Driving in Iceland vs. Serbia: Key Differences Explained
Iceland and Serbia present contrasting rules and regulations for motorists, which are crucial for ensuring road safety abroad. Key distinctions include speed limits, signaling practices, and penalties for infractions. Understanding these variances is essential for travelers to navigate their journeys safely and confidently in these two unique driving environments.
Lanes
| Iceland | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
iceland:
List length: 4
serbia:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
serbia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
iceland:
N/A
serbia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
iceland:
No
serbia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Iceland | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h on gravel roads | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h on paved roads | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h on paved roads | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
serbia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
90 km/h
serbia:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h
serbia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
iceland:
No
serbia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Signals
| Iceland | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Serbia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | N/A | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | N/A | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Icelandic; symbols are standard | Serbian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red borders | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
iceland:
N/A
serbia:
Not used in Serbia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
serbia:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties
iceland:
N/A
serbia:
Fines may apply for misuse
Hand Signals: Common Usage
iceland:
N/A
serbia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
serbia:
Serbian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
serbia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Iceland | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by city; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
iceland:
Not allowed
serbia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
serbia:
Varies by city; check for signs
Documentation
| Iceland | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Mandatory periodic inspections |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
serbia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
serbia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
iceland:
Annual inspection required
serbia:
Mandatory periodic inspections
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
serbia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
serbia:
Mandatory
Alcohol
| Iceland | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; police regularly perform checks |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties can apply | Substantial, varies by severity |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fine | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
iceland:
0.05%
serbia:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
iceland:
0.02%
serbia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
serbia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
iceland:
Common
serbia:
Common; police regularly perform checks
Enforcement: Fines
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
serbia:
Substantial, varies by severity
Test Refusal
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
serbia:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Iceland | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
serbia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
serbia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Iceland | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | National Police number 112 | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact local towing services or insurance provider | 1987 |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
iceland:
National Police number 112
serbia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
serbia:
1987
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
serbia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Iceland | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense | Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines apply | €20 to €40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines if found using without hands-free | €30 to €50 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | €30 to €50, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly | Yes, possible for smaller fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame | Varies; typically 8 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
serbia:
Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
iceland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
serbia:
Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
serbia:
€20 to €40
Common Fines: Phone Use
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
serbia:
€30 to €50
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
iceland:
Fines and points on license
serbia:
€30 to €50, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
serbia:
Yes, possible for smaller fines
Payment: Deadline
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame
serbia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay