Iceland on a Brazilian Licence — F-Roads, 4WD & Weather, Not Paperwork

For a Brazilian driver, Iceland gets one thing out of the way early: you drive on the right in both countries, so there’s no side switch to unlearn. What actually catches people out isn’t the paperwork or the side of the road — it’s the terrain and the sky.

Iceland’s interior is laced with F-roads, mountain tracks that are legally restricted to 4WD vehicles. Take a standard hire car onto one and you’re not just risking the suspension — your insurance is void the moment you turn off the marked route. Many F-roads also cross unbridged rivers, and judging a ford wrong is the most common way tourists write off a rental. If your trip stays on the paved Ring Road (Route 1), a normal car is fine; the moment you want the highlands, book a 4WD. There are no motorways in Iceland, so the open-road limit caps at 90 km/h on sealed roads and 80 on gravel — and gravel is everywhere, throwing stones and demanding you slow right down at the seam where tarmac ends.

The weather is the other half of the story. Conditions can flip from clear to whiteout or sandstorm within hours, and roads close at short notice; check road.is and the wind forecast before every leg. An off-road-driving fine starts around ISK 10,000 (about EUR 65), but the bigger cost is a stranded or damaged car far from help.

On alcohol you’ll actually find Iceland more relaxed than home: the limit is 0.05, versus Brazil’s near-total ban. Enforcement is still serious, so keep it to none if you’re driving. An IDP is recommended with your Brazilian licence — confirm with our driving permit checker.

Fuel is steep at about $2.15/litre, the emergency number is 112, and offline maps are essential. Read the full rules on our Iceland driving guide before you collect the car.