A Cracked Windshield in Your Rental Campervan in Iceland: What to Do Next

In a country called the Land of Fire and Ice, with its exciting and contrasting terrain, there’s always the risk of having some “scar” to show for your Iceland adventure. While things like Ed Sheeran’s little mishap do happen if you’re not careful, the worst generally tends to be some damage to your rental campervan (thank goodness for rental insurance!). The most common (and most annoying) damage to a rental campervan is usually a cracked windshield.

A cracked windshield can be tricky to navigate. It’s not necessarily a big issue, but it can cause visibility issues, and even the smallest of chips can start to run, turning a once small (literally) problem into a much larger one. So, what do you do when you find you have a cracked windshield in your rental campervan in Iceland? 

This guide will walk you through the entire process, tell you all the ins and outs of insurance coverage, and give you a few helpful tips on how to minimize your risks. So, without further ado, let’s crack on (no pun intended).

Why Windshield Damage is Common in Iceland

There are a few factors that cause cracked windshields to top the charts of rental damage here in Iceland. They are:

Our Unpaved Roads

You don’t need to take on one of our extreme F-roads to run the risk of windshield damage. Traveling on unpaved roads can lead to loose gravel being kicked up by your car or oncoming traffic.

Debris

As in any other country, even our paved roads can sometimes have little rocks or ice that can be kicked up and cause damage to your windshield.

Our Legendary Winds

Iceland is known for its incredibly powerful winds, sometimes even reaching over 35 kilometers an hour. So, you don’t need your car, or any other for that matter, to kick up gravel or debris – our winds will do it for you!   

The Coast (with a Little Help from a Friend)

Needless to say, our beautiful coastlines are lined with sand. It only takes a little help from our local friend, the wind, to batter your rental with tiny sand kernel bullets.

Sandstorms

These don’t just occur in deserts. You can actually experience a real sandstorm in Iceland in regions such as the South Coast and the Highlands here in Iceland.

Understanding Rental Insurance Coverage In Terms of Windshield Damage

As you can see, rental insurance is not optional when traversing our incredible terrain. But how do you know whether you’ll be covered for any windshield damage? The following should give you a good idea of what to get:

CDW and SCDW

CDW is the mandatory insurance that comes with your rental campervan in Iceland. CDW stands for Collision Damage Waiver and essentially covers most damage to a vehicle’s body, but with the understanding that you’ll be paying an amount thereof, called the excess. Ironically, the body of the vehicle in this coverage rarely includes the tires, windows, or undercarriage.

SCDW stands for Super Collision Damage Waiver and is essentially an add-on to the CDW (so optional). Its main purpose is to lower the amount of excess payable according to your CDW coverage. Once again, this type of insurance doesn’t provide additional cover for damage to tires, windows, or the undercarriage.  

Gravel Protection

This is one of our popular add-on insurance covers (and by now, we’re sure you can understand why). It covers you against any damage caused by gravel, which includes the body of the vehicle, the headlights, and the windshield!

Sand & Ash Protection

This is yet another popular add-on cover, especially among those traveling our coastal regions. Similar to the gravel protection, Sand & Ash Protection covers you against any damage to your vehicle’s body, tires, headlights, and windshield caused by sand and volcanic ash (remember our legendary winds!)

Travel and Personal Insurance: Are You Not Already Covered?

Unfortunately, we can’t answer that question for you since you will have to follow up and check the fine print of your specific insurance company and the specific policy in question. However, we can tell you that there are often exclusions, especially when it comes to things like specific risk cover (i.e., tire damage, gravel or sand damage, windshield damage, etc.).

A Quick-Refencing Insurance Cheat Sheet

Below is a table for quick-referencing which insurance policies you’ll need when it comes to windshield protection:

Insurance	Covers Windshield Damage	Recommended for Iceland
CDW	No	Yes. It’s legally mandatory in Iceland.
SCDW	No	Yes. If you don’t want to pay such a high excess on your CDW.
Gravel Protection	Yes (for damage caused by gravel).	Yes. Especially if you’re planning on road-tripping around the island or planning on driving specific unpaved roads.
Sand & Ash Insurance	Yes (for damage caused by sand or volcanic ash).	Yes. Especially if you’re planning on traveling along the coast or through the Highlands of Iceland.
Travel Insurance	Rarely (but this will need to be confirmed with your specific travel insurance company).	Yes. It’s a legal requirement when traveling to most countries.
Personal Insurance	Rarely (but this will need to be confirmed with your specific travel insurance company).	Optional. Most will have personal insurance included in their travel insurance or have it back home anyway (which means you’ll be paying it whether traveling abroad or not). However, in terms of a cracked windshield on a rental campervan in particular, it probably won’t make much of a difference.

The Costs of Repair Without Insurance in Iceland

We honestly don’t even want to think about this question in terms of just living life in your home country, never mind when it comes to rental vehicles in another country! The mere thought fills us with dread and anxiety. Needless to say, if you haven’t got any cover (except for the mandatory cover here in Iceland), any other types of damage to the rental vehicle will be for your own pocket.

The repairs required (and the costs thereof) will, of course, be relevant to the damage, which can vary widely. For example, you won’t be paying the same for a small crack in a windshield vs. a slashed tire and bent rim. However, when we look at windshield repair or replacement specifically, you’re looking at paying between $500 and $1500.

What to Do if Your Rental Car Windshield Cracks in Iceland

If you spot a little chip or you’ve had an incident that’s caused a proper rental campervan windshield crack, don’t panic and just follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Stop and Assess

If an incident occurs or you notice a crack, keep Iceland’s driving rules in mind (this includes no stopping or parking on the side of the road). So, pull over in a designated parking spot where it’s safe and inspect the damage.

Step 2: Notify Your Rental Company

Call the rental company and report the damage to them. They will advise on the way forward (based on their company procedures) but also tell you whether the vehicle needs to be fixed immediately or whether it can wait till you return the vehicle after your trip (the latter can often happen if it’s just a tiny chip).

Step 3: File a Claim

This process can vary based on the rental company. Some companies prefer handling these claims themselves (which can often be a bit more stress-free since you have no further responsibilities except for paying the excess).

Other companies will have you contact the insurance company to file a claim and run with all their requirements (this can include everything from photos, getting a professional assessment, getting quotes from service providers in the area, taking the vehicle in for repairs, etc.). We recommend chatting with your rental agent beforehand so you’ll know exactly what to expect.

*** Whatever you do, never, ever, EVER, try to fix this yourself. Don’t try to use one of these DIY windshield crack kits or try to temporarily patch it so it can be fixed later. Not only is this risky, but it could also cause you to be in breach of your rental agreement and null and void any existing insurance policies.

A Few Helpful Tips to Prevent Windshield Damage in Iceland

If this is your first time driving in the Land of Fire and Ice, the below tips can come in handy:

• Always keep a safe distance between yourself and other cars when driving on our unpaved gravel roads. A safe distance on a paved road is considered 3 seconds, so on a gravel road, it’s 6 seconds (roughly 94 meters in terms of distance).

• Don’t drive too fast, especially in high-risk areas and conditions such as the south coast or when the wind picks up. Windshield damage usually tends to be slightly less when hit at a lower speed.

• Get cover during storms. Whether you can get temporary cover at a gas station or covered parking lot nearby, this will also significantly decrease the odds of any damage.

Frequently Asked Questions About Windshield Damage in Iceland

Below, you’ll find the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about windshield damage in Iceland:

Does My Basic Rental Insurance Cover Windshield Damage?

The basic rental insurance cover in Iceland is CDW, which usually excludes windshield damage. You will need to get additional cover, such as Gravel Protection and Sand & Ash Insurance.

Can I Drive with a Cracked Windshield in Iceland?

If the driver’s vision isn’t impaired, a car with a cracked windshield can still be driven in Iceland. However, these small chips and cracks can begin to run, causing further damage, so they need to be assessed and repaired as soon as possible.

How Much Does It Cost to Repair a Cracked Windshield in Iceland?

How much it will cost to repair a cracked windshield in Iceland will depend on the extent of the damage. But, generally, you’re looking at forking out between $500 and $1500 (if you’re paying out of pocket). If you have sufficient insurance coverage, you’ll only need to pay the excess amount.

Time to Enjoy Your Iceland Road Trip with Confidence!

Now that you know all the ins and outs of a cracked windshield in your rental campervan and know exactly what to do to prevent it from happening, as well as what steps to take if it does, you can rent a campervan in Iceland and cruise the island with some peace of mind.

There’s absolutely no reason to fear our beautiful coastal routes, the magnificent Highlands, or those rewarding “roads less traveled” if you just follow our advice and ensure you have sufficient insurance coverage.