Renting a car in Ireland requires a few tips for success when arriving in Ireland with an American driving license.
Here's a guest post with a little advice from Irish American Dad on renting a car in Ireland.
Driver's License Requirements
A valid American state license is all that is required for driving in Ireland. No international driving license is needed.
If you’re under 25 your insurance rate will be much higher so inquire ahead.
Also, if you’re over 75 do check ahead of time as there may be a maximum age limit. Everyone who wants to drive the car needs to show their license and be named on the rental agreement.
Dublin Airport's New Terminal 2. Photo credit
Insurance Issues
To rent a car in Ireland your best bet is to get it at Dublin, Shannon or Belfast airport. Off airport car rentals are possible, but not as common in Ireland as the USA. Booking through the internet is usually cheaper because they waive certain airport fees.
If you show up at the rental car agency counter without reservation then don't be afraid to shop around from counter to counter for the best deal. However, make sure to compare apples to apples.
Some quotes include Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) insurance and some don’t. Check with your credit card company. They may have free coverage. Do not automatically assume your credit card provides coverage in Ireland.
Many cards cover international car rental, but some such as American Express exclude Ireland and Australia. If this is an option for you, then don’t forget to pay with the correct credit card. Usually the rental agency will offer you a zero deductible buy down for an extra daily fee.
This may be a good thing for peace of mind. However, getting too much extra insurance can be a waste of money for you and a cash cow for the rental agency.
Drop Off Locations
It is always cheaper to rent and return the car at the same place. Returning to a different location will incur a drop-off fee.
Picking up in Dublin and returning in Belfast is possible, but pretty expensive, as you are crossing between two different countries.
Most rental car companies have some sort of break-down and recovery plan. Inquire about the details before you leave the counter. Also pick up your free maps.
Car Sizes
Cars are generally smaller in Ireland. Even the terminology is different. What they call a mid-size in Ireland, would be called a compact car in the USA. If you want any trunk space for luggage or back seat leg room always go a size larger.
Always look at the pictures and description of the cars on the webpage and decide if it’s going to be adequate. Also, a large percentage of cars in Ireland do not come with built in air conditioning.
You probably won’t need it anyway even in the summer. Cruise control is another thing you may not have or actually need.
Smart Car - Photo Credit
GPS or Sat Nav
Having a GPS (Sat Nav) with an Irish database is a valuable thing. Car rental agencies can charge up to €15 a day extra for one.
Consider buying one with a European database before you leave the USA, especially if you’re going to need it for a long trip. I have a simple inexpensive Garmin 270 with both European and North American databases.
There has been a lot of new road construction in Ireland in the past few years so have your database as up to date as possible.
Stick Shift or Automatic
Most cars in Ireland are equipped with manual transmissions or stick shift as they call it stateside. Car rental agencies will have limited cars with automatic transmissions available.
In my experience they usually charge much more to rent these. If you do not state that you want an automatic, by default you will be given a manual. Reserving an automatic car might be worth the extra money as it is one less thing to think about.
After picking up a rental car at Dublin airport I often find myself walking up and getting in the left side door only to find there's no steering wheel there.
Trying to hide my embarrassment, I look around and give my best "I meant to do that" look to whoever is watching me.
Stepping into the Irish rental car for the first time is a very alien experience. The gear stick is now near your left hand, and your rearview mirror is now on the left side. The only thing that's the same are the floor pedals, with the clutch being on the normal left foot, brake in the middle and accelerator on the right.
It takes a bit of practice and muscle memory to get proficient at changing gears, but you’ll get the hang of it faster than you think. Your relative position on the road is different when sitting on the right side of the car.
You'll need to position yourself to the right of your lane to keep your car centered within the lane. Before you drive your car, sit in the right seat and visualize yourself driving on the left side. Remember the driver always sits near the center of the road.
Getting out of the airport can be a challenge so have a plan, a good navigator and a lot of patience. For more tips on driving in Ireland, please see my other related posts below. Happy driving!
Sláinte,
Green Baron
Irish American Dad
P.S. Some good news since this post was first published. Irish Car Rentals has changed their online booking system so that the price quoted includes insurance. Here is the statement from their press release:
"Cars rented from irishcarrentals.com are now fully inclusive. Anyone who visits irishcarrentals.com will now see fully inclusive rates consisting of basic insurance, local surcharges and VAT. By introducing all inclusive rates, Irish Car Rentals aim to provide stress free car rental with no hidden charges upon arrival. The price you see online is the total price you pay."
Here are some other counties featured in this series which you may like to check out ....
MIchelle Pulling
I am looking at Irish car rental - do you have any knowledge of them? We are flying into Dublin and are spending 2 days on foot exploring Dublin. Then we plan to rent a car and explore the southern part to Galway. We don't want to rent from the airport if possible so we can save money and time going back to the airport in a taxi to get the rental car. I see the Irish Rental Car company has a location not too far from where we are staying. I would appreciate any assistance you can help with. Thank you!
Irish American Mom
Hi Michelle - My husband used Irish Car Rentals once when flying into Dublin Airport, and I believe he received very fair pricing. The only problem was finding their desk since all of their rentals are handled by Europcar at Dublin Airport. Their Dublin office is very centrally located, so I think you should have no problem picking up a car there. If you are planning to spend 2 days in Dublin, you are probably wise to rent your car after your time there. You will save the cost of parking for your rental car in the city center for two days. I hope you have a wonderful trip and that your rental car works out well.
All the best,
Mairéad
Joanne & John
Hi,
We are planning a trip to Ireland this March and have just learned about the Irish VAT tax. We understand that it is refundable upon departure but have been unable to find any procedures for obtaining the refund.
Do you have any information or a web address we can check out?
Thanks!
Joanne & John
Irish American Mom
Dear Joanne and John - Here is a link for information on VAT refunds -
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/travel_to_ireland/tax_free_purchases_for_non_eu_travellers.html
There is a desk at Dublin airport near the boarding gates where you can submit your receipts for a refund. When you purchase an item you must ask the retailer for a special VAT return receipt. I hope this helps and that you have a wonderful trip to Ireland.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Jakob Danny
The suggestion that you shared with your blog for getting a car rental in Ireland is excellent. The information you give is very important. The insurance that you have said about it is excellent. Nice to read your blog. Thanks for sharing the great information. Good Luck!
Irish American Mom
Hi Jakob - So glad you found this information helpful.
Mairéad
Bryan
We are traveling to Ireland in late August. Is there an option to rent a car that includes a driver. We will be a party of five.
Irish American Mom
Hi Bryan - This option is definitely available in Ireland. It is expensive but your experience should be amazing with the guidance of a local driver who knows all the highways and byways of Ireland. Here is a link for a company that offers this service.
http://www.butlerstours.com/chauffeur-tour-ireland.php
I have never used their services so I do not have any first hand experience. However, this might be a good starting point for your research.
All the best,
Mairéad
Jaimie Centeno
Do you know anything about train service in Ireland vs. car rental? My daughter and I will be spending 2 days in Dublin and 2 days in Galway area in April. I'm a little nervous about driving on the left side of the road!
Thanks,
Jaimie
Irish American Mom
Hi Jaimie - There is a good train service between Dublin and Galway. Here is the link to help with planning your journeys ...
http://www.irishrail.ie
I hope you have a lovely time in Ireland.
All the best,
Mairéad
Jayne
I actually had a pretty good experience at irish car rentals. I'd recommend getting excess insurance else where however as can be very expensive at the rental desks. I found some trustworthy companies here: http://www.compareexcess.com
I used icarhireinsurance when travelling last summer.
Edward Wesley
Excellent and honest post. I found this much useful information, as to what I was exactly searching for car rent in Ireland. Thanks for such post and please keep it up.
Irish American Mom
So glad this was helpful, Edward.
All the best,
Mairéad
Aaron Jenkins
Thanks for sharing your insight about renting car, nice article.
Irish American Mom
Thanks for checking out my post, Aaron.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Michael Mullany
A thing to bear in mind is that car rental is much cheaper in Belfast, ie NI. Although I grew up there I still find the fiddling about to get a car is exhausting, especially after a long flight. In the states as Australia one walks up rents a car and gone, be prepared for lots of misunderstood papers, sadly it’s their paperwork! Enjoy your trip and take it steady,Irish drivers aren’t great but usually very polite.
Irish American Mom
Hi Michael - Thanks for the tip about renting a car in Northern Ireland. That's a good point to keep in mind. I too find the paperwork confusing in Ireland - so much more complicated than in America. I feel tired arriving from Kentucky, so you must be exhausted after the long haul from down under.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Theresa Loftus
Great Information...Thank you. Should I pick up the car at the airport, or should I just do regular off site pick up
Irish American Mom
Hi Theresa - Airport pick up is very easy at Dublin Airport. The off site car rental places may be slightly less expensive, but sometimes you can even get a better deal at the onsite pick up locations. Best of luck with planning your trip.
Mairéad
Shira
In Ireland, you will change gears with your left hand, which takes some getting used to – particularly when you are right-handed. If you are not comfortable driving stick shift (or do not want to worry about re-learning on the left), then be sure to reserve your rental car as far in advance as possible before the automatic cars sell out. If you go with my suggestion, i would highly recommend you "DOOLEY CAR RENTALS - https://www.dan-dooley.ie/ " if you are planning for taking rental services in Ireland. They provide best services and with affordable prices and that too will multiple options.
Irish American Mom
Hi Shira - Thank you for sharing these great tips. I have rented from Dan Dooley before, and their service is wonderful.
All the best,
Mairéad