Driving conditions in February

Nobody can tell the road conditions 2 weekend ahead, but chances are good that they will be ok. Worried a bit if you have zero experience, but a 4x4 gives you a false feeling of safety. So stick to a 2WD - one where you can "feel" the road conditions ( not an American style car) is safest. The most important is to spot ice and then drive extremely slow. Hope that the rental car has studded tyres although that means driving relatively slowly in GOOD weather conditions.

I would not bother with a 4WD. As well as ice, wind is a major cause of accidents, and the high ground clearance of 4WDs make them more susceptible to rolling in high winds.

The most important thing is to make sure your car has proper nail tyres on, and to check the conditions on www.vegagerdin.is before you go anywhere outside the capital area. Vegagerdin also have a phone number, so you can call and advise if the trip you are planning to take is safe.

In terms of car rentals I recommend www.carsiceland.com They can advise you as to what vehicle will best suit your needs based on your driving experience (instead of just trying to rent you the most expensive vehicle!)

was thinking of using sadcars as they seem to be the most reasonable I've found.

Check for reviews of them, both on this site and elsewhere, so you aren't surprised.

Many thanks for all of the advice. I have sent an email to carsiceland for advice.

Do any of you know of a website which gives details of driving times between sights in Iceland (I am aware that this will be partly weather dependent)? I do not want to plan too much driving each day. I am planning to get to our accommodation before dark where possible.

Any other general driving advice for Iceland is appreciated too!

Thanks

There is a reluctance to give driving times as they are so variable, but there's a distance chart here.
http://www.vegagerdin.is/vegakerfid/vegalengdir/tafla-yfir-ymsar-leidir/
In good weather on good roads you can reckon to proceed at an average of about 80km/h (speed limit is 90).

Some driving reccommendations:
→Hire a car with studded tyres.
→When it's around freezing and a bit above the asphalt that looks wet is actually glaced with a thin cover of ice. Act accordingly.
→Slow down before things that might look hairy such as suspicious bends and slippery looking patches. Even ABS brakes do retract from the steerability of your veichle and braking distances are markedly longer on slippery surfaces.
→Locals will drive faster than you. Let them pass, pull over if you're gathering a queue.
→Abandoned iced parking lots: Use them for handling practice.
→Sometimes roads are closed for snow clearing, or you're queued up to follow a snowplough in a coloumn. That is the times you are thankful you remembered to bring warm clothes and a thermos with hot coffee.

Many thanks for all of the advice!

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