Breakdown or accident in Iceland: what to actually do

By Stefán · Iceland Roads · Written by a local who drives these roads

Breakdown: not an emergency, but still needs a plan

If your car stops running or won't start, get it off the traveled part of the road if you can - onto a shoulder, a pull-out, or as far onto the verge as the terrain allows - and put your hazard lights on immediately. This isn't a 112 situation unless you're stopped somewhere genuinely dangerous (a blind curve, a narrow bridge, fast-moving traffic with nowhere to pull clear) or someone is hurt. Call your rental company's own roadside assistance or emergency number instead - it's specific to your contract, usually printed on paperwork in the glovebox and in your booking confirmation email. Save it to your phone before you start driving each rental, not while you're standing on the shoulder trying to find it.

Accident: what to do, step by step

The first decision is which call actually comes first - and it's not automatically 112. That number is for genuine emergencies; most accidents, even a proper collision, are not one.

Is anyone hurt, or is fault seriously disputed?

If yes: call 112 now, before anything else on this list. That's what it's for, and it overrides everything below.

If not, call your rental company first

For a non-serious accident this is usually the right first call, not the last - most rental companies want to hear from you immediately and will walk you through exactly what to do next, which may include using Árekstur.is to help document it.

Move to safety if you can

If the vehicles are drivable and it's safe, get them off the traveled lane - a stopped car on a live road is its own hazard.

Photograph everything

Both vehicles, the damage, the road surface and surroundings, and the wider scene - before anything gets moved further than safety requires.

Fill out the European Accident Statement

It's in your glovebox - both drivers' details, a simple diagram, what happened. Do it at the scene, together, while it's fresh. Árekstur.is (578-9090) can help with this if you want assistance - check whether that costs anything in your situation before you call, since it may not be free unless it's arranged through your own insurance company. If the other driver won't engage with the form at all, that's a 112 situation.

Notify your rental company's insurer even if you already called them first at the scene - most policies still expect formal notice, typically within 24-72 hours. Call sooner rather than later.

No phone signal? Here's what actually still works

Iceland's mobile coverage has real gaps - the highland interior, remote stretches of the Westfjords, and some fjord roads in the east have patchy or no signal at all. This is exactly the situation the 112 Iceland app is built for: it uses your phone's GPS combined with mobile tower triangulation to pin your location, works without a continuous data connection, and stores your position locally to transmit the moment any signal - even a weak one - becomes available. Install it and set up your profile before you leave reliable coverage, not once you need it.

112 - genuine emergencies

Police, ambulance, fire, and mountain rescue, free from any phone. Injury, real danger, or a seriously disputed accident - not the default for anything less.

Your rental company's line

The usual right first call for a non-serious accident or a plain breakdown - specific to your booking, save it before you drive. They'll direct what happens next.

Árekstur.is - 578-9090

An Icelandic service that helps document a non-emergency accident. May not be free unless arranged through your own insurer - confirm before you rely on it, or let your rental company guide you instead.

1777 - road conditions

Vegagerðin's road-information hotline - for conditions and closures, not emergencies. This site's live pages cover the same information.

Common questions

What number do I call for a car accident in Iceland?

It depends on how serious it is. For injury, real danger, or a fault dispute the other driver won't engage with, call 112 - free, 24/7, reaching police, ambulance and search & rescue. For a non-serious accident with no injury, your rental company is usually the right first call - they often want to hear from you immediately and will direct next steps, which may include Árekstur.is for help documenting it.

What is Árekstur.is / the 578-9090 number?

Árekstur.is (also known as carcrash.is) is an Icelandic service that helps drivers document a non-emergency accident, at 578-9090. It's a real, established option - but be aware it may not be free unless it's arranged through your own insurance company, so confirm cost before you rely on it, or ask your rental company whether they'd rather handle it directly.

What number do I call for a simple breakdown, not an accident?

Your rental company's own emergency or roadside assistance number, not 112 - it's specific to your contract and usually printed on the paperwork in the glovebox, plus in your booking confirmation email. Save it before you start driving, not after you break down.

Does the 112 app work without phone signal in Iceland?

Largely yes, which matters given how much of Iceland has weak or no coverage. It uses GPS plus mobile tower triangulation, works without a continuous connection, and stores your location locally to send as soon as any signal - even a weak one - becomes available. Install and set it up before you need it.

What's the European Accident Statement form in my rental car?

A standard form (usually in the glovebox) for recording an accident's details - both drivers' information, a simple diagram, and what happened - used across Europe including Iceland. Fill it out at the scene, with the other driver, while details are fresh. Árekstur.is can help with this if you want assistance. If the other driver won't cooperate at all, that's a 112 situation.

How long do I have to report an accident to my rental company?

Most policies require notice within 24-72 hours, but the honest advice is sooner: call them as soon as the immediate situation is handled, not after you're back at the hotel - and ideally, they're your first call anyway if it's not a 112 situation.