Iceland toll roads: the Höfn (Hornafjörður) toll and Vaðlaheiðargöng tunnel

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

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The two toll points in 2026

Iceland has exactly two tolled sections on Route 1. The first is Vaðlaheiðargöng, a 7.4 km tunnel north of Akureyri that opened in 2018 and cuts the old mountain pass off the route. The second is the new Hornafjörður Ring Road section near Höfn in the southeast, which opened to traffic on June 24, 2026 and has been tolled since September 1, 2026. They are priced differently. Vaðlaheiðargöng charges 2,216 ISK per one-way trip for vehicles under 3.5 tonnes (since 2 March 2026), with prepaid bundles of 10 or 50 trips bringing that down to 1,599 or 992 ISK and a monthly cap of 26,500 ISK. Hornafjörður charges 1,500 ISK per trip, with volume tiers on the owner's monthly bill of 950 ISK for the 2nd to 5th trip in a calendar month and 750 ISK from the 6th to the 15th, capped at 18,750 ISK. Heavier vehicles pay more at both: at Hornafjörður 2,100 ISK for 3.5 to 7.5 tonnes (cap 26,250 ISK) and 4,500 ISK over 7.5 tonnes; at Vaðlaheiðargöng 3,087 and 6,505 ISK. The two are collected differently. Vaðlaheiðargöng is paid through veggjald.is, the Veggjald app or the self-service kiosks at each portal. Hornafjörður has no pay point at all: cameras at each end read the plate, and the registered owner gets a monthly bill from the operator, Spölur ehf. (spolur.is). For a rental that owner is the rental company, so pay the single trip yourself on spolur.is within 12 hours of crossing; miss that and the rental company passes the toll on to you with its admin fee. Budget for it even though you never see a barrier. The section is nearly 19 km of new road with four bridges (Djúpá, Hornafjarðarfljót, Hoffellsá and Bergá, 468 m in total) and shortens the Ring Road by 12 km, the drive to Höfn by about 14.6 km.

Vaðlaheiðargöng (Route 1, north of Akureyri)

7.4 km tunnel opened 2018. 2,216 ISK per trip for cars under 3.5 t (since 2 March 2026; prices rise roughly 4% a year). Prepaid bundles: 10 trips 15,985 ISK (1,599 each), 50 trips 49,608 ISK (992 each); monthly cap 26,500 ISK, annual cap 265,000 ISK. 3,087 ISK for 3.5 to 7.5 t, 6,505 ISK over 7.5 t. Pay a single trip on veggjald.is or the Veggjald app within 24 hours before or after, or at the self-service kiosks at both portals. Unpaid trips are billed to the registered owner with 24% VAT added.

Hornafjörður Ring Road (Route 1, near Höfn)

Nearly 19 km of new road with four bridges (Hornafjarðarfljót, Hoffellsá, Djúpá, Bergá), 12 km shorter than the old alignment. Opened June 24, 2026; tolled since September 1, 2026 at 1,500 ISK per trip for cars under 3.5 t, with volume pricing for the owner's monthly bill (950 ISK for trips 2 to 5 in a month, 750 ISK for trips 6 to 15, cap 18,750 ISK). Vans 3.5 to 7.5 t: 2,100 ISK (cap 26,250); over 7.5 t: 4,500 ISK. No pay point and no pre-registration: plate cameras, monthly bill to the registered owner via Spölur (spolur.is). Rental car? Pay the single trip yourself on spolur.is within 12 hours, or the rental company gets the bill.

The free tunnel

Hvalfjörður tunnel on Route 1 in West Iceland has been toll-free since late 2018. It used to cost 1,000 ISK per trip. The tunnel saves roughly 45 minutes compared to the old fjord road around Hvalfjörður. Any guide, blog, or rental company document saying Hvalfjörður costs money is outdated; do not budget for it.

Rental insurance and tolls: the trap

This is the single most expensive misunderstanding for visitors. Every standard and premium rental insurance product in Iceland, including CDW, SCDW, Liability Waiver, and even the most expensive full-coverage add-ons, excludes tunnel and road tolls. The driver is legally responsible for payment regardless of insurance. If you pass a toll point without paying within 24 hours, the rental company receives the invoice, adds an admin fee (typically 3,000 to 5,000 ISK), and charges your credit card. Blue Car Rental’s Liability Waiver excludes toll fees explicitly, and so does every other Icelandic fleet’s standard cover we have read; check your specific agreement, but assume you are on the hook.

Two safe options exist.

Vaðlaheiðargöng: pay within 24 hours

Pay the single trip on veggjald.is or the Veggjald app up to 24 hours before or after you drive through, or at the self-service kiosk at either portal (card or phone, same price). After 24 hours it is billed to the registered owner with 24% VAT added, and the rental company passes it on with its fee.

Hornafjörður: pay within 12 hours

There is nothing to register. Cameras read the plate; if the car is a rental, pay the single trip on spolur.is within 12 hours of crossing. Miss that and the toll is invoiced to the rental company, which charges your card plus its admin fee.

Ferries (function like tunnels for planning)

Two ferry routes matter for Ring Road travellers. The Landeyjahöfn to Vestmannaeyjar crossing (operated by Herjólfur) runs year-round, takes 35 minutes, and costs roughly 12,000 to 18,000 ISK for a car with passengers depending on season; book ahead in summer. The Seyðisfjörður route connects to Denmark and the Faroe Islands via Smyril Line; it is an international ferry, not a Ring Road substitute, and costs significantly more. Neither ferry uses the veggjald.is system; they have their own booking and payment.

Quick reference

Do I need cash?

No. Vaðlaheiðargöng is paid on veggjald.is, in the Veggjald app or at the portal kiosks; Hornafjörður is paid on spolur.is or camera-billed to the registered owner.

What if I miss payment?

Rental company charges the toll plus an admin fee (typically 3,000–5,000 ISK) to your card.

Is Hvalfjörður tunnel free?

Yes, since late 2018.

When did the Höfn toll start?

September 1, 2026. The road opened June 24, 2026 and ran toll-free for its first summer.

Can I avoid the Akureyri tunnel?

Yes; the old mountain pass Víkurskarð is free but slower, and more exposed to winter weather than the tunnel.

Common questions

Is there a toll on the Ring Road?

Only two sections charge a toll: Vaðlaheiðargöng tunnel north of Akureyri and the new Hornafjörður section near Höfn in southeast Iceland, where toll collection started on September 1, 2026.

How much is the Vaðlaheiðargöng tunnel?

2,216 ISK per one-way trip for cars under 3.5 tonnes (price list of 2 March 2026). Prepaid bundles bring it down: 10 trips for 15,985 ISK (1,599 per trip) or 50 trips for 49,608 ISK (992 per trip), with a monthly cap of 26,500 ISK. Vans and trucks pay more: 3,087 ISK (3.5 to 7.5 t) and 6,505 ISK (over 7.5 t).

Is the Hvalfjörður tunnel free?

Yes. The toll was removed in late 2018. Any guide saying otherwise is outdated.

What happens if I don't pay a tunnel toll?

The rental company receives the invoice, adds an admin fee (typically 3,000 to 5,000 ISK), and charges your credit card.

Can I pre-pay tolls?

Vaðlaheiðargöng: yes, pay the single trip on veggjald.is up to 24 hours before or after driving through, or use the self-service kiosk at either portal. Hornafjörður: no pre-registration exists; cameras read the plate and you pay the single trip on spolur.is within 12 hours if the car is a rental, or the toll is billed to the registered owner monthly.

Does rental car insurance cover tunnel tolls?

No. CDW, SCDW, and Liability Waiver typically exclude toll fees. The driver is legally responsible for payment.

When did the Höfn toll start?

The new Hornafjörður Ring Road section opened on June 24, 2026, and toll collection started on September 1, 2026. There is no pay point at the roadside: cameras read the plate. In a rental car, pay the single trip on spolur.is within 12 hours of crossing. Miss that and the toll is invoiced to the rental company, which charges your card plus its admin fee. For a privately owned car, the registered owner is billed monthly.

Can I avoid the Vaðlaheiðargöng tunnel?

Yes. The old mountain pass (Víkurskarð) is free but slower, and more exposed to winter weather than the tunnel.

Last updated: October 1, 2026. Toll rates and rules change; always check veggjald.is (Vaðlaheiðargöng) and spolur.is (Hornafjörður) before your trip.