Car hire in Ireland

As a small, compact island, one of the best ways to get the most out of a stay in Ireland is to rent a car. Scenic drives like the Ring of Kerry or the Connemara coastline rival anything that America’s Route 66 or Highway 101 has to offer, and there are plenty of small guesthouses, restaurants and hotels along most routes, making it easy to plan a trip. Each larger Irish airport offers a car rental service, and with relatively safe roads, it really is a great option to see our beautiful rolling hills and do your own thing, if you're an independent traveller.

Before you decide to rent an expensive gas guzzler with unnecessary extras though, there are quite a few things that prospective renters should think about before they choose their car. Here are the top things to know about car rental in Ireland, with help from Thrifty.

1: Be a smart consumer and do your research

Ok, we all know that you want to enjoy yourself and not stress too much when you’re on holidays, but the worst thing you can do when renting a car is not do your research! Get a quote from at least 5 car rental companies in Ireland, plan your route as best you can and work out if you need a city car or if you’ll be going rural. Unlike years ago, you can now get an online quote in minutes, so there’s no excuse for paying over the odds. Try to compare the same car across the different major rental companies, and stick to the reputable car hire firms. If you are are travelling at high season (Summer or Christmas), book as far in advance as you can as this generally will get you better rates.

2: Know the Lingo

In order to do your research, you’ll need to know the secret language of car hire! Don’t worry, it’s not too difficult, and we’re here to help. CDW insurance (collision damage waiver) is basic insurance cover which covers the vehicle in the event of a crash or accidental damage. It is only basic cover and has an excess/deductible between 1200 and 2000 dependent on the size of the vehicle. Should you choose to waive CDW, your hire company will put a hold on your associated card until the end of your rental period. VAT is value added tax, and is currently 13.5%. An airport surcharge is a fee for renting at the airport, while a primary location charge is administered when you rent a car at a popular location, eg: city centre. SCDW stands for Super Collision Damage Waiver and is bought as an additional cover to reduce the excess/deductible on CDW.

3: Plan for petrol

You might be a little surprised at the high price of petrol in Ireland and the E.U., depending on where you’re coming in from. Indeed, many who live here are also quite surprised at it, but with a little foresight you can offset that cost. First of all, ensure you choose a fuel-efficient car. European cars are generally quite good in this bracket, but sometimes North American visitors, for example, can choose unnecessarily large 4x4 vehicles, or very expensive muscle cars for no good reason. If it’s your lifelong dream to cruise down the coast in a Ferrari, then by all means do it, but if not, ask the rental company about fuel efficiency, and ensure you’re getting bang for your considerable buck. We’d also advise you to shop around, and try to buy your fuel outside of large cities if possible, where prices can be higher. Most renters would be making only one or two large fuel purchases, so a small saving per litre can lead to a large chunk of change in your pocket. The Pumps.ie app can help here if you’ve got access to a smartphone. Finally, another tip for visitors to Ireland is to pick the right pump! We’ve all heard horror stories of drivers high on holiday spirit filling their petrol car with diesel and regretting it soon after, so when you pull in, just put on your thinking cap for a second. If this happens to you, do not start the car, and call the rental company straight away, as it’s generally a salvageable situation. There are literally hundreds of petrol stations around Ireland’s roads, so you should have no issues with finding one.

4: Don’t be late!

Besides the fact that nobody likes latecomers, you may be hit with a penalty for tardiness. Most hire companies will penalise you for late return of a car (timeframe for penalties generally depends on the company itself), while vehicles returned outside branch opening and closing times, or not returned to the correct car rental office will be charged until the car is returned. Most companies also require you to provide a flight number, and If you are going to be late by more than half an hour, it’s generally best to call and state your situation. You’ll only have to pay for the time you have the car, so if this means 25 hours, then you’ll be more than likely charged for two days, so get your watch out! One way rentals are a regular occurrence, meaning you can pick up your car in Dublin, and drop it off in Belfast, but are generally liable for a fee.

5: Read the fine print

Just like any contract, there may be added extras which you need to watch out for. Most companies employ a policy of charging for airport and city centre pick up, so if you can, pick up your car in a bureau where this does not apply. There can also be a hefty processing fee for a rental, and base prices can be increased by taxes and surcharges, so watch out for these. If you know your way around Ireland, and are being charged for a GPS, then ask the company to take if off. An additional driver can also be added to the car rental, pending meeting some criteria, but this too will cost you. Most online car rental quotes only include the cost of rental and basic insurance coverage, meaning taxes, fees and extra insurance are usually not included, so proceed to the final step if you want a real full figure put on your prospective booking. You can also be caught for tyres and keys, so know all of this before you set off. Generally, car hire companies are very efficient and customer service in Ireland is good. However, reading the fine print is always advisable.

6: Documentation + Credit Card

Renters in Ireland will be required to have a full unendorsed driving licence which is valid for driving in the country. Along with this, most companies state that you must have the full version of your licence, and that international driving licences must be accompanied by your original licence from your home country. Different companies have different stipulations for age and driving experience requirements, so ensure that you meet these criteria when booking. Endorsements can also be a problem, and will cost you, but many companies accept drivers with endorsements on the lower end of the scale. The credit card issue is also something that can sometimes catch out drivers. Many companies only accept cards (not cash) for obvious security reasons, and your card must have the full amount of credit available at the time of rental rental to cover any rental charges, or the security deposit (excess/deductible). Cards also need to be internationally recognised, or available for use in the specific country, and it’s best to check with your bank and hire company before you travel whether this is the case. Some credit card companies do not cover rental insurance in Ireland, so it’s best to get this in writing before you go. Also, as an unrelated aside, take some pictures of the car before you begin driving, just to be safe.

7: Choose a car to suit your needs

Whether you’re coming from Summer time Texas, or travelling from Northern Scandinavia, you’re not likely to encounter a climate which will shock you too much in Ireland. Our legendary rain is well known, and we get small patches of ice and snow in Winter, but driving conditions are generally fine. For this reason, we’d advise you to choose a car to suit your needs. Most new European cars have good ventilation systems, but do you really need air conditioning for an Irish summer? Average temperatures in July are around 19 degrees celsius, and air con. can guzzle gas, so think long and hard about this. Other extras like automatic windows can also come as standard, but if they don’t, do you really need them?

8: Automatic or Manual?

Most car rental companies in Ireland automatically presume that you’re looking to rent a manual car. If you’re not familiar with manual, don’t try and fit in with the locals, because you certainly don’t want to be stalling for your period in Ireland while trying to force gears. Damaging a clutch can be very expensive, probably greater than the difference in price between manual and auto, and automatic shift cars are widely available, so stick with what you know.

9: Know the rules of the road

Obviously you’ll get used to driving on the left side of the road very quickly, but a quick refresher course on things like roundabout driving, passing on a motorway, speed limits and other obstacles (if you’re in a rural area, there’s a very good chance you’ll meet a farmer moving his cows!) would be very helpful. The Road Safety Authority website is a good option for this. Another small thing to remember is that many Irish motorways, including the M50 ring road around Dublin, operate tool booths. Some of these are pay as you go, so have some change ready, but some, like the M50 are prepaid to speed up traffic. Failure to pay or forgetting to pay can lead to hefty fines, so know your route and ask your rental company about this before you leave. See the M50 EFlow website for more.

10: Don’t be cramped!

A stuffy, rainy Summer day stuck in a car with cramped children screaming is no fun for anyone, so be sure that you’re car is the required fit. European cars are generally smaller in terms of legroom and boot space than North American cars, and sometimes are larges than Asian cars, so ensure that you know what you’re getting. All car hire companies offer the option of renting a car seat, and boot (trunk) space is another consideration if you’re bringing suitcases.

Basically, be prudent, prepared and precise when renting a car in Ireland. If you are clear on everything before you leave, then there will be no problems. Ireland’s countryside is one of the most beautiful anywhere in the world, and we’re quite relaxed and patient drivers, so be sure to enjoy your time on our roads!