Iceland’s Road and Tunnel Tolls
In many countries, toll tunnels and roads are common. Though they’re clearly signed, usually you don’t pay on the spot and it’s easy to forget to pay later if you’ve been distracted by incredible scenery and fun activities. But when you’ve rented a car, the last thing you want is to find out there was a toll you should have paid and didn’t, especially if it means you end up paying more. So what’s the situation in Iceland?
Iceland’s Road and Tunnel Tolls
Road trippers in Iceland will be delighted to learn that since 2018, there has been just one place in the entire country where you’ll need to pay a toll. There used to be a toll levied on drivers using the Hvalfjarðargöng between Reykjavík and Akranes/Borgarnes, but that has now been discontinued and that tunnel is now free to use.
However, drivers who choose to travel between Eyjafjörður and Fnjóskadalur using the 7.4km long Vaðlaheiðargöng, a tunnel that shaves 16km off the journey between Akureyri and Húsavík, must pay to do so. The cost of driving through this tunnel is set at 2110ISK (about US$15/£12.50) for a car.
Why is this tunnel useful?
Vaðlaheiðargöng provides an alternative to drivers who would otherwise have to proceed along Víkurskarðið, a 21km section of the ring road. But this particular part of Route 1 crosses the Víkurskarð pass. In summer, it doesn’t present a problem. In fact, by the time you’ve gone on the website and made your payment, it probably hasn’t saved you any time at all.
However, when the weather is inclement, it’s a different story. So while you might choose to miss out on the tunnel during a summer road trip, you’re likely to seek it out in wintry weather conditions when the Víkurskarð pass is often closed or if you expect driving this small section of the ring road to be challenging or downright hazardous because of snowfalls or strong winds. It’s good to have this option.
When should you pay the toll?
You’ll get a reminder of the need to pay a toll as you approach the tunnel from either direction, but you can choose to pay upfront. Basically, journeys can be pre-paid up to 24 hours before you transit the tunnel, though it’s important to note that if you go through it more than 24 hours after payment has been taken you’ll need to pay again.
Likewise, you can pay up to 24 hours after you have transited the tunnel. It’s really important to remember because if you try to settle the outstanding amount more than 24 hours later, the rental company will already have been charged and you’ll end up paying twice, plus you’ll have to cover an admin fee as well.
Note that if you pay too early or too late, the amount you spend is non-refundable. In case of an unexpected hold-up, you should allow yourself a margin if paying in advance.
How do you pay the toll?
Paying the toll is straightforward, particularly if like most visitors you just want to pay for a single trip at a time. You simply visit the Vaðlaheiðargöng website, https://www.veggjald.is/en. All you need to do is enter the vehicle's registration number and click the red “continue” button, which will take you through to the payment page where you enter your credit card details.
How to make sure you’re on the route you planned to use
Whether you choose to travel through the tunnel or over the pass is up to you. Nevertheless, to make sure you end up where you planned, it’s worth paying particular attention to your SatNav for this stretch of the ring road so that you don’t inadvertently end up going the other way.
Happily, all the other roads and tunnels you’ll encounter in Iceland are currently toll-free. It’s always a good idea to double-check that the situation is unchanged before picking up the keys to your rental car and embarking on your road trip.
