Choosing a rental company for an Iceland Ring Road trip feels straightforward until you actually start looking. Within ten minutes you’re knee-deep in insurance options, vehicle categories, pickup locations and prices that vary by hundreds of euros depending on where you look. I went through this process myself before my 14-day Ring Road trip and ended up booking through Northbound — which led me to a smaller local company called Star Car Rental that I wouldn’t have found on my own.

Here’s an honest breakdown of the three partners I recommend on this site, what they’re each best at, and a few things worth knowing before you sign anything.

Northbound — The Comparison Platform

Best for: Anyone who doesn’t know exactly what they want yet, or wants to be sure they’re not overpaying.

Northbound isn’t a rental company — it’s a comparison platform that aggregates offers from dozens of Icelandic providers. You set your dates, filter by vehicle type (campervan, 4×4, small car), and get a side-by-side price overview with real customer reviews. That’s genuinely useful in Iceland where the price difference between providers for the same vehicle category can be significant.

I used Northbound for my own trip and ended up booking with Star Car Rental — a smaller local company I’d never heard of. The van was well-equipped, the team was friendly, and they threw in sleeping bags for free which turned out to matter more than I expected. Even in June, some nights in the Highlands are cold enough to need them if your van doesn’t have heating. There was also a free airport shuttle, though most companies offer that anyway.

The reason Northbound works is simple: you can filter by exactly what you need — campervan for two, automatic, within a certain budget — and immediately see what’s available across the whole market rather than checking ten different company websites separately.

What to watch for: The filtering is good but read the individual company reviews carefully, not just the price. Some smaller providers have excellent vans and service. Others cut corners on maintenance.

Check rates on Northbound →

Go Campers — My First Choice (That Was Fully Booked)

Best for: First-time Iceland campervan travelers who want a reliable, well-equipped van without paying premium prices.

Go Campers was my original first choice before my trip — and the reason I ended up on Northbound was that their campervans in my size and date range were already fully booked. That tells you something about their popularity.

What makes Go Campers stand out is that they build and fit their own vans in their own workshop in Hafnarfjörður, just outside Reykjavik. The fleet ranges from compact budget campervans for two people up to 4×4 models for those who want F-road access. All rentals come with unlimited mileage, which matters more than it sounds on a 14-day Ring Road trip where you’ll easily cover 2,000+ km.

Their pickup location is 5 minutes from Keflavík Airport — simpler than companies based in Reykjavik where you need a shuttle or taxi first. They’re also open from 5am which is useful if you’re arriving on an early flight.

The one thing to know: book early. Summer slots — particularly for mid-June through August — fill up well in advance. If Go Campers is on your list, treat it as the first booking you make, not something to sort after you’ve booked flights.

Check rates at Go Campers →

Lava Car Rental — For 4x4s and Non-Campervan Travelers

Best for: Anyone who wants a rugged 4×4 rather than a campervan, or is planning F-road driving in the Highlands.

Lava Car Rental is a local, family-run company specialising in 4x4s and SUVs rather than campervans. If you’ve decided you’d rather sleep in guesthouses and guesthouses along the Ring Road than in a van — or if Highland driving is a priority — Lava is the more relevant option than the other two.

They’re known for transparent insurance packages, which is worth mentioning because Iceland rental insurance is genuinely confusing. The standard CDW most companies offer isn’t sufficient here — you also want Sand and Ash Protection (SAAP) and Gravel Protection at minimum. A single gravel chip on the windshield costs more to repair than the entire insurance upgrade, and the Ring Road regularly kicks up stones.

I haven’t driven with Lava personally, but the feedback I’ve heard from other travelers is consistently positive — particularly around customer service and how they handle issues on the road.

You can get an exclusive 5% discount with code CREATOR at booking.

Check rates at Lava Car Rental →

Which One Should You Book?

Here’s the honest short version:

Use Northbound if you’re still deciding on vehicle type or want to compare the full market before committing. It’s also useful if you’re flexible on company — sometimes a smaller provider offers a significantly better deal for the same van.

Book Go Campers directly if you know you want a campervan and want a well-regarded specialist with a strong track record. Book early — they fill up.

Go with Lava if you need a proper 4×4 rather than a campervan, or if F-road driving is part of your plan.

A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Sign

Insurance is not optional in Iceland. CDW alone isn’t enough. At minimum add Gravel Protection (windshield damage from gravel roads is the most common claim) and Sand and Ash Protection (SAAP) if you’re visiting volcanic areas or during windy conditions. Check whether your rental company’s insurance covers F-roads before you drive on them — most standard policies don’t.

Pickup locations matter. Companies based at or near Keflavík Airport save you time and transfer costs on arrival. Reykjavik-based companies often offer shuttles but add an hour to your first day.

Book campervans in summer before you book flights. Sounds extreme but isn’t. The best Ring Road campervan dates in July and August go several months in advance. I started planning in March for a June trip and Go Campers was already out of options in my preferred van category.

Unlimited mileage is worth confirming. Most reputable companies include it. Some cheaper options don’t, and 2,000+ km on a Ring Road trip adds up fast if you’re paying per kilometre.

Check the fuel policy. Full-to-full is standard and fair. Avoid any rental that charges a fixed fuel fee upfront — you’ll almost certainly overpay.

For more on driving in Iceland — including the F-road rules, parking apps and what the Icelandic wind actually does to car doors — see my full driving guide. And if you’re still planning your itinerary, my 14-day Ring Road campervan guide covers the full route with daily stages, campsites and what to prioritise.

Transparency: This post contains affiliate links to Northbound, Go Campers and Lava Car Rental. If you book through them I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.