Short answer: Yes, the Blue Car Rental app is a legitimate, free resource included with every rental. You don't search for it or download it in advance, you access it via a QR code sticker inside your rental car, and it's used for driving information, weather alerts, a direct line to customer support, and an emergency locator function.
What is the Blue Car Rental app, and how do you access it?
The app isn't something you need to find in an app store before you fly. Every Blue Car Rental vehicle has a QR code sticker inside it, and scanning that code is how you get access, meaning the app is tied directly to the car you're actually driving, not a generic download.
Once you're in, it gives you a few practical things for the road: driving and safety information relevant to Iceland's conditions, weather alerts, a way to reach Blue Car Rental's support directly, and a location function that can help emergency responders find you if needed. It's designed as a companion tool for the trip, not a booking or account platform you'd interact with before arrival.
Is it actually safe to use?
Because access happens through a physical QR code inside a car you've already rented, there's no need to hunt for it online or download something from an unfamiliar link before your trip, which is usually what people are checking when they search "blue car rental safe app." You use it during your rental period, for the purposes described above.
That said, the app is a supplementary tool. It doesn't replace calling 112 (Iceland's emergency number) in a genuine emergency, and it doesn't replace checking official road and weather sources before you drive, more on that below.
What does the app help with on the road?
The app helps most by putting driving information, weather alerts, and a direct line to support in one place while you're out on the road. You don't need to search separately for phone numbers or websites while you're on the Ring Road or a mountain pass with limited signal. In practice, that means:
- Weather-related alerts relevant to your driving day
- General driving information for Icelandic conditions
- A direct line to Blue Car Rental's customer service
- An emergency locator function to help support or responders find you
It works alongside, not instead of, Iceland's official monitoring bodies. For anything road- or weather-related that changes day to day, you should still check umferdin.is (Vegagerðin / the Icelandic Road Administration) for road status and closures, and vedur.is (the Icelandic Met Office) or safetravel.is for weather warnings and travel alerts. If you're ever unsure about a route or a river crossing on an F-road such as F208, the safest move is to turn around and check conditions rather than push on, the app can help you reach support, but it isn't a substitute for that judgment call.
How this fits into Blue Car Rental's coverage
Every Blue Car Rental booking includes a set of coverages as standard, with an optional add-on, the Liability Waiver (LW), available for the areas travellers most often ask about, including sand, ash, water damage, tyres and underbody.
Coverage details last checked: August 2026.
| Coverage | Included with every rental? | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) | Yes | Reduces liability in a collision, within policy terms |
| SCDW (Super CDW) | Yes | Further reduces liability beyond standard CDW |
| Gravel Protection | Yes | Damage from loose gravel on Icelandic roads |
| Theft Protection | Yes | Vehicle theft, within policy terms |
| Third-Party Liability | Yes | Required by Icelandic law |
| Liability Waiver (LW) | Optional add-on to extend protection, see the LW page | Water damage including legal river crossings, underbody, tyres, wind/door damage, sand and ash |
A few things worth knowing when you're comparing this to other rentals: Blue takes a credit-card imprint as security when you pick up your car, not a deposit, no funds are actually held or blocked on your card. Tyre damage is covered specifically under the LW, not the standard bundle. And illegal river crossings or off-road driving aren't covered by any policy, which is also why Iceland treats off-road driving as a legal matter, not just an insurance one, see our guide on whether off-road driving is illegal in Iceland if you're planning any Highland routes.
For the full breakdown of what's included and what's optional, it's worth reading through the insurance options page before you book, and if a deposit-style hold is something you've dealt with elsewhere, our article on car rental deposits in Iceland explains how that typically works across providers.
Choosing the right vehicle before you even open the app
The app can alert you to changing conditions, but the vehicle you're driving needs to match your route from the start, no amount of in-trip information replaces starting with the right car. A 2WD compact is generally fine for the Ring Road (Route 1) in summer, but F-roads into the Highlands legally require a 4x4, and winter conditions change the calculation even on paved roads.
If you're not sure which category fits your itinerary, our guides on whether you need a 4x4 in Iceland and F-roads and the Highlands walk through it route by route. You can browse the current fleet options once you know roughly what terrain and season you're dealing with.
What to check before and during your drive
The app is one layer of support, but the core habit for driving in Iceland is checking official sources before you leave each morning, not just relying on any single app or website. Road closures, especially in winter, can change with little notice, and mountain passes that are open at breakfast can close by afternoon.
Before setting out, check umferdin.is for road status, vedur.is for weather warnings, and safetravel.is for broader travel alerts, all three take a few minutes and are worth building into your daily routine, especially outside summer. Our winter driving guide goes into more detail on what changes seasonally and how to plan around it.
Picking up your car and getting started
If part of your hesitation is about the process itself rather than the app specifically, Blue Car Rental offers online check-in before you arrive and key-box pickup (for customers who add the Liability Waiver and complete online check-in) at Keflavik Airport, so you're not waiting in a queue after a long flight. You can complete check-in through online check-in and see pickup logistics on the Keflavik Airport location page. Returning customers can access Blue+ discounts (5% at Bronze, 10% at Silver with 250+ points, 15% at Gold with 400+ points), worth checking via the loyalty programme before you book if you've rented with Blue before.
PARKING IN REYKJAVÍK: ZONES, PAYMENT, AND WHERE TO LEAVE YOUR CAR
