Gas Stations in Iceland – Everything You Need to Know
Gas stations in Iceland are well spaced on the Ring Road — but in the remote north and the Westfjords, the gaps get long.
Fuelling up in Iceland is straightforward once you know what to expect — but there are a few things that catch visitors off guard every single year. Wrong fuel in the tank. Cards that don't work at unmanned pumps. Running low in the middle of nowhere. This guide covers all of it, so you can focus on the road ahead rather than worrying about what's under the bonnet.
Gas stations in Iceland – the main chains
You'll see the same names over and over on your road trip. Here's what to know about each:
The largest network in Iceland. If there's a small town, there's usually an N1 nearby. Many stations are open 24/7 and have a shop, hot food and restrooms. The hot dogs are legendary — more on that below.
Self-service focused and often slightly cheaper. Strong presence around Reykjavík and along the Ring Road. Popular with locals. Good app for tracking prices.
Full-service stations with shops. Often has Olís and the budget brand ÓB side by side — ÓB is automated and usually a few króna cheaper per litre.
Olís's budget, self-service brand. No frills, just fuel — and often the cheapest pump around. Unmanned, so card with PIN required at all times.
All four accept credit and debit cards. N1 and Orkan also have their own prepaid fuel cards which can be useful for longer trips — ask about them at a manned station when you arrive.
Fuel prices in Iceland 2026
Good news for 2026 — fuel prices in Iceland dropped significantly at the start of the year. Iceland removed fuel taxes from petrol and diesel and replaced them with a distance-based road tax (kílómetragjald). The result is that what you pay at the pump is noticeably lower than in previous years.
As of early 2026, expect to pay roughly 200–225 ISK per litre for both petrol and diesel, depending on the station and region. Prices in and around Reykjavík tend to be slightly lower than in remote areas — the further from the capital, the more it costs to get the fuel there, and that gets passed on.
Fuel prices vary between stations. The Orkan app and gasvaktin.is both show live prices at stations near you. Worth a quick check, especially in Reykjavík where the difference between the cheapest and most expensive station can add up over a longer trip.
Petrol or diesel — getting it right
This is the one that causes real problems. Putting the wrong fuel in your rental car is expensive, not covered by insurance, and entirely avoidable.
Before you leave the car rental pick-up, check the fuel cap or the label inside the fuel flap — it will say bensín (petrol) or dísill (diesel). Save it in your phone. Check it every single time you fill up.
In Iceland, green handles are generally petrol and black handles are generally diesel — the opposite of what you'll find in the US. But colours can vary between stations, so always rely on the label on the pump itself, not the handle colour alone.
If you realise you've put the wrong fuel in: do not start the engine. Starting the car circulates the wrong fuel through the system and can cause serious engine damage. Call your rental company immediately.
How to pay for gas in Iceland
Iceland is almost entirely cashless, and gas stations are no exception. Most pumps — especially the unmanned ones you'll find in smaller towns and remote areas — are card only. Here's what works and what doesn't:
| Payment method | Works at pump? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Credit/debit card with PIN | ✅ Yes | Most reliable option. PIN is required — signature is not accepted at unmanned pumps. |
| Contactless / tap to pay | ⚠️ Sometimes | Works at newer pumps and manned stations. Not reliable at older unmanned pumps. |
| Cash | ❌ No | Not accepted at the pump. You can use cash inside a manned shop to buy a prepaid fuel card. |
| Prepaid fuel card | ✅ Yes | Available at N1 and Orkan stations. Useful as a backup for remote areas. |
Most American cards are chip-and-signature, not chip-and-PIN. Unmanned pumps in Iceland require a PIN — without one, your card won't work. Contact your bank before you travel to set up a PIN, or bring a debit card which will have one by default.
The half-tank rule
This is the single most practical piece of advice for driving outside Reykjavík: never let your tank drop below half. When you hit 50%, fill up at the next station you see.
On the Ring Road the main stretches are well covered, but gaps of 80–100 km are normal and not unusual. In bad weather, with strong headwinds or on gravel roads, your fuel consumption goes up. Running out of fuel in a remote area is not just inconvenient — in winter it can be genuinely dangerous, and a tow from somewhere remote is extremely expensive.
- Leaving Reykjavík heading north or east
- Driving through the Westfjords
- The stretch between Mývatn and Egilsstaðir in the northeast — long highland desert with no services
- Any F-road or highland route
- Winter driving anywhere outside the capital
Some stretches of Iceland's northeast can go 100 km or more without a fuel stop — the half-tank rule is not an exaggeration.
Remote stretches to plan ahead for
Most of Iceland's Ring Road is well served by gas stations, but a few areas deserve extra attention:
- Northeast Iceland — Mývatn to Egilsstaðir: The longest gap on the Ring Road. Fill up before you leave Mývatn, no exceptions.
- The Westfjords: Beautiful and remote. Stations exist but are spread out. Plan each day's drive around fuel stops.
- Highland F-roads: No fuel at all once you're in. Fill up before you enter and carry a spare can if you're doing long highland routes.
- East Iceland: Stations are less frequent than the south and west. Don't rely on finding one when you need it.
A quick search for "N1 near me" or checking the Orkan app as you drive is all you need to stay on top of it. Most Icelandic gas stations are clearly signposted from the road.
The Icelandic gas station hot dog
We'd be doing you a disservice if we didn't mention this. The hot dog — pylsur in Icelandic — is a genuine institution here. N1 stations across Iceland serve them, and they are better than they have any right to be: a lamb and pork sausage in a steamed bun, topped with crispy fried onion, raw onion, ketchup, sweet mustard and remoulade.
Don't drive past an N1 without trying one. It's one of those Iceland things that sounds unremarkable and somehow becomes a highlight of the trip. Former US presidents have eaten them. So can you.
Ask for it "með öllu" — pronounced "meth öl-lu" — which means "with everything." That gets you the full works: crispy onion, raw onion, ketchup, sweet brown mustard and remoulade. You're welcome.
Planning a road trip around Iceland?
Pick up your rental car at Keflavík Airport — no deposit, CDW included, local family business since 2020.
Check availability →