Iceland: Distance-based toll system from January 1, 2026

[El-Dracho]

For all fans of the Nordic countries, Iceland introduced a new toll system on January 1, 2026. This also affects us overlanders.

Starting January 1, 2026, Iceland has a distance-based toll system (based on fuel consumption to date).

Visitors to the island with vehicles can then choose between a flat rate or a toll based on the number of kilometres travelled. This toll is paid on the day of departure and is also depends on vehicle weight.

I'm curious to see how this works in practice. Maybe one of the next people traveling to Iceland can report back here. That would be great!

 

[XC70_OVERLANDER]

Interesting.

 

[Corrie]

Will definitely track this to see how it plays out. (I'm also glad to see this post for many different reasons. )

 

[socal66]

Looks like this replaces a tax that was part of each fuel purchase so there may be minimal cost difference in the end. The toll fee is less than 6 cents (US) per km travelled. I think the main driver for this switch is there are more EVs on the road there and as that number increases that segment wasn’t paying any road taxes as they did not purchase fuel.

 

[ThundahBeagle]

Looks like this replaces a tax that was part of each fuel purchase so there may be minimal cost difference in the end. The toll fee is less than 6 cents (US) per km travelled. I think the main driver for this switch is there are more EVs on the road there and as that number increases that segment wasn’t paying any road taxes as they did not purchase fuel.

Exactly. And typically EVs are heavier than thier counterparts, so a per mile fee seems more fair than a per liter of gas fee. For reference the Mass Pike and New York State Thruway are fort of over mile. They calculate the distance between exits. You used to pull a ticket wherever you got on, and there was a small spreadsheet on the back that told you what you had to pay at each of the remaining exits. That's 1970's until about 20 years ago. Then they sort of got you at random 50 cent or dollar toll booths every so often, and of course, now all the booths have been replaced by automated gantry now