Renting a Car in Ireland: A Stress-Free Guide

Published August 22, 2024

Earlier this year, I took my first trip to Ireland, and it surpassed all my expectations. Though not very large, the country has so much to see and do between its incredible small towns, stunning natural landscapes, and vibrant culture.

While I booked 8 nights, I could have spent much longer in Ireland. That said, renting a car allowed us to make the most of our time — and also to take things at our own pace, which was extra important in our case traveling with a toddler.

After experiencing Ireland, one of my biggest takeaways was that the country’s hidden gems are outside of Dublin, from the scenic countryside to the charming small towns. And for exploring locations in Ireland outside the city, you really can’t beat the convenience of having a rental car.

Here’s my guide to Ireland car rentals, including everything you need to know to make the experience easy and affordable and why I prefer to use Discover Cars for our rental cars in Europe.

Should I Book a Rental Car in Ireland?

Ireland is a country that is best seen by car. The country does have buses and trains that connect its cities. But having your own car and self-driving will allow you to explore some of the country’s most stunning natural scenery, such as the charming seaside town of Kinsale, Dingle Peninsula, the Wild Atlantic Way, and the Gap of Dunloe, and do so at your own pace.

Travel Tip: The best way to explore Ireland is by driving yourself. We use Discover Cars for our rental cars in Europe, choose full coverage insurance, and opt for trusted companies like Alamo, Hertz, or Sixt. Renting a car in Ireland is quite easy, and while you drive on the opposite side, you’ll get used to it quickly. Book your car with Discover Cars here.

A Guide to Renting a Car in Ireland

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How to Book A Car in Ireland

Start with Comparing Prices

My first move when renting a car is to comparison shop and see where I can find the best deal on a vehicle. To look at several options at once, I use Discover Cars, which is an online platform for comparing car rental deals from various companies.

Another great feature of Discover Cars is that it offers transparent pricing by including all mandatory fees, taxes, and extras in quotes, so you never have to worry about hidden add-ons.

Who Should I Use to Book a Car in Ireland?

When renting a car, I always turn to Discover Cars, a popular source for discounted car rentals. It’s the only website I fully trust and can wholeheartedly recommend. We use it for our car rentals in Europe, Mexico, Ireland, and beyond. Founded about 10 years ago, the website gets more than 3 million monthly visitors and is a trusted source for discounted car rentals.

Why Book With Discover Cars?

One key reason to book with Discover Cars is cost. The website is able to offer lower prices than you’ll find elsewhere by negotiating deals directly with car rental companies. They also offer an affordable Full Coverage Policy for extra ease and peace of mind. The website is also not only transparent but also user-friendly. It’s an easy and quick process to select your location, date, and vehicle preferences on the website, review options and extras, and finalize your booking.

Pick a Well-Rated Agency

Discover Cars allows you to filter by supplier rating, and I recommend checking the box for “Excellent 8+” to ensure you get the best service and opting for trusted companies like Alamo, Hertz, and Sixt.

Should I Get Full Coverage Insurance?

Discover Cars offers a Full Coverage Policy that covers all exterior parts of the vehicle, even including towing expenses and lost keys. It’s a great way to make sure you’re protected against a wide variety of things that could go wrong. Another option is to use a Collision Damage Waiver that comes with a credit card, but it doesn’t necessarily offer all the same protections and is not valid in all countries, so make sure to check the terms and conditions.

What is Included with Discover Cars Full Coverage

Discover Car’s Full Coverage covers all the below expenses for complete and total peace of mind:

• Deductible/excess charge for damage;
• Deductible/excess charge for theft;
• Charges for repairs of the car’s body, undercarriage, tires, wheels, roof, windshield, windows, mirrors, locks, and hubcaps which are a result of a collision;
• Towing expenses;
• Taxi expenses directly related to the accident (excluding mechanical problems);
• Costs directly related to losing the key(s) to or locking oneself out of the rented car (e.g., fees for a locksmith or delivery of a spare key);
• Administrative fees relating to damage (excluding other administrative fees, for example, for traffic violations) and loss of use fees (charges to compensate the rental company for the loss of earnings while the car is being repaired).

Where Should I Get My Car in Ireland?

I recommend picking up your car at the Dublin Airport, as it has the largest selection of rental car companies, which means both better variety and better availability. It’s also most convenient for dropping off the car at the end of your trip, as you can do so right before heading to your flight. Airports have plenty of gas stations close by if you do need to refuel your car before returning it.

What are the Average Rates for Car Rentals in Ireland?

Like in the U.S., car rental prices vary by company and by car make and model. However, there are a wide variety of cars typically available in Ireland between $30 and $50 per day.

Tip: I use Discover Cars to find the best rental car deals.

Automatic vs Manual?

If you know how to drive a manual, you can often save money on rental cars in Ireland and Europe overall. However, if you’re not an experienced stick shift driver, it’s worth the extra money to get an automatic car that will feel like what you’re used to. The last thing you want is to stall out in an unfamiliar place.

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Driving in Ireland: What to Prepare for Driving on the Left Side

Always Remember: Driver is in the Middle of the Road

Learning to drive on the left hand side of the road can be slightly unnerving at first, but it’s easy to adjust to. Practicing on a few local, less busy roads can be helpful before beginning a longer drive that involves navigating a city center or getting on the highway. As the driver, be mindful of where you are within the lane—since the orientation takes some getting used to, it’s easy to stray from the middle.

Roundabouts in Ireland

Roundabouts are plentiful in Ireland, and you’ll quickly get used to seeing them if you’re doing a longer road trip. What’s important to remember is that you need to scan for oncoming traffic (likely from a different direction than you’re used to) before entering. Once you are in, you have the right of way.

Toll Roads in Ireland

Ireland has 11 toll roads throughout the country, most of which have toll plazas where you can pay. Just one—the M50—doesn’t require you to stop. Instead, it uses video technology to capture your registration number, and you can pay later online. When renting a car, it’s easiest to discuss in advance with the company whether the agreement will cover the payment of toll charges.

Prepare For Narrow Roads

Many of Ireland’s roads are extremely tight, especially in the countryside. Often, there’s only room for one car at a time, meaning it’s best to slow down and take turns passing when there’s a car coming from the opposite direction. It’s also extremely important to go slowly around curves given that you can’t see whether there’s a car coming head-on.

Parking in Ireland

Ease of parking in Ireland can vary, but outside of Dublin, both in towns and at major attractions, it’s typically pretty doable.

Speed Limits in Ireland

Speed limits are marked for most roads in Ireland and are designated in kilometers per hour (km/h). Here’s a quick overview of the general speed limits for each road type:

• Motorways — 120km/h
• National Roads — 100 km/h
• Regional Roads — 80 km/h
• Urban Areas — 50 km/h
• Special limits (schools, etc) — 30 km/h

It’s worth noting that, in my experience, most drivers on motorways adhere to the posted speed limits and stay left unless passing.

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What to Expect For Renting a Car in Ireland

There Will Be a Large Credit Card Deposit

Don’t be surprised to see a credit card deposit required in Ireland that’s much larger than you’ve seen while renting a car in other countries. These deposits can be as big as €5,000 depending on the type of vehicle you select and what insurance you add to the rental.

Please, note, that most rental car companies in Ireland will not accept debit cards for in-person payments and security deposits. For security deposits, the credit card must be in the name of the primary driver on the booking.

Valid ID Is Required and Often an International Driving Permit (IDP)

When renting a car in Ireland, you’ll need identification—specifically, a valid driver’s license and passport. You may also be required to produce an IDP, or International Driving Permit, which is accepted across 150 countries. Sometimes, even when an individual country doesn’t require an IDP, individual car rental agencies may so check this out before arriving at the counter.

There Are Age Requirements

Agencies have age requirements for renting a car, and these can vary by company. While 21 years old is the absolute minimum age to rent a car in the country, you’ll see several agencies requiring that drivers be at least 25. Additionally, some agencies list 75 as an upper age limit for renting a vehicle.

Consider Mileage Limits

When renting a car in Ireland, especially for a long road trip, make sure to ask whether there’s a mileage limit or a limit on how far you can drive the rental car. While you’ll often find there’s no limit within the country, it’s always worth it to check, and there may be limits on whether you can drive the car outside the country. This is an especially important consideration if you have Northern Ireland cities like Belfast on your itinerary.

Be Aware of the Fuel Policy

It’s important to know what’s expected in terms of fuel when you return the car. Some policies require you to return the tank full, meaning you’ll have to stop close to the airport to refuel or risk getting charged a penalty. With other policies, you just need to refill it to the level it was when you picked it up. Some may also have an option to prepay fuel.

Consider the Collision Damage Waiver

The Collision Damage Waiver protects the driver in case of damage. While it’s a good idea to have one, you don’t always have to get it as part of your rental. Sometimes credit cards provide this benefit, but it’s important to make sure that the credit card’s CDW benefit specifically covers rental cars in Ireland.

Tip: I always recommend booking with Discover Cars and choosing full coverage insurance for ease and peace of mind.

You Need GPS to Get Around

With all the winding road roundabouts in Ireland, it can be easy to take a wrong turn, and so having reliable navigation is a must for traveling in Ireland. My recommendation is to use your phone and pre-purchase an Ireland mobile data EIM with Airalo and download offline Google maps for the areas you plan to explore, as cell service can be spotty in more remote countryside areas (this is what we did).

Alternatively, you can rent a GPS device along with your car, though this usually costs an additional fee. Regardless of the option you choose, having a dependable navigation tool an essential for Ireland. 

Always Review Your Car Upon Collection and Return

To avoid any surprise fees for damage at the end of a trip, it’s critical to survey the rental car when you pick it up and drop it off. You want to make sure you are aware of any existing scratches. I recommend always taking a video of your rental car when you get it and when you return it. That way, you won’t be charged later for any damage to the car that was there when you picked it up, no matter how small.

Tip: Booking with Discover Cars and choosing full coverage insurance is the best way to ensure there are no unexpected surprises.

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