Most rental car lots sit a short shuttle ride from KEF
The Rental Car Shuttle at Keflavik International Airport (Terminal 1) runs between the arrivals area and the off-site car hire lots used by major brands. The ride usually takes about 3–5 minutes, and it’s meant as a simple handoff between baggage claim and the keys to your car, not as your main airport transfer option into Reykjavík.
After you exit customs in Terminal 1, walk straight toward the car rental counters in the arrivals hall; staff there point you to the shuttle stop just outside the terminal doors. Buses cycle frequently when flights land, so in normal traffic you’re looking at about a 5–15 minute wait, shorter in peak morning banks when multiple flights arrive from North America and Europe.
The shuttle itself is a standard airport bus with luggage racks, run by or on behalf of the rental agencies, and the ride is free if you already have a car booking. Most people using it are heading to self-drive itineraries along the Reykjanes Peninsula, Golden Circle, or Route 1, not trying to replace the 45–60 minute transfer into central Reykjavík that you’d normally do by Flybus, public bus, or taxi.
This option makes the most sense if you already plan to rent a car as your main transport for Iceland and just need the short hop from KEF to the rental lot. Regulars treat it as one small step in a wider multi-day road trip, not as a standalone "airport transfer" decision they compare against bus tickets to BSÍ or a private transfer into Reykjavík.
Step-by-step from plane to shuttle usually looks like this:
- 1. Land at KEF Terminal 1 and follow signs to passport control.
- 2. Collect your bags from the main baggage hall on the arrivals level.
- 3. Walk to the car rental desks in the arrivals hall to confirm your booking if needed.
- 4. Head out the signed doors to the rental car shuttle stop directly in front of the terminal.
- 5. Board the shuttle for a 3–5 minute ride to your specific rental company’s lot, then complete paperwork and pickup.
Tip: If you land late at night (after about 23:00), double-check your rental contract for after-hours pickup rules so you’re not standing at the shuttle stop wondering if your car desk is still open.