How Much Does a Private Transfer in Iceland Cost? What a Fixed Price per Car Includes

If you search for a transfer from Keflavík Airport, you quickly find three very different kinds of prices: a bus ticket per person, a taxi meter that starts running when you get in, and a private transfer with one fixed price for the whole car. They are not easy to compare at a glance, and the cheapest-looking number is not always the cheapest trip.

This guide explains how a private transfer in Iceland is priced, what a fixed price per car should include, what can make it go up, and how to work out what you will actually pay compared with the alternatives. We will also be honest about the cases where a private transfer is not the best value, because for some travellers it simply is not.

We do not quote other companies' prices here; they change, and you should check them directly. For our own prices, every route has a page with its current fixed price. Start at airport transfers or browse all transfers.

Per car vs per person: the key difference

Buses charge per person. Each seat has a price, so the total grows with every traveller: two people pay twice, four people pay four times.

A private transfer is priced per vehicle. You book the car or van, and the price is the same whether one person or four people ride in it. At Drive Reykjavik the price covers an Economy car (Tesla or similar) for 1 to 4 passengers, or a Van (Mercedes Vito or similar) for 5 to 7. The more of you share it, the lower the cost per person.

So the useful comparison is not "transfer price vs bus ticket", it is:

• Bus: ticket price × number of travellers, plus any onward ride from the bus terminal to your accommodation.
• Private transfer: one price for the vehicle, door to door.
• Taxi: whatever the meter shows at the end, which depends on the distance, the route, the traffic and the tariff in use.

Do that sum for your own group. For one person, the bus wins almost every time. For a couple it is closer, and for a family or group of friends the per-car price often comes out at a similar level per person to the bus, with a lot more comfort. Our private transfer vs Flybus comparison goes through this in more detail.

How to do the sum for your trip

1. Look up the current bus fare for your route on the operator's website and multiply it by the number of travellers. Include children if they pay a fare.
2. Check where the bus stops. If it leaves you at a terminal or a stop some distance from your accommodation, add the cost of a taxi or shuttle for the last stretch.
3. Look up the fixed price for your route and group size on our airport transfers page: the car for 1 to 4 people, the van for 5 to 7.
4. Divide the transfer price by the number of travellers and compare it with the bus total per person.
5. Then weigh the things that are harder to price: arrival time, waiting for the next departure, luggage, children and how tired you will be.

Do the same for the return trip. Your departure day often matters even more than your arrival: an early morning flight from Keflavík means leaving Reykjavík in the middle of the night, when the choice of buses is smaller and a fixed-price car at your door can make the difference between a few hours of sleep and none.

What our fixed price per car includes

"Fixed price" should mean that the number you see when you book is the number you pay for that trip. Here is what is included in a Drive Reykjavik transfer:

• The whole vehicle for your group: a car for 1 to 4 passengers with room for 3 large suitcases, or a van for 5 to 7 passengers with room for 7 large suitcases.
• Door to door: from the arrivals hall at Keflavík Airport, or from your address in Reykjavík, to your hotel, apartment or other address.
• Meet and greet: your driver waits in the arrivals hall with a name sign.
• Your landing time checked: add your flight number when you book and the driver checks the landing time, so an early or late arrival is not a problem.
• 45 minutes of free waiting at the airport after landing, to cover passport control and the baggage belt.
• The same price day and night: no surcharge for a late arrival or an early departure.
• Child seats free of charge on request. Tell us the children's ages when you book.
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pick-up, with a full refund.

Stops on the way, for example at a viewpoint or a supermarket, are possible when agreed in advance. Mention them when you book so the driver can plan.

What changes the price

A fixed price does not mean every trip costs the same. These are the things that decide which price applies to you:

Where you are going

Each destination has its own fixed price, based on the distance and time on the road. A ride from Keflavík to Reykjavík costs less than a ride to Vík, Akureyri or the Westfjords. Each route page, for example Keflavík Airport to Reykjavík or Keflavík Airport to Selfoss, shows its price, distance and drive time.

Where you start

Many routes can start either at Keflavík Airport or in Reykjavík, and the price depends on the starting point. The route pages show both.

The size of your group and luggage

Up to 4 passengers fit in the car; 5 to 7 need the van, which has its own price. Every traveller, including children and babies, needs a seat. If you carry bulky items such as skis, golf bags or bike boxes, tell us when you book: if your group and luggage do not fit the vehicle you booked, a larger vehicle may be needed, which can change the price. Our guide to travelling with skis, golf clubs or a bike has more on this.

Groups of 8 to 16

Larger groups travel in a minibus, which is quoted on request. Send your date, times, route, group size and luggage on WhatsApp at +354 777 3949 and we reply with a fixed price. See our guide to group travel in a minibus.

What does not change the price: the time of day, the day of the week, or traffic on the way. The price you book is the price for that trip.

Fixed price vs a taxi meter

Taxis in Iceland usually run on a meter, so the final fare depends on the distance, the route, the time the trip takes and the tariff that applies. That can be fine for short rides in town. For a longer trip like the one from Keflavík Airport, you only find out the total at the end.

With a fixed price you know the cost before you travel, and you can compare it calmly with the other options. It also removes the small worries of arrival day: whether to find a taxi rank, whether the car will be big enough, and whether a slow trip in bad weather will cost more. For more on taxis, see our guide to taxis in Iceland.

When the bus is the better deal

We would rather you book the right option than the most expensive one. The airport bus is often the better choice if:

• You are travelling alone with light luggage. One bus ticket will almost always cost less than a whole car.
• Your accommodation is close to a bus stop or the bus drops you near it, so you do not need an onward taxi.
• You land in the daytime, are not in a hurry and do not mind waiting for the next departure.
• Your budget is tight and the difference matters more to you than arriving at the door.

Before you book the bus, check the current timetable for your arrival time, where it stops in Reykjavík, and whether you need to change to a smaller shuttle with your luggage. Our Keflavík Airport to Reykjavík guide compares every option for the most common route.

When a private transfer is worth it

A private transfer starts to make sense, on cost and on comfort, when one or more of these apply:

• Two or more people. The per-person cost falls with every passenger, and for families or groups it is often comparable to several bus tickets.
• Children. Free child seats, no changes between buses, and the car goes straight to the door. See our family travel guide.
• Late or very early flights. The price is the same day and night, and you do not depend on a timetable. Our guide to early morning flights from Keflavík covers departure timing.
• Lots of luggage or sports equipment. Your bags stay with you, and the van has room for 7 large suitcases.
• Destinations without a convenient bus. Ferry harbours, small towns and hotels in the countryside can be hard to reach by public transport. A direct ride from the airport, for example to Hella or Landeyjahöfn, avoids a long day of connections.
• Tiredness. After a night flight, going straight from the arrivals hall to your bed is worth something, even if it is hard to put a number on it.

How paying works

Our prices are charged in Icelandic krónur (ISK). The site can show approximate amounts in other currencies for convenience, but the amount charged is always in ISK. If you pay by a card in another currency, your bank's exchange rate and any card fees apply.

• When you book, you pay a 20% deposit online, or the full price if you prefer.
• The rest is paid to the driver at the end of the trip, by card or in cash.
• Cancel up to 24 hours before pick-up and you get a full refund.
• Book at least one hour before pick-up; for airport arrivals, booking well ahead gives you the most peace of mind.

Tipping is not expected in Iceland, as service is included in prices. It is entirely up to you. Our guide to money and tipping in Iceland explains more, and Iceland travel costs helps you put a transfer in the context of the rest of your budget.

Transfer package · private

Blue Lagoon Transfer Package

KEF → Blue Lagoon → Reykjavík + return to KEF

Car or Van

1–7 people · same price

52,000 kr

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Frequently asked questions

Is a private transfer in Iceland priced per person or per car?

What is included in a fixed-price transfer?

Is there a night surcharge?

Is the airport bus cheaper than a private transfer?

Is a private transfer cheaper than a taxi from Keflavík Airport?

Do I pay extra for luggage?

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Should I tip my driver in Iceland?