Frequently Asked Questions

No — and don’t start the engine. If you already have, switch it off and leave it.

Starting the engine circulates the wrong fuel through the system and can turn a drain-and-flush into damage to the fuel pump and injectors.

Call us. Tell us which fuel went in, roughly how much, and whether the engine was started.

No. Driving on a flat tyre can quickly destroy it and may also damage the wheel.

If the spare is sound, we can change it where you are. If not, we can recover the vehicle and fit a replacement tyre.

Check the sticker on the wheel itself. Most temporary spares are limited to 80 km/h and a short distance.

Treat it as a way to reach a workshop, not to continue the trip. Temporary spares are not suitable for gravel roads or F-roads.

Stop after the second attempt. Spinning the wheels digs the vehicle in deeper, polishes the ice beneath the tyres and can damage the clutch or automatic gearbox.

Clear snow from in front of the wheels if it is safe, try once gently, then call. Wait in the vehicle.

No. Don’t turn the key. If water has entered the engine, attempting to restart it can cause serious damage.

Get everyone to safety and call for recovery.

This is often the battery, particularly in winter. We can come and start it.

A jump start gets you moving but does not confirm that the battery will hold charge. If it dies again, the battery or alternator may need attention.

If you have leads and another vehicle, check the handbook first. Stop-start systems and AGM batteries can be damaged by an incorrect jump start, and the correct connection points are not always the battery terminals.

If you are unsure, call us.

We can open the vehicle without damage. Tell us the make and model.

If you have lost the only key to a rental vehicle, contact the rental company because replacement keys are coded to the vehicle. Call us if the vehicle also needs to be moved.

A small chip away from the driver’s eyeline can often be repaired. A crack that has started to run usually cannot, and winter temperature changes can make it spread quickly.

Bring the vehicle in and we can assess it.

It depends on your location, the weather and whether a truck is already attending another call. We will give you an honest estimate when you contact us.

A person answers at any hour.

Call and ask. Our locations are in Egilsstaðir, Höfn and Djúpivogur, and we take roadside jobs well beyond the towns, including South Iceland.

If we cannot reach you in a sensible time, we will tell you who can.

Yes. Call 24/7 for roadside assistance, repairs and tire service, all year. Call before coming in so we can arrange help and direct you to the right location.

Call 112 first if anyone is injured, the vehicle is in a dangerous position, or you are exposed without shelter.

If the vehicle has stopped and everyone is safe, call Towing.is.

Yes. WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram and email all reach us. For urgent roadside assistance, calling is usually faster.

Ask your rental company. Rental agreements and levels of cover vary, so we cannot tell you what your policy includes.

Ask specifically about tyres, underside damage, river-crossing water damage, wind damage to doors, and sand or ash damage. Mechanical faults are not an insurance claim.

Yes — contact them first. Repairing a rental without reporting the damage may affect an insurance claim and can be treated as unreported damage when the vehicle is returned.

Call whichever route gets you help fastest, and tell us either way. We work as a local contractor for national roadside networks used by many rental companies, so their call may be passed to us.

Calling us directly can save a step.

Yes. Tell us at the beginning if the cost is being handled through a rental company or insurer so the work can be documented correctly from the start.

Call before coming in. We can arrange repairs and tire service at any hour, but the workshop may be unattended while the crew is out on a call.

Common repairs using stocked parts can often be completed the same day. Parts that must be shipped from Reykjavík add time, and we will explain that before you commit.

Tell us the deadline when you arrive. We will tell you honestly whether it is achievable while you still have time to make other arrangements.

We will quote before starting the work.

A puncture in the central tread can usually be repaired. Sidewall damage cannot be safely repaired because it may fail without warning at speed.

Sidewall cuts caused by gravel roads are a common tyre failure in Iceland.

We sell summer, winter and studded tyres from stock in all three towns. We can also fit tyres you bring with you.

Studded tyres are permitted from 1 November to 15 April. The minimum legal tread depth for passenger-car winter tyres is 3 mm.

See Reykjavík City’s current guidance.

It depends on where and when you are driving. Unstudded winter tyres are quieter and suitable for most Ring Road driving. Studded tyres provide better grip on sheet ice, which is common on passes and fjord roads during midwinter.

All-season tyres are not suitable for an Icelandic winter.

Yes. Tell us how far the vehicle is from the road and whether it is upright so we can determine which truck is needed.

1. Move everyone out of the traffic lane if it is safe.

2. Switch on the hazard lights and place the warning triangle behind the vehicle.

3. Stay with the vehicle. It is warm, visible and easier to find than a person on foot.

4. Check road conditions and weather warnings.

Do not set off walking. Icelandic weather can change quickly.