I Waited Too Long to Book My Iceland Campervan. Here’s What Happened.

I wanted a GoCampers van. By the time I actually looked, it was gone for my dates.

That’s the whole mistake. Here’s what it turned into.

Short answer: book 3+ months ahead for June to August. Outside peak season a few weeks is usually enough. I left it until the last few weeks for a July trip, and the van I wanted was already gone.

What “too late” actually looks like

Not dramatic — just annoying. GoCampers: sold out for my window. A couple of others on my rental comparison shortlist: same story, or only their priciest layout left. I wasn’t choosing between vans anymore. I was checking who still had anything.

Advertising disclosure: Links and buttons marked with * are affiliate links. If you book through one of them I earn a small commission — the price stays exactly the same for you.

I ended up on Northbound*, comparing the remaining inventory across different operators for my exact dates. That’s how I found Star Car Rental, not on my original list at all, at a fair price. It worked out. It also cost me a week of checking back every couple of days — a week I didn’t need to spend.

The Standard Advice, Not Mine

I only know my own dates. For a wider picture, here’s what rental operators and Iceland travel guides consistently say about when to book an Iceland campervan:

Travel period	General guidance
June – August (peak)	Book 3+ months ahead, 4+ for July
September – October	A few weeks is usually enough
April – May	Weeks, not months; May tightens up

Worth noting: I hit my wall in peak summer. If your trip lands in shoulder season the margin is a lot wider, but wider still isn’t open-ended — the well-equipped vans go first in every season.

The company I actually wanted

GoCampers was my first choice going in: good layouts for a solo Ring Road loop, and solid reviews. I never rented from them, so I can’t tell you what the actual experience is like. What I can tell you is that they were gone by the time I looked, and if their vehicles are what you want, that’s the one to book first, not last. Check GoCampers here*.

The part I hadn’t understood: booking early can still be flexible

The thing that would have saved me a week of stress: most Icelandic campervan operators refund you in full if you cancel at least 24 hours before pickup. The catch is that this usually depends on booking the refundable rate, which costs a little more than the cheapest one on the page. I didn’t check any of this until after the fact. Confirm it for the company and rate you book — but where it applies, booking in autumn for a summer trip isn’t a commitment you’re stuck with.

The real risk isn’t in booking early. It’s in what I ran into — the van you want stops being available at any price, long before your trip.

What to lock in once you’ve picked a van

• Insurance. GP and SAAP coverage matter more in Iceland than on a typical European rental. Full breakdown in my insurance guide.
• Vehicle size. If F-roads are part of your route, that changes what you book. I never drove them myself — did Landmannalaugar on a guided tour instead, so a standard van covered my entire Ring Road loop. The 4×4 vs campervan post walks through the decision.

One thing I skipped: the Camping Card. Travelling alone over 14 nights it came out close to break-even, so I left it. The numbers are in my Ring Road cost breakdown.

If you care which van you’re driving around Iceland, don’t wait until the trip is close. I did — and my first choice was already gone. The route I eventually built with that Star Car Rental van is the one in my Ring Road guide, if you want the specifics.