Renault Kangoo Camper
Compact van camper
- Seats
- 2
- Sleeps
- 2
- Toilet
- No
- Shower
- —
- Transmission
- Automatic
Lava Car Rental review
A Keflavik-based rental company with a compact, equipped campervan for travel around Iceland.
Profile reviewed and updated on
Background
Company overview
Lava Car Rental is a family-owned Icelandic company that began operating in 2016 and added campervans in 2018. Its camper business sits within a wider vehicle rental operation, with a base in Keflavik serving arrivals at Iceland’s main international airport.
The company opened purpose-built headquarters in 2024 and introduced a paperless rental process in 2025. Direct bookings can use online check-in and a code-based key collection process, alongside the airport transfer service that connects arriving passengers with the depot.
Our verdict
Editorial review
The appeal of Lava’s camper offer is a relatively simple setup: a small automatic van, a place to sleep and the equipment needed to cook and stay at campsites. The balance favours a straightforward camping trip over the living space and onboard facilities of a larger motorhome. Its convenience depends as much on the rental choices as the vehicle itself: arrival arrangements and protection requirements deserve attention when working out the total cost.
Good points
- Camping equipment comes with the van.The Kangoo includes bedding, cooking equipment and outdoor furniture. This gives two people a usable camping setup without separately renting those core items.
- Distance does not drive the rental allowance.Unlimited kilometres suit a trip whose daily distances change along the way. Lava’s road-tax charge follows a flat daily mechanism rather than a mileage-overage tariff, so the two parts of the cost remain distinct.
Things to consider
- Top-level protection still leaves wind-door exposure.Full Protection does not cover doors caught by the wind, alongside other exclusions. The upgrade therefore leaves a potentially significant damage risk that its zero-liability figure for covered damage does not remove.
- Handover feedback is mixed.Camper feedback from 2025–2026 includes praise for helpful staff and clear explanations, but also accounts of slow service or limited instruction.
Vehicle categories
Lava Car Rental fleet
The Renault Kangoo gives Lava’s camper offer a compact, two-person layout with an automatic gearbox. The two-wheel-drive van has a sofa bed measuring 120 × 190 cm, built-in seating and a table. It is intended for regular roads; Lava does not permit this camper on F-roads.
Its kitchen setup includes a gas stove and cartridge, cookware, a dishwashing kit and a 10-litre water tank. The 28-litre cooler keeps already chilled contents cool; it is not a refrigerator. Two sleeping bags and bedding, two chairs and a folding table complete the included camping equipment.
Campsite facilities are part of how this van works in practice. There is no onboard bathroom, and the Kangoo’s heater connects to campsite electricity. That power requirement matters when choosing where to spend the night, rather than assuming the van can provide heat independently.
Locations
Lava Car Rental pickup locations
Open each country to see its pickup locations.
Iceland
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Keflavik Flugvellir 23, 230 Keflavik, Iceland
Before booking
Practical facts
These conditions and prices describe Lava’s direct-booking camper rentals in Iceland. A reservation through another channel follows the terms supplied with that reservation.
| Topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Driver eligibility | Camper drivers must be at least 20 and have held a full driving licence for at least one year. A licence in the Latin alphabet is accepted; otherwise Lava requires an international driving licence. |
| Minimum charge | The minimum rental charge covers 48 hours, even when the vehicle is used for 24 hours. |
| Indicative hire price | Lava gives a broad summer benchmark of about EUR 245 per day (USD 285 per day) for a two-person camper. This is a category-level illustration, not a Kangoo quote or an all-inclusive total. |
| Distance and road-tax charge | Rental kilometres are unlimited. Lava charges a flat ISK 1,390 per day for road tax. For bookings made from 1 January 2026, this is included in the booking; customers who booked in 2025 for travel in 2026 pay it at pickup. It should not be added a second time to a booking that already includes it. |
| Included damage protection | Included SCDW carries ISK 150,000 liability for covered damage. This is contingent damage exposure, not an extra hire charge. |
| Full Protection | The upgrade costs ISK 5,000 per day and reduces liability for covered damage to ISK 0. Exclusions include wind-caught doors, underbody impacts, water, negligence, prohibited driving and renter-caused towing. |
| Payment cards | The card must be in the main driver’s name and remain valid throughout the rental. Debit and prepaid cards require Lava’s Full Protection; insurance bought elsewhere does not replace that requirement. |
| Payment timing and currency | With the direct pay-on-arrival option, Lava takes no payment at booking and attempts to charge the full amount within 24 hours before arrival, or at pickup if that attempt is unsuccessful. Contract charges and refunds are in ISK. |
| Additional drivers | An extra driver costs ISK 1,200 per driver per day. Only authorised drivers may drive the vehicle. |
| Wi-Fi | The optional Wi-Fi unit costs ISK 1,650 per day, with unlimited data and connections for up to eight devices. |
| F-roads | The two-wheel-drive Renault Kangoo Camper is not permitted on Iceland’s F-roads. |
| Self-service collection | Available for direct-site bookings. Online check-in opens five days before pickup and closes eight hours before it. The process includes settling the balance, signing digitally on a tablet at the office and collecting the key by code. Out-of-hours self-service requires Full Protection. |
| Roadside assistance | Lava offers 24/7 emergency assistance. Fault-related roadside costs are covered, while driver-caused assistance is chargeable. Tyre protection does not cover the assistance itself. |
| Renter-caused retrieval | The charge is ISK 450 per kilometre, with a minimum of ISK 45,000, calculated on the depot-to-vehicle round trip. Special recovery costs are additional. This is separate from fault-related roadside assistance. |
| Returning the camper | Remove waste from the camper before return. Excessive dirt incurs an ISK 35,000 charge; smoking incurs ISK 65,000. |
| Missing fuel | Returning the vehicle without the required fuel incurs the cost of that fuel plus an ISK 3,000 service charge. |
| Missing camping equipment | Replacement charges apply per missing item: a sleeping bag costs ISK 14,000, a stove ISK 10,000, a chair ISK 8,000 and a table ISK 10,000. These are charges for items missing at return, not rental prices for optional equipment. |
More about the company
Explore Lava Car Rental
Getting from Keflavik Airport to the depot
Collection takes place at the Keflavik office, rather than at a desk inside the airport terminal. Between 05:00 and 18:00, the free shared BUS4U shuttle runs every 30 minutes. Its Stop 2 meeting point is about a four-minute walk from the terminal, and the ride takes approximately 15 minutes.
For an arranged evening transfer after 18:00, Lava’s nine-seat shuttle meets passengers outside departures. Supply the flight number in advance and call if the shuttle has not arrived after ten minutes. The transfer arrangement is separate from the self-service check-in deadline.
Quick answers
Lava Car Rental FAQ
Can I rent Lava’s Kangoo Camper with a debit card?
Yes, for a direct rental with Lava’s Full Protection, which costs ISK 5,000 per day. The debit or prepaid card must belong to the main driver and remain valid for the rental. An insurance policy purchased elsewhere does not satisfy this requirement.
Can I take the Renault Kangoo Camper on F-roads?
No. Lava’s Kangoo Camper is two-wheel drive and is not permitted on F-roads. It is not a camper for an itinerary that depends on those Highland roads.
Does the Kangoo have a toilet, shower and heating?
It has no onboard toilet or shower. Its heating connects to campsite electricity, so a stay relying on that heater needs a campsite power connection.
Does Lava’s Full Protection cover wind damage to doors?
No. Doors caught by the wind are excluded. Full Protection’s ISK 0 liability applies to covered damage, not every cause of damage or recovery cost.
Why is there a road-tax charge if kilometres are unlimited?
Unlimited kilometres describe the rental distance allowance. Lava collects road tax separately through a flat ISK 1,390 daily charge, not a charge for exceeding a kilometre limit. Direct bookings made from 1 January 2026 include it in the booking amount.
How early must I complete Lava’s self-service check-in?
The online stage must be completed earlier: it closes eight hours before the scheduled pickup and opens five days beforehand. Lava’s self-service process is for direct-site bookings; Full Protection is required when collecting out of hours.
Is the cooler in the Kangoo a refrigerator?
No. The included 28-litre cooler maintains chilled contents rather than working as a refrigerator. The camper also has a gas stove, cookware and a 10-litre water tank for its cooking setup.
Where do I collect the camper after landing at Keflavik?
At Lava’s depot at Flugvellir 23, 230 Keflavik. The airport meeting point is for the transfer to the office, not a separate rental desk inside the terminal.
Rental company guide
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