sharp correction if loose stones pull at the tires.
- Blind crests: stay well right without dropping a wheel onto the soft shoulder. Another vehicle may appear near the center of a narrow road.
- Sheep and horses: slow early and expect an animal to cross toward the rest of its group. Do not rely on it to stay still.
Stopping in a traffic lane for a photo is unsafe. Use a marked pullout or a firm area fully clear of the roadway, and never stop where a hill or bend blocks another driver’s view.
Where To Stay Before A Long Drive
Reykjavik works well for travelers who want a rested start before the Golden Circle or Ring Road, while Keflavik is the safer first-night choice after a tiring arrival at KEF. Sleeping before a long route is usually better than pushing into rural Iceland while jet-lagged.
For a Reykjavik base with straightforward access to the main roads, compare available stays on the map:
The Car Feels Familiar, The Road May Not
Most controls in an Icelandic rental car will feel normal to a US driver, but signs and speedometers use kilometers. Confirm whether the car is automatic or manual before accepting it, and locate the headlight switch, rear defogger, hazard lights, and fuel-door release before moving.
Daytime running lights can create a false sense that the full lighting system is on. Select a setting that illuminates both the headlights and taillights, then verify the dashboard indicator rather than assuming the automatic setting is enough.
Roundabouts Need One Extra Check
A driver entering any roundabout yields to traffic already inside. In a two-lane Icelandic roundabout, a vehicle in the inner lane has priority when moving toward its exit, so an outer-lane driver must not cut across its path. Choose the outer lane for the first exit and follow arrows or signs for later exits.
Weather Can Make A Legal Speed Too Fast
Icelandic speed limits are maximums for suitable conditions, not targets during wind, ice, fog, or blowing snow. A posted 90 km/h limit does not make that speed safe when the road surface or visibility has deteriorated.
Road closures and restrictions can change during the day, especially outside the capital region. Road.is reports surface and closure information, while SafeTravel publishes weather alerts and travel warnings; check both before a rural drive and again after long stops.
Closed means closed: do not pass a closure sign or barrier, even when tire tracks continue beyond it.
Summer has a different fatigue risk. Long daylight can hide how late it is, so use planned rest stops and avoid starting a long drive after an overnight flight.
Your First 15 Minutes On Icelandic Roads
The first few minutes should be slow and procedural: set the car up, repeat the keep-right cue, and let faster traffic wait until the controls feel natural. This routine covers the highest-risk adjustment points without turning a simple rule into a stressful one.
- Set the seat and mirrors before starting the engine.
- Switch on headlights and confirm the rear lights are active.
- Check that every passenger is buckled and children use the correct restraint.
- Say “keep right, pass left” before leaving the parking area.
- Read the first roundabout signs early and yield to circulating traffic.
- Build extra following distance before the road becomes rural or gravel.
Once those actions feel automatic, right-side driving in Iceland is straightforward. The lasting challenge is matching speed and space to the road, weather, animals, and visibility ahead.
References & Sources
- Althingi, Parliament of Iceland.“Road Traffic Act No. 77/2019.”Article 18 states the keep-right rule and normal use of the left lane for overtaking.