Electric

Find the ideal electric vehicle for your trip to Iceland

Hiring a car is the best way to explore the rugged landscapes and wild uninhabited regions of Iceland. If you want to lower your environmental impact while travelling in Iceland, your best option is to hire an electric vehicle (EV).

At Höldur, you can choose from a wide range of EVs that give you the comfort and advanced technology you deserve—while reducing your environmental footprint. Select from our vehicles from brands including Volkswagen, Tesla, Renaults, Maxus, and more.

Why you should choose an EV to hire in Iceland

Iceland is one of the most volcanically active countries on the planet. As you may well know already, this has made it also one of the most beautiful—with high volcanic peaks, breathtaking geological forms, and luxurious geothermal spas.

Yet all this volcanic activity doesn’t just create jaw-dropping natural phenomena. It also helps Iceland as a country meet most of our electricity needs. Everything including streetlights, industry, and domestic power is partly produced very cheaply by geothermal energy.

This is one reason why electric vehicles are now the most commonly sold vehicles in Iceland. Thanks to this widely available renewable energy, EVs are cheap to run in Iceland, environmentally friendly, and well-served by charging infrastructure. If you’re looking to hire a vehicle in Iceland, an EV is the sensible choice.

Plus, in an EV in Iceland, you needn’t worry about common concerns such as charging range. As there are so many EV drivers, you’ll find plenty of charge points, including Tesla superchargers, public charge points, and private charging options.

The environmental benefits are not the only reason why you should consider hiring an electric vehicle in Iceland. As EVs are among the most modern cars available, they tend to be equipped with the smartest vehicle technology, including hi-tech communication, navigation, and automation systems.

Note. One thing to be aware of is that EVs are strictly forbidden to be driven on the highland F-roads, the unpaved roads that cross Iceland’s most remote regions. If you want to travel there, you must be driving a 4x4 SUV or a 4x4 campervan.

New per-km tax on EVs in Iceland 

Starting from January 1, 2024, Iceland Authorities have introduced a new Road Tax. The purpose of this tax is to contribute to the construction and maintenance of the Icelandic road system. Under this new Per-km Tax system, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) are charged ISK 2 per kilometer (approximately Euro 0.014), while electric cars face a rate of ISK 6 per kilometer (approximately Euro 0.04). Conventional fossil fuel cars will have this tax added in the price of petrol or diesel. As part of the regulations, Europcar Iceland is required to apply this Per-km Tax upon the return of rental cars, as it is based on the total distance driven. Therefore, we will be charging for this additional cost after the return of the rental vehicle.

Hire an EV in Iceland with Höldur

At Höldur, we have the largest range of rental vehicles in Iceland—including EVs. We’re the largest car rental operator in the country, as well as being the local Europcar franchisee.

We have over 7,000 vehicles in rotation, with rental outlets across the entire country, from Reykjavík to Akureyri and in most places around the country.

That means, whether you want to pre-book an electric vehicle to pick up from Keflavík airport, or hire your EV in downtown Reykjavík, it’s possible with Höldur. Whichever you choose, you’ll benefit from our best-in-class professional service and expertise.

Explore our range of EVs below to choose a vehicle and see the best of Iceland.