If you’re planning to rent a car in Iceland, one of the first things worth getting right is which airport you’re actually flying into. Iceland has two airports with “Reykjavík” attached to their name in some way, and mixing them up is one of the most common mistakes travelers make when booking a car rental.
Here’s a clear breakdown of the difference, and how to make sure your Reykjavík car rental airport pickup goes smoothly from the start, whether you’re landing on an international flight or connecting from within Iceland.
KEF vs RKV: Two Very Different Airports
Keflavík International Airport (KEF)is where almost every international flight into Iceland lands. It sits about 30 miles from downtown Reykjavík, roughly a 40 to 45 minute drive, and it’s the airport most UK and US travelers will use.
If your itinerary shows a direct flight from London, New York, or almost any other city outside Iceland, KEF is where you’ll touch down. This makes it the busiest of the two airports by a wide margin, and the one most car rental providers, Hertz included, treat as their main Iceland hub.
Reykjavík Domestic Airport (RKV) is a much smaller airport close to the city center, mainly serving domestic flights within Iceland and a handful of regional routes. If you’re connecting from a flight within Iceland, such as from Akureyri or Egilsstaðir, RKV is likely where you’ll land, not KEF.
RKV sits only about a mile from downtown, near Perlan and the University of Iceland, which makes it a convenient starting point if your onward plans keep you close to the capital area.
The two airports are roughly 30 miles apart, so booking your car rental at Reykjavík International Airport pickup at the wrong one can mean a costly and time-consuming mix-up on arrival day.
Hiring a Car Rental at Keflavík International Airport (KEF)
For most visitors, KEF is where the trip begins. Hertz operates a full-service desk directly inside the KEF arrival hall, so picking up your car rental at Keflavík International Airport means no need to board a shuttle bus or off-site transfer before you’re on the road.
This is the correct pickup point if you’re flying in from the UK, the US, or almost anywhere else outside Iceland.
Note: Double-check your flight itinerary for “KEF” rather than “RKV” before you book takes a few seconds and avoids any confusion later.
Hiring a Car Rental at Reykjavík Domestic Airport (RKV)
RKV is served through Hertz’s car rental at Reykjavík Downtown location, just a short distance from the terminal itself. This setup works well if you’re connecting from a domestic flight and want to pick up a car close to the city center rather than making the longer trip out to Keflavík.
If you’re arriving at RKV, providing your domestic flight number when booking matters more than it might seem. Without it, the Hertz team at the Downtown location won’t know when to expect you at the airport for pickup, which can lead to delays on arrival.
For pickup at either airport, you’ll need a valid driver’s license held for at least a year, a credit card in the main driver’s name, and your confirmed booking reference. If your license isn’t printed in Roman script, bringing an international driving permit alongside it avoids any hold-up at the counter.
KEF or RKV: Which Airport Should You Book For?
As a simple rule, check your flight ticket first. If you’re flying internationally into Iceland from the UK, Europe, or further afield, you’ll land at KEF, and your Reykjavík car rental airport booking should be made for that location.
If your journey includes a domestic leg within Iceland, such as flying into KEF first and then onward to RKV, you’ll want your car rental booked for RKV instead, using your domestic flight number as a reference.
This distinction matters most for anyone planning to combine an international arrival with regional travel, since it’s easy to assume both airports work the same way when they don’t.
For example, a traveler flying from London to Reykjavík, then onward to Akureyri for a few days, would collect one car rental at KEF for the first leg and, if needed, a separate one at RKV once they return for a domestic connection.
Getting Your Car Rental Iceland Booking Right From the Start
Whether your trip starts at Keflavík or Reykjavík Domestic, Hertz makes it easy to pick up the right vehicle at the right location. Confirming your arrival airport when you book, along with your flight number, means your Iceland rental car is ready and waiting exactly where and when you land.
Spanning from compact cars for a quick city stay to 4x4s ready for a longer self-drive trip, Hertz lets you choose the correct yoru choice of vehicle at your most convenient pickup point.
Choose Hertz and set the whole journey off on the right foot, without any wasted time working out which airport you’re actually at.
