Can I use my phone while driving?
No — not in your hand. A phone at the wheel without hands-free equipment costs 40,000 kr and one penalty point. Under section 57 of Traffic Act no. 77/2019 it is prohibited to use a phone, smart device or other electronics that can distract driving without hands-free equipment. The fine is fixed: 40,000 kr under regulation 1240/2019, and it rose from just 5,000 kr as the offence became more common. The myth many rely on: that it is fine to read a message or change a track "at a red light". It is not — the ban applies while you are in control of the vehicle, including stationary in traffic. Holding the phone to check a map counts as use. One point looks small, but 12 points in three years (7 on a provisional licence) costs the licence, so the phone can end up more expensive than 40,000 kr.
📋 The rules
- Section 57 of the Traffic Act bans using a phone, smart device or other electronics that can distract driving without hands-free equipment while you drive.
- The fine is 40,000 kr under Annex I of regulation 1240/2019, plus one penalty point in the driving record.
- Hands-free is allowed: phone in a mount, Bluetooth or voice control. Holding the device in your hand is the heart of the offence, not the call itself.
- The ban applies while you are in control of the vehicle — including stationary at a red light or in a traffic jam, because you are still the driver.
- Points accumulate: 12 points in 3 years leads to a ban (7 on a provisional licence), and the police issue a warning at 8 points (3 on a provisional licence).
🔓 Exceptions
- Hands-free use is allowed — a mount, speaker, voice control. The key is that the device is not in your hand and does not distract your driving.
- An emergency call to 112 in immediate danger can justify use, but the rule is to pull over first and call after wherever possible.
- The ban covers all electronics that distract driving, not just phones — tablets and cameras count too if held while driving.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The base fine is 40,000 kr and one penalty point, fixed regardless of whether it was a call, a message or checking a map. The amount alone looks manageable, but the point is the hidden cost: it sits in the driving record and adds to other points, so that 12 points in three years — or 7 on a provisional licence — costs your licence. The police issue a warning once eight points have built up. If using the phone causes careless driving or an accident, fines for other offences can be added and, in serious cases, a ban on another basis. The hidden cost also shows up in insurance, since claims and offences can raise premiums and affect your no-claims standing. Hands-free equipment costs only a fraction of the fine and removes the risk entirely.
📎 Official sources
- Ísland.is · Calculate a traffic fine (Police) →
- Alþingi (Parliament) · Traffic Act no. 77/2019, section 57 →
- Samgöngustofa (Transport Authority) · road safety →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I use my phone at a red light?
No, the ban applies while you are in control of the vehicle, including stationary at a red light or in a traffic jam. You still count as the driver, so reading a message or changing a track then is the same offence as while moving — 40,000 kr and one penalty point.
Is hands-free equipment allowed?
Yes, hands-free use is allowed under section 57: a phone in a mount, a Bluetooth connection or voice control. The heart of the offence is holding the device in your hand, not the call itself, so a mount or speaker removes both the fine and the risk.
What does holding the phone cost?
The fine is a fixed 40,000 kr under regulation 1240/2019, plus one penalty point in the driving record. The amount rose from just 5,000 kr as the offence became more common and dangerous, and the point can end up more expensive than the fine if more of them build up.
Can I check a map on my phone?
Not if you hold the phone, because that counts as using electronics without hands-free equipment. A map app is fine if the phone is in a mount and you set the route before setting off, but holding the device and scrolling while driving is an offence worth 40,000 kr.
Can the phone cost me my licence?
Yes, indirectly. Each offence gives one penalty point, and 12 points in three years leads to a ban — or 7 points if you hold a provisional licence. So repeated phone use can build up points that ultimately cost the driving licence itself.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “phone while driving iceland”
- “mobile phone driving fine iceland”
- “hands-free rules iceland”
- “can i use my phone driving iceland”
- “phone driving fine 40000”
- “phone penalty point iceland”