Renting a Car in Ireland
Read how to rent a car for driving in Ireland. For avid road trippers, a rental car can be an ideal option to explore the Emerald Isle. This guide includes everything you should know before renting a car in Ireland.
Renting a car in Ireland is the most comfortable and practical option to move around the country freely.
Yes, one of the most important things to know about Ireland is that it is one of those countries that are meant to be explored by car.
Places such as Ring of Kerry, Sheep's Head, or Mizen Head should be on your itinerary, and having a car will allow you to explore them to the fullest.
And then you have the Wild Atlantic Way that will give the word road trip a new dimension.
And while the big cities such as Dublin or Cork are fun to explore, there is something about Ireland's countryside that makes this country such a popular holiday destination.
Renting a car in Ireland is easy, but there are a few things you should know about this topic before you start searching for the best deals.
From what car type to rent to minimum age requirements, we've got you covered.
So if you're wondering what to expect when renting a car in Ireland, you've come to the right place.
Keep on reading.
Should You Rent a Car in Ireland
One of the most common questions is whether you should rent a car in Ireland or not.
It depends on what you want to see and do in the Emerald Isle and also on the trip length.
You will find an answer to this question almost as soon as you start planning your Ireland itinerary.
If you visit Ireland for three or four days and want to see only the cities and travel from Dublin to Limerick, Cork or Galway, then you don't need a car.
Getting around Ireland by public transit is doable, but mostly only if you want to see the cities.
However, having a car is a must once you start exploring medieval castles in the countryside, scenic drives on peninsulas, or remote national parks.
Simply put, places such as Rock of Cashel, Kerry Cliffs, or Burren National Park are best reached by car, especially if you have only ten or fourteen days for exploring the island.
A rental car will cost more, but you will appreciate the convenience of having it to get where and when you want and without worrying about timetables.
While the cost of renting a car in Ireland is high, it's definitely worth the money.
For instance, we visited places such as Cliffs of Moher and Slieve League without crowds only because we were able to hit the road early.
By the way, driving in Ireland is not difficult, but there are definitely a few things you should know before you go.
Age Requirements
Rental car companies in Ireland have strict age policies due to expensive insurance for younger drivers. The minimum age requirement when renting a car in Ireland is 25 years old.
However, some major car rental companies allow drivers below 25 years old to drive a rental car as long they meet some additional requirements.
Still, even in these instances, you need to be at least 21 years old.
The most important thing to know in this case is that you need to pay an additional fee due to your lower age. And depending on the company, this can be quite a hefty sum.
For example, I was quoted €190 with SIXT when I selected the age of the driver under 25.
Then I chose the same car as a driver older than 25 years and was quoted €120.
As you can clearly see, this is not a non-negligible amount. On top of that, the cars are divided into several categories.
Some premium cars from companies such as Tesla or BMW will require to be at least 30 years old.
As car rental policies change, always verify the age limit directly with the rental car company before you go.
Driver's Licence
As European residents, our regular driver's license works just fine in Ireland.
Similarly, Americans and Canadians can use their driver's licenses without any issues.
Coming from outside these countries, you should check with the rental company whether you need an International Driving Permit or not.
Car Type and Size
While we are usually open to different vehicle categories, we believe renting a compact car for your Ireland road trip is better for a simple reason.
The roads in Ireland are very narrow, and driving a massive SUV in places such as Beara Peninsula or Dingle Peninsula might be stressful if you're not familiar with the width of your car.
This problem is also apparent in Irish towns and cities, especially the small ones such as Cobh or Kinsale.
Honestly, there is no point in renting a huge car to drive around Ireland unless you really prefer to drive only these types of cars or want to use only the highways and national roads.
Needless to say, make sure that there is enough room inside the car for all your passengers.
Also, make sure that the trunk capacity is adequate and that it can hold the suitcases of all persons in your group.
For now, it's still better to rent a petrol or hybrid vehicle in Ireland over an electric car, though you should find enough chargers along the way.
Don't forget that electric cars will also be much more expensive as there are not that many options yet.
Lastly, don't forget that most of the time, you don't get the car from the picture but a similar one in the same category.
Similar to our road trip to the Canadian Rockies, we were upgraded and given a slightly bigger car.
Luckily, it was still a very compact vehicle with a perfect size for the narrow roads.
Manual or Automatic Transmission
If you are unsure whether to opt for a manual or an automatic for your road trip, it's always better to go with the latter one.
Coming from Europe, driving a car with manual transmission is our daily bread.
And as this option was cheaper, we didn't hesitate to book a car with this type of transmission.
However, if you're coming from North America, where automatic transmissions are more common, finding a car that doesn't require changing gears will definitely make more sense.
It will immensely help you adjust to driving on the left side of the road, as you will be able to fully concentrate on driving and not shifting gears and operating the clutch pedal.
Here you will find more tips on staying safe in Ireland.
Book Early
Visiting Ireland on a budget is not easy, as it's a very expensive country.
With demand for vehicles soaring during the peak season, booking early will save you money. While this is very generic travel advice, it doesn't mean it's not useful.
As we are taking more and more spontaneous trips recently, we booked the car only a couple of days before the trip.
And as you already guessed, we spent way more on a rental car than we expected. A lot more.
Nevertheless, there was no way around it. And despite the high price, we were glad the car was still available.
Chances are that, unlike us, you will have more space for maneuvering and maybe find a really great deal.
Simply put, if you want to visit Ireland during the summer and keep your budget at bay, make sure to book your car in advance.
At the same time, don't forget to check the cancellation policy in case you need to change your travel plans.
For more information, read our guide on when to visit Ireland.
Best Rental Companies
International car rental companies such as Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Thrifty, Europcar, and Hertz operate in Ireland.
Honestly, there are not many differences between these companies, so pick the one you like the most.
Alternatively, you can take a look at Irish rental companies such as Dooley Car Rental or Irish Car Rentals.
These companies offer quite often cheaper rates, but as a foreigner, you will have a hard time guessing how good these companies are.
It's like deciding between McDonald's and Supermac's. The latter might be arguably a better choice, but it's the first time you've heard about it.
By the way, you can always read bad reviews and complaints about every company, regardless of whether you go with the international or local one.
Even though it might seem like a nuisance, always make sure to read the fine print before you reserve your car.
Here you will find the best deals on rental cars in Ireland.
Pick-Up and Drop-Off Location
Hands down, Dublin Airport, is the best pick-up and drop-off location for most visitors who want to get around Ireland by car.
At least if you don't want to explore the city of Dublin first.
Still, we believe it makes more sense to drive around the country first and save Dublin for the end of the trip.
Either way, the airport pick-up location was extremely convenient, and we were glad we chose it.
In our case, the rental counter was directly at the airport, but the actual pick-up point was outside the area at a large rental car facility.
It was only about two kilometers from Terminals 1 and 2, and the free shuttle bus ran between both places every 15 minutes.
Of course, you will find rental car offices directly in Dublin and pretty much in every major city in Ireland.
CDW Insurance
You need to have CDW insurance (Collision Damage Waiver) for your rental car in Ireland.
Similar to what we experienced when renting a car in Iceland, this is usually included in the package. Just double-check that it's really there.
During the reservation process (or at the counter), you can add an extra, sometimes called Excess Reduction, 0 liability, or Super Collision Damage Waiver, that eliminates any financial liability in the event of vehicle damage or theft.
It's expensive, but as the description says, it will provide peace to your mind.
No matter how good or careful a driver you are, it's easy to make a scratch or dent in your car when driving in Ireland.
And after driving several thousand kilometers on narrow and winding Ireland roads, we have to say that having the full insurance made our trip definitely more stress-free.
Once we left the major highways and national roads, we quickly realized that a rural road in Ireland is nothing we're used to from home.
Whether we drove to Sally Gap, Gap of Dunloe, Queen Maeve's Grave, or explored Sky Road, we knew that paying extra fee this time was definitely worth it.
Recommended Extras
Honestly, the optional extras you can purchase during the booking process are often unnecessary. As mentioned above, the most important add-on is the extra insurance.
Some people like to add extra roadside assistance, which is not included in SCDW. Once again, this might not be something you need.
On the other hand, it includes tire punctures, locked-in keys, flat batteries, or running out of fuel, so it's not completely useless.
These extras might come in handy when visiting remote areas in counties such as Donegal, Kerry, or Galway.
Sometimes, having an extra driver might be a good thing, especially if you want to cover longer distances during your trip.
You should definitely have a GPS with you, but you don't need to pay extra.
Just use one of the navigation apps on your phones, such as Google Maps, Apple Maps, or Waze (you will need a sim card, though, if coming from outside the European Union).
The reason is that many rental companies charge for GPS navigation each day you use it, resulting in very expensive fees.
Road Trip Accessories
As you spend many hours on the road, make sure to bring sunglasses. They help you avoid bright sunlight and reduce stress on your eyes while driving.
You might consider bringing a USB charger to charge multiple devices at the same time.
A basic phone holder that you can attach to air vents is another item you might put in your luggage.
Don't forget to bring comfortable shoes and clothes for driving. Here you will find more tips on what to pack for Ireland.
Bring a Credit Card
Our Czech debit card works a bit differently from the ones we had in Canada or New Zealand, so we were quite surprised when the lady behind the counter said she couldn't accept it during the contract signing.
The only way to use this card was to get the full CDW insurance, so we didn't have to leave the bond of €2000 frozen on our account.
We rented a car in Canada, Australia, Iceland, Israel, and many other countries and never faced this issue.
We were not sure what that was about, but it is something you might find useful when renting a car in Ireland.
Tips on Collecting Car
As usual, always check the condition of the rental car before you leave the parking. Check the tire's condition and whether the headlights are working or not.
Also, check any potential warning lights that might come on once you turn the engine on.
Also, make sure that any visible damage you see on the car is mentioned in the rental documents. If not, make sure the person who works there adds it to the list.
Lastly, don't forget to check the state of the car's interior, the stains on the seats, etc.
Taking pictures of the exterior and interior might help you in case the rental company finds any new scratches, dents, or damages on the car during the drop-off.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
Trip to Northern Ireland
If you want to drive the car into Northern Ireland to see top places such as Giant's Causeway, the Dark Hedges, or Dunluce Castle, you will need to pay a cross-border coverage fee of €34.
Mind you, this fee covers the cross-border vehicle retrieval in case of breakdown.
In most cases, you don't need extra insurance for driving a rental car into Northern Ireland, but it's always better to double-check with your rental company.
Obviously, you are not allowed to bring the car to any other country except Northern Ireland.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
