Car Rental Tips

Getting Started

Explore the Faroe Islands’ scenery at your own pace. Take the time to enjoy breathtaking new views around every twist and turn.

As one of our customers put it, “If you are contemplating whether to rent a car in the Faroes – do it! It’s far easier… you won’t regret having a car”. We aim to make renting a car in the Faroe Islands as effortless as possible. As locals, here are some thoughts on best practices to make your journey seamless.

Plan Your Stay

If you haven’t already planned your stay in the Faroe Islands before searching for a rental car, save this page for later. Knowing where you’re staying and what places you want to see are essential for determining your car rental requirements.

Pick-up and Drop-off

Vágar Airport is our most popular pick-up and drop-off location.

If you arrive by plane, we recommend going to the car rental center as soon as you step out of the terminal. With limited attractions within walking distance of the airport and Tórshavn a 40-minute drive away, getting around without a vehicle can be challenging.

If you take public transportation to the capital or arrive by ferry at Tórshavn harbour, Rent Your Car is one of the few providers offering pick-up and drop-off options in Tórshavn. We offer flexible service directly to Tórshavn cruise terminals, hotels, and Airbnbs.

A rental car on a coastal road in the Faroe Islands, close by vagar airport. The sun is setting behind a mountain in the background.

Car Class and Season

Make sure to choose a car class that fits your needs so you avoid issues like lack of luggage space, comfort, or fuel efficiency. Visit our “our cars” page for detailed vehicle information.

If you are visiting the Faroe Islands between June and August, be sure to make a reservation as early as possible, as most rental providers are fully booked during the summer season.

Vehicle Information

Most Faroese car rental agencies offer both manual and automatic transmissions, though automatic vehicles generally come with a higher daily rate. If you specifically require an automatic transmission, make sure to double-check with your provider before completing your booking.

Most rental cars feature built-in navigation, but map coverage for the Faroe Islands is not available on all systems. We recommend renting an external GPS system or portable Wi-Fi, both available as add-ons to your car rental.

Hidden Costs & Unpleasant Surprises

 

Car Damage Charge
Always inspect the car for damage before use and take pictures if you find anything. This way you have documentation if it would happen that the agency would attempt to charge you for damages you haven’t made.

Mileage Cost
Make sure you have unlimited mileage on your car rental, as the extra bill can come as an unpleasant additional cost. At Rent Your Car, unlimited mileage is included in every order.

Holding Charge
In addition to the cost of the car rental, expect a hold charge on your credit card from pick-up ‘til a few days after your return date as this is used for security purposes if additional payments are required. The charge varies, so make sure to ask your provider so that you come prepared.

Insurance
It’s an unpleasant surprise when realizing that you paid extra for self-risk insurance when your insurance company already had you covered. That is why we recommend that you double-check your insurance before completing the rental car booking.

However, if you’re not covered, we highly recommend self-risk insurance. It covers all damage to the car while it’s in your possession up to 9.000 DKK.

In the Faroe Islands, wages are higher than in a lot of other countries, so repairs are not cheap and car repair bills can be expensive.

Unfortunately, we experience multiple cases where customers do not include insurance in their booking and later get billed for a car damage that was out of their control. A bill that self-risk insurance would have covered.

Sub-Sea Tunnel Expenses
Sub-sea tunnels that connect islands have driving fees. These fees are handled online, making the process seamless. However, this can easily be a cost that increases your final bill drastically if you use them frequently. Here’s a map showing the Faroe Islands sub-sea tunnel locations and prices.

Here at Rent Your Car, we offer sub-sea tunnel passes which covers two of the three sub-sea tunnels of the Faroe Islands. Whether or not you include it in your booking we manage the costs for you and add your final fee to your booking when you drop-off the car.

Hidden Costs & Unpleasant Surprises

Most providers initially display a “from” price. You can view the exact total cost by completing the booking steps up to the payment screen.

If you would like to compare prices, you can view all car rental providers here.

At Rent Your Car, we aim to deliver a fast pick-up experience, competitive prices and 24/7 customer support.

 

Always examine the vehicle and photograph any pre-existing damage before you leave the lot. Having clear photos provides evidence if any dispute arises over damage you weren’t responsible for.

Make sure your rental includes unlimited mileage so you avoid unexpected charges at the end of your trip. At Rent Your Car, unlimited mileage is always included with every reservation.

In addition to the rental fee, expect a security hold on your credit card from pick-up until a few days after you return the vehicle. This deposit covers potential extras like fuel, subsea tunnel tolls, or damages. The required amount varies by company, so check with your provider beforehand so you can prepare accordingly.

It’s a frustrating surprise to realize you paid for extra coverage when your own insurance company already covers rental cars. That is why we recommend double-checking your existing policy before finalizing your reservation.

However, if you aren’t covered, we strongly recommend opting for “Standard or “Premium” insurance. This limits your financial responsibility for any vehicle damage during your rental to a maximum of 1,000  DKK.

In the Faroe Islands, labor costs are high, meaning even minor vehicle repairs can quickly become expensive. Unfortunately, we regularly see customers skip insurance and end up paying out of pocket for damage that was beyond their control. Costs that an excess insurance policy would have covered.

Bear in mind that our insurance options do not cover tire damage.

There are toll charges applied on vehicles upon entering sub-sea tunnels in the Faroe Islands. This cost is digital and automatically applied. The prices are as follows:

100 DKK roundtrip

  • Norðoyartunnel
  • Vágatunnel

230 DKK each way

  • Eysturoyartunnel
  • Sandoyartunnel

At Rent Your Car, we offer a tunnel pass covering unlimited trips through Norðoyartunnel and Vágatunnel. Whether you opt for the tunnel pass or pay per ride, we manage all toll charges for you and simply consolidate the final balance upon vehicle drop-off.