I was going g 117kmh. I trekked up the volcano there in October. Definitely 100% in the wrong. Im going to Iceland in November 2019, so will be extremely careful driving there. Vehicles pulling a trailer (i.e. Thanks for sharing your experience!! 2006-2023 All copyright reserved on photos and content, This website uses cookies to help you browse on the website/ web. Remember that the inside lane always has the right of way. They can also go to the website of Blastasjur and see pictures of the car. The Iceland speed limit varies depending on the road type; in built-up areas, the speed limit is 50km/h. Use the outside lane if you are exiting the roundabout on the first exit only. Always give way to indicating buses leaving a bus stop. How are speed limits controlled in Iceland? For parking tickets left on the windshield, you can simply walk into any bank, wait your turn, and pay your ticket. They said ummm not sure how. All of these rules are in place for the safety of citizens and tourists. It seems the question itself angered a few Icelandic citizens who dont appreciate this mindset of I dont live there, so why should I deal with the consequences. Second/Subsequent Extreme DUI Offenses: No less than $3,250. It always sucks getting tickets, especially when its international. Join our weekly hand curated newsletter to have all the latest news from Iceland sent to you. Anyone caught driving at the speed of 111-120 km/h (68-75 mph) can expect a fine of ISK 50,000 (USD 816) and those caught driving at the speed of 141-150 km/h (88-94 mph) will have to pay ISK 130,000 (USD 2,121). S o no stopping in the middle of the road for pictures! Also, there are no roundabouts in the whole of Iceland with more than two lanes. This was back in august, Today (December 7th). If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Wow this is really informative ! Don't worry, we won't spam you. Got a speeding ticket in Iceland? http://www.sjova.is/files/2007_8_1_messageFromThePolice.jpg. You may get your speeding ticket on the day or later. I know it's harsh but that's the way it works in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? I heard some can even go as high as $1700! If its paid imediately upon receiving the fine, its 1400ISK (11USD). Parking and camping outside of designated camping zones in Iceland are illegal. One individual who allegedly called theIcelandic police department spoke to a woman who saidnothing would happensince they are not a citizen of Iceland. Should I dispute it when the credit card bill comes. This article will prove helpful if you want to avoid getting speeding tickets on your visit to Iceland. What do you think? If for some reason you've entered the roundabout on the outside lane, but realize you don't need to exit immediately, then use your indicator to signal towards the inside lane - but do not switch lanes! 2. The best way to avoid getting a speeding ticket in Iceland is always to drive. Thank you in advance ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-88003033', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Reykjavik and Borgarnes. Driving in Iceland can indeed be an exhilarating experience. Others seemed more understanding and admitted that Icelanders know where these fast-moving cameras are and slow down when they see them. But overall, most Icelanders agreed that it was only fair those who received these speeding tickets pay the fine. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-95594770', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');car as it was 20,000k more to go to the station to pay. Iceland! Its also an easy way to access remote areas of the country that are inaccessible by public transportation. Our major roads are getting filled with little signs the authorities are putting up at the spot of fatalities, I recently counted 19 of these signs, all within ten minutes of my home. Emergency services with flashing lights always have right of way. OK, so now I'm freaked. This new breed of crosswalk appears to be floating up and off the road, which. How do I pay my speeding fine in Iceland? However, police officers most likely have visibility to outstanding fines previously incurred in their country, and definitely will in their specific state/region. Thx to the rental company for not giving us a heads up on a rediculous fee system. Girl I know the feeling!! We are quite sure you likely have a few. How would you spend your time in a self-driving car. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. The speed limit on unpaved roadsis 80 km/hror 49 mph. Painful lesson learned as I was not aware the speeding fine was so eye wateringly steep in Iceland. Speeding tickets issued by speeding cameras along the highway have proven especially hard to collect, as the cameras record the license plate number of offending motorists. If still unpaid after 28 days, it goes up to 20.000ISK (154USD). Foreigners (tourists in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Unfortunately it wasnt a fraud . Here's a short summary for you. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-88001538', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Iceland and most of Europe. The best way to avoid getting a speeding ticket in Iceland is always to drive safely and according to driving laws and posted signs along your route. The speeding ticket is then charged to your credit card by the booking agent. Even if you arent told you have a fine when you return your rental car, it does not mean you are in the clear. How do I pay my speeding fine in Iceland? Hiring a car is a great way to travel around Iceland independently; it gives you the freedom to explore on your own terms. Is it an automatic ticket? Promise! Iceland is not a friendly place for a learner driver, especially if you are a visitor to the country. The general speed limit is 30-50 km/hour in populated areas, 80 km/hour on gravel roads in rural areas and 90 km/hour on paved roads. In those cases cameras understandably cannot record the license plate number of a speeding car. On the sixth day, driving between Hvammstangi and Arnarstapi, I saw a van with flashing lights driving towards me. I understand that you get a speeding fine but do you get points on your licence? Iceland has some of the lowest speed limits in the world. Which is $460. Just 80 percent of fines charged to foreign tourists . The second one is when a parking offence has been comitted. A study done by the University of Iceland found that there is an average of, The floating crosswalk was thought up by town environmental commissioner Ralf Trylla. Couple questions and concerns. You may get a ticket in the mail; often it will be perhaps the week after the alleged crime. I didn't get stopped by a policeman, I was waved at to slow down at one point, but he never pulled me over. Being caught by a police officer doesn't mean you're off the hook for the rest of the speedtraps. 2023 by Reykjavk Cars Booking Office. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Overall, not a terrible experience. (70km zone), Driving 41km/h or faster over allowed top speed. I lived in Iceland for a while and got one for $500 :/ made sure to not speed again after that one!! A study done by the University of Iceland found that there is an average of one speed bump every 20 meters in the country. The Iceland ring road speed limit is 90km/h, but some parts are graveled and the spend limit will be lower. Parking in Reykjavik is the same as parking in any other European capital. The more a driver is over the speed limit, the greater the number of fines they receive. book flight now or wait until Efling Strike is over? This is sooo important to have an understanding of! a fine for speaking on mobile while driving is raised from 25.000 to 40.000 ISK (from about 250 USD to 400 USD). However, some tourist says they pay more in speeding fines in countries like Finland, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. The best way to avoid getting a speeding ticket in Iceland is always to drive safely and according to driving laws and posted signs along your route. 30-35 km zones. In fact, you might be tempted to toss a parking ticket into your glove compartment and forget about it but if you give in to such temptation, you might face some consequences for giving in to such thought. Car rental companies are required by law to give the authorities your details if you receive a speeding ticket whilst driving their cars. Haha I decided to write it because there really was no blog post or definite answer on whether or not one needed to pay the speeding ticket. The Icelandic road system is unique and drivers must be aware of both on-road and off-road conditions. I just returned from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Uk credits cards not working in Iceland ? They said I had to pay. A car pulling any type of trailer is driving over the legal limits. This is the ultimate goal for me to get to Iceland. Driving 41km/h or faster over allowed top speed. the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service. If you ever got a parking ticket stuck under your windshield wiper, you know how annoying and frustrating that could be, especially when you thought you have your car parked at the right place. There have been few incidents in the past where people have hired rental cars, travelled, returned home, and then weeks later received a letter to their home address with a request to pay fines in Iceland. If you are planning to rent a car in Iceland and go on a self-drive tour, but are not too sure of the signs, here are some frequently asked questions on speeding fines in Iceland in case you got on the wrong side of the traffic law: If you are caught violating the speed limit Either: 1. I would like to think positively about it that perhaps this lesson actually helped saved my life by stopping me speeding . The general speed limits are as follows: 50 km/h or less in urban/residential areas; 80 km/h on gravel roads (we recommend slower speeds) This sign means there is a one-way tunnel system ahead. ???? Then because people lose control when roads changes suddenly from tarmac to gravel. The fees changed the last months. Some car rentals seem to have told motorists that they do not need to have a license plate on the front of the car. If you are pulled over, you could be issued with a ticket immediately but if you are caught on a speed camera then the fine will come in the mail - this could take a number of weeks. The message here is DON'T SPEED! The good thing is that, on almost all the roads in Iceland, there are ample signs with the speed limits. If the clock is missing or the parking exceeds the allowed time, one can expect a parking fee. As a general guide the fine is usually between $195- $460 USD, however, if you are driving very fast, such as 41+km/h above the legal top speed (in 80-90km zones), then you may get fined $615-$690. WTF is this bs, two more speeding fines from the one that i received. could easily be sourced from the fine - so it could be easier for the Iceland government to continue to provide excellent service to its people and visitors when such fines are paid. 50/1987Here are the fees associated with these offenses: You will have different options depending on the type of ticket. We just got a fine and my husband paid . If it was, say, <$150, people would be more likely to pay out of conscience or concern for a return trip to the country. Apparently, all of Iceland has a max speed of 90kph - I had no idea. Went to iceland back in august, got pulled over at 2:59am for speeding, Paid a 500$ish tickets by a police cruiser that picked me up on radar. If an accident occurs farmers in Iceland do appreciate if the local law enforcement are informed so they will be able to attend the wounded animal. A parking offence is when you park a car where its simply not allowed to park at any time like on a curb or streets where parking is never allowed. World Economic Forum articles may be republished in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, and in accordance with our Terms of Use. So do not assume that the countryside is not well covered with speed cameras. As an aside, a guide at the Tourist information in Hofn suggested i take the OXI road to Egilstaddir to shave 60km off my trip. Follow the roundabout on the outside line whilst indicating towards the inside lane until you've reached your exit, at this point indicate towards your exit. You can read about that here An Epic 7-Day Iceland Road Trip In March. I dont know why we arent broke already haha. So be safe by going the speed limit to prevent an accident, injury, or even death. Speed bumps are used to slow down cars. Discounted to ISK 86000 if I pay on the spot which of course I did. I can so relate to it. Im sure they committed fraud as they charged him well above the speed table provided on the internet . If both your license and passport details werent recorded at the time of the offense or by the rental car company, it seems unlikely that any country would link the two together. If you were a local (or European) you would be looking at 6 points on your license as well as the fine. I decided to pay the ticket immediately using my credit card. Here is a short list of of speeding fines in Iceland and how they increase with the offence: 1. Hopefully, it wasnt too difficult to figure out. Also, both officers were confused and initially said they dont know what other option I have. I envy the lot of you. Although somecar hiring services could be blamed for not doing enough to spreading the word - That said, many car rental companies in Reykjavik go out of their way to make speed limits and road limitations known to their clients. To my surprise, the van veered into my lane and park right in front of my car. People driving without license plates Some of the basic rules for Iceland include: Traffic coming from the right always has the right of way, unless a sign, traffic warden, or lights state otherwise. I know of an speeding violation that resulted in a $900 USD ticket that arrived 6 months after the fact. Such beautiful country and such bad people . These Iceland speed limits are the legal maximum, but depending on driving conditions, you may wish to drive slower. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-8225084', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Iceland! Police in Iceland manages to collect only 45% of speeding tickets given to foreign travelers. In other cases travelers have put down their hotel as an address, and tracking down the correct home address can be extremely time consuming. The digital screen will display your speed, and if youre under the limit youll be rewarded with a smiley face. .chakra .wef-facbof{display:inline;}@media screen and (min-width:56.5rem){.chakra .wef-facbof{display:block;}}You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in our emails. The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum. Speeding cameras are dotted around the country and speeding fines can range between ISK 5,000?70,000 (USD 45 to USD 575). As of 2019, drivers passing through Valaheiargng tunnel in North Iceland will need to pay a toll of between ISK 700 to 6,000 depending on the vehicle. However, most of the speeding cameras are located in the south part of Iceland which has fewer police patrols. The minimum depth of tires needs to be 3mm. Just remember that speed limits are there for your protection. I cant wait for you to go! Fines for speeding are quite different from other offenses. (50-60km zones), Driving 41km/h or faster over allowed top speed. Each time you break the law you risk getting caught breaking the law and having to pay the price. As they were reviewing my license and the rental cars registration, they gave me the option to pay on the spot or receive the ticket later in the mail. Some signs are digital and will measure your speed as you pass by. I'm going to Iceland later this summer which is a beautiful county and I'm very excited about it. Instead of paying 30,000 ISK ($247 USD), the fine would be 22,500 ISK ($185 USD). Just wanted to share this and hopefully others will learn from this too. Understanding the speed limit is about as basic as knowing if to drive on the right side of the lane or the left. And most of these accidents are caused by speeding. You will be heavily fined for spending a night at private parking lots or other areas outside of the campsites. I'm not sure what it is like in the states but in Europe in general it is very common to have speedtraps all over the place. I cant believe they tracked him down! There are a couple of reasons for this low number. When the plate belongs to a car rental the police must rely on information the traveler has given to the car rental in order to send the ticket to the offender. It was getting too easy to pay the relatively small fine for speeding and then take a three hour fun class to get the corresponding points removed from your record. Why is it important to obey Iceland speed limits? In both instances, your options are limited - see below. and according to driving laws and posted signs along your route. Boy was I royaly ripped off! That fee is 2500ISK (20USD). Thanks for this article! If you wait until after this deadline, youll have to pay the full amount. If significant details of the speeding alleged offence are incorrect, (ie your name, nature, time and location) you may be able to dispute the ticket, The driver who allegedly committed the speeding offence wasnt driving at the time, If the speed measuring instrument was incorrectly used or misused. There are new traffic signs to learn, different driving styles, avarietyof different road types and situations, speed limits and different laws. Slow down, and the bigger, the safer is the car! Fine $195. Luckily the fee wasnt too steep even with the late charges, but it would have been better if he paid on the spot! The cost of a speeding ticket varies according to many factors; such as the speed you are driving. Just about everything now is considered "reckless driving". However, as in every country, you need to keep to the regulated speed limit and Iceland is no different. A lot of car rental companies also charge a handling fee if you get a speeding ticket. I hope everyone is keeping safe with the current happenings in our world. Speeding fines in Iceland are very expensive. Driving in a foreign country can be exciting, stressful and educational. There are two main ways you get a speeding ticket; you either get pulled over on the road and given a ticket, or you get a ticket delivered to you by mail. If you get pulled over by the police, you have two options: Pay the fine upfront and receive a 25% discount off the fine. Speeding in Iceland is controlled through two main measures; speed cameras and speed bumps. Keep your eyes peel at all times. And Im SO glad they let you off with a warning! Speeding cameras have been installed along the highways all over the country. 50-60km/h zones. On the lookout Police in Iceland have trouble tracking down and fining foreign speeders. Extreme DUI (BAC 0.15% or higher) First Offense: No less than $2,500. Yes, you should pay because you broke the law and it is the right things to do. Whichever car first arrives at a one-lane bridge has the right of way to cross. Earlier this year penalties for speeding were stiffened. Icelandic roads are constructed differently to European and American ones - in rural areas they are surfaced with gravel so if you go around a bend too quickly you will have a serious accident. Went to iceland back in august, got pulled over at 2:59am for speeding. Photo from the Reykjavk Police Instagram Account. And dont forget, the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? All of these rules are in place for the safety of citizens and tourists. Sometimes, the speed limit can be even lowerwhen turning a sharp corner or driving along a steep mountain road. Even then the times (and the fee) indicate you were going quite a lot over the limit (+125 km/h). It being a foreign country we had no idea what to do. Don't worry, it might sound more stressful than it really is. This from todays Daily News from Iceland: In the last two days, police in the vicinity of Blndus in Northern Iceland have fined 15 drivers for speeding, 13 of whom were foreign tourists. Option 2: Wait to receive your ticket in the mail and pay the fine with no discount. Tip: Automatic speed-surveillance cameras are notoriously inaccurate. They can range anywhere from $200 to $700. Gurn says. It is indeed a good idea to first understand the traffic law of any country you are visiting if you intend to drive around. If you get a speeding ticket in Iceland, you have a few options when it comes to paying. That way you will probably get a 2-week period where the fine lowers by 30% or so. If you mustdrive in Iceland, you need to acquaint yourself with the right information about their driving laws else, you might be forced to cough out more fines than you ever expected. If the parking fee is still unpaid after 28 days, it goes up to 5000ISK (39USD). Fine $300-390. If a speed camera snaps a shot of you, the Icelandic police trace the car back to the proper rental car company. The more a driver is over the speed limit, the greater the number of day fines they will receive. As a general guide the fine is usually between $195- $460 USD, however, if you are driving very fast, such as 41+km/h faster than legal top speed in 80-90km zones, then you may get fined $615-$690. If you decided not to pay, the Icelandic police will probably not do much as contacting an international booking agency to force you to pay (when you must have returned to your home country) because of the high cost that might likely be involved in persecuting such an offense. Each and every rental service demands you sign a contract where you agree to adhere to the traffic law. A bus is driving faster over the legal limits 2. There are a lot of rules on the road, most of them are obvious; such as, in Iceland you drive on the right, overtake on the left, seat belts are mandatory for drivers and all passengers, headlights are also mandatory, dont drink and drive and dont go over the speed limit. This is not true, however, as there is a 10,000 ISK fine (75 USD/68 EUR) for driving with only one license plate. In hindsight, it was terrible advice to have given. Of course you can appeal. 70km/h zone. The most common rental car in Iceland is Toyota yaris and Suzuki jimmy, both small vehicles with short wheelbase, and provide very little protection in an accident. A lot of car rental companies also charge a handling fee if you get a speeding ticket. Many fixed speed cameras are located in the south of the island and other areas where there is a smaller police presence. The maximum speed on most paved roads outside of towns and villages in Iceland is 90 km/hr, which is 56 mph. The fine in Iceland is a minimum of ISK 100,000 and penalties can even include time in prison. Naturally, I thought it was an ambulance so I pulled over. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-88000896', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Iceland, as well as so many speed limit signs. In Iceland, you drive on the right side of the road and overtake on the left. Dining in Paris The answer to these speeding fines is only one!, Dont speed! Get answers to your questions about Reykjavik, Taxi/Bus Costs from KEF Airport to Reykjavik. Isafjordur, a fishing town in northwest Iceland, has experimented with a new method of traffic safety and speed control. Totally freaked me out, girl! Paid a 500$ish tickets by a police cruiser that picked me up on radar. $720 AUD are you kidding me?! in an hour for speeding, if you were speeding 3 times (or more!) Observing all traffic laws will save you lots of embarrassment from the Iceland authorities and also save you your hard earned dollars if you dont over-speed or parked at the wrong place. Please note that there have been some recent changes to the payable tolls for tunnels. However, driving in Iceland requires some more precautions compared to driving in other countries. Pl us, a lthough the roads might seem empty at times, common sense applies. While driving inside the tunnel you need to pull over to dedicated parking zones on your right-hand side whenever you see traffic coming from the other side. Re: Iceland Speeding Ticket fines 4 years ago Save Relative to the subject: On may 1st 2018 the regulation of traffic enforcement, including traffic fines, will be updated. Mobile radar detects your speed and you are intercepted by the police in such cases, you are asked to pay immediately and might likely get a discount (25% discount if you pay it within two weeks) OR. I got a ticket in Iceland for for 16 km/h above the speed limit (90). You'll fine the answers here! However, it's crucial that you understand some of the basic Icelandic driving rules in Iceland in order to keep you safe and cause as little disruption to the traffic as possible. It is rumored that some of these also work as speed cameras. Parking works differently in Akureyri. Parking is free but you need to get a parking clock at a gas station, tourist information and there are shops that carries them too. Some have the speed stickers posted on the dashboard while some have a big sign in their main office with the speed limit boldly written on it.