Car Rental in Ireland
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Cheapest Car Rental Rates
Shannon Airport Car Rental
Mini
Fiat 500
or similar
$12.44
per day
Downtown Car Rental
Economy
Ford Fiesta
or similar
$14.78
per day
Cork Airport Car Rental
Compact
Renault Clio
or similar
$22.38
per day
Downtown Car Rental
Intermediate
Toyota Corolla
or similar
$35.92
per day
Most Popular Car Rental Deals
Dublin Airport Car Rental
Standard
Opel Insignia
or similar
$38.36
/ per day
Downtown Car Rental
Full-size
Renault Master
or similar
$57.72
/ per day
Downtown Car Rental
Premium
Audi A4
or similar
$77.27
/ per day
Downtown Car Rental
Luxury
BMW 5 Series
or similar
$204.07
/ per day
The above prices are only approximate and were last updated at 08:39 on 2023-02-03. Prices may vary based on the booking dates, length of rental, and car class.
Why book with us?
Special offers
As a market leader (see SimilarWeb), we get special offers like contactless pick-ups, great prices, and free upgrades.
Award-winning
World's Leading Car Rental Booking Website in the World Travel Tech Awards (3 years in a row).
Highly-rated
A combined rating of 4.5 with 90k total reviews on platforms like Trustpilot, Google, and Review Center.
4M users
Have already booked on one of the fastest-growing car rental booking websites.
Awards
World Travel Tech Awards - World's Best Car Rental Booking Website 2022
World Travel Tech Awards - World's Best Car Rental Booking App 2022
Magellan Awards Gold Winner 2022
Travel & Hospitality Awards 2021
FT 1000: Europes Fastest Growing Companies - Top 100 Companies 2021
FT 1000: Europe's Fastest Growing Companies - Top 100 Companies 2020
Uzakrota Travel Awards - World’s Leading Car Rental Website 2022
Inc. 5000 Europe - Top 500 Companies 2019
Travel Information
Language
English,
Irish
Irish
Currency
EUR
Traffic direction
Left-hand side
Country code
353
Average car rental price
$50.68 / per day
Average car rental length
3 days
Speed limit within town
50 km/h
31 mph
Speed limit out of town
80 - 100 km/h
50 - 62 mph
Acceptable limit of BAC
0.05%
Why rent a car in Ireland?
The Republic of Ireland is a great place to rent a car in. From cities like Dublin, Cork, and Galway to cozy villages, long sea coast, and beautiful nature areas, its great diversity is best explored with the freedom of having your own ride.
If you want to know more about renting a car in Ireland, don't miss our complete guide.
One-way Car Rentals in Ireland
Here are the most popular one-way rental options for pickup in Ireland and drop off in another country:
- From Ireland to United Kingdom - 155 offers from $39.86 per day
Top ways to enter Ireland
- Dublin Airport: Ireland’s largest airport serves flights to and from many destinations in Europe, as well as in North America, Asia, and Africa.
- Knock Airport: Popular with low-cost carriers, Knock Airport is an entry point for Northwest Ireland.
Cork Airport: The airport of Ireland’s second city mainly hosts flights to and from United Kingdom and Western Europe. - By land: It might also be possible to rent a car in Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom, and then drive to Republic of Ireland. Large airports in United Kingdom near Republic of Ireland are Belfast International Airport, Belfast City Airport, and Derry Airport.
Top cities and places to visit
- Dublin. The capital of Ireland is also one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations. While it would be impossible to list all of its landmarks, a visit to the Dublin Writers’ Museum, one of the branches of the National Museum, or the Viking World would be a highlight of any trip.
- Galway. Located on the west coast, Galway is the favorite Irish city of many foreign visitors. Known for its colorful architecture and busy nightlife, it is also one of the centers of the Irish Gaelic culture and a place where the native tongue can still be frequently heard on the streets.
- Cork. Located in the south of the country, Cork is a lovely place to visit. As fiercely independent as it is hospitable, it is known for its impressive historical heritage (emphasized by landmarks like Elizabeth Fort), as well as great pub culture.
Most popular rental car
The most popular rental car in Republic of Ireland is the VW Polo, followed by the Toyota Corolla and the Ford Fiesta.
Driver license requirements
- Ireland recognizes driver’s licenses from all the member states of the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) as long as they are valid.
- Other licenses in the Latin alphabet are generally also recognized, provided that you have been in Ireland for no longer than 12 months. (Drivers who have been in the country for longer than this period are required to obtain a local license instead).
- If your driver’s license is printed in a non-Latin alphabet (Cyrillic, Arabic, etc.), you’ll need an International Driving Permit (IDP).
- Similarly, if your driver’s license doesn’t show your photograph, you might be required to have an IDP.
- Even if you have an IDP, you must also have your original license with you at all times.
- You must carry your driver’s license, not a copy, with you at all times.
- You need to have had your driver’s license for at least two years.
- Some rental car suppliers charge a young driver fee for drivers between the ages of 22 and 25 and a senior driver fee for drivers over the age of 65.
- There may be additional requirements depending on the car supplier and category, so make sure to check the rental conditions before booking.
Crossing Borders
The Republic of Ireland is bordered by Northern Ireland which is part of the United Kingdom. As of June 2021, both countries are part of the Common Travel Area, and border control is not enforced. Citizens of the member states of the European Economic Area, as well as many other western countries, can enter both countries without a visa.
Citizens of some other countries may be permitted to visit the Republic of Ireland, but might need a separate visa to visit the United Kingdom or vice versa. We advise you to get in touch with your Ministry of Foreign Affairs to find out whether you need a visa to visit either the Republic of Ireland or the United Kingdom.
Citizens of China and India are an exception and can use their Irish visa to also visit the United Kingdom.
Some car rental providers allow you to cross national borders and even drop off your car in a different country (it is very possible to travel between Dublin and Belfast in a rental car). You can find those providers by entering your car pick-up and drop-off locations on our search. If you’d like to cross an international border during your rental, make sure to check the terms and conditions before booking a car.
Learn more about cross-border rentals in our Help Center.
Most popular types of rental car
The most popular rental car type in Ireland is an Intermediate, but Compact and Economy are also frequently picked by travelers.
Top driving routes
- Wicklow Mountains National Park. Located just a relatively short drive south of Dublin, Wicklow Mountains is one of the most popular destinations for a day trip from the capital. The area is known not just for its scenic nature, but also historical heritage like the 1,500-year-old monasteries of Glendalough, for example.
- Aran Islands. Known for their barren, hauntingly beautiful landscapes, these three small islands off the West coast of Ireland are among the most unique destinations of Ireland. Inhabited since prehistory, they are known for sites like the 3,000-year-old stone fort of Dún Aonghasa. The islands cannot be accessed by car, but you can take a ferry from either Rossaveel or Doolin; the former is about a 45-minute drive west of Galway.
- The Northwest. An off-the-beaten-path destination, the northwestern part of Ireland remains a mystery even to many Irish. You won’t find big cities here, but the region more than makes up for it with beautiful lakes and forests, remote mountain ranges, and a noticeably slower, more relaxed pace of life.
Car Rental Prices
- Station wagons - from $266 per day
- Large cars - from $73 per day
- Medium cars - from $61 per day
- Vans - from $199 per day
- Premium cars - from $294 per day
- Small cars - from $53 per day
- SUVs - from $84 per day
How can I save money on my rental car?
You can do a number of things to get a good car rental deal in Ireland:
- Compare rates of different rental car providers
- Book your rental car well in advance
- Plan your route before you go
- Know your fuel and mileage requirements
- Visit on the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Republic of Ireland is the cheapest in January when renting a car is nearly 50% cheaper than the yearly average.
Top 20 Most Popular Cities in Ireland
-
Car Rental in Dublin from $17.50 per day
-
Car Rental in Cork from $13.85 per day
-
Car Rental in Shannon from $12.44 per day
-
Car Rental in Knock from $16.71 per day
-
Car Rental in Kerry from $16.71 per day
-
Car Rental in Galway from $43.01 per day
-
Car Rental in Limerick from $43.01 per day
-
Car Rental in Wexford from $17.50 per day
-
Car Rental in Waterford from $17.50 per day
-
Car Rental in Sligo from $43.01 per day
-
Car Rental in Donegal from $75.85 per day
-
Car Rental in Athlone from $28.81 per day
-
Car Rental in Naas from $14.78 per day
-
Car Rental in Tralee from $43.01 per day
-
Car Rental in Letterkenny from $43.01 per day
-
Car Rental in Cavan from $43.01 per day
-
Car Rental in Navan from $82.66 per day
-
Car Rental in Kilkenny from $14.78 per day
Top 7 Most Popular Locations in Ireland
-
Car Rental at Dublin Airport from $13.85 per day
-
Car Rental at Cork Airport from $13.85 per day
-
Car Rental at Shannon Airport from $12.44 per day
-
Car Rental at Knock Airport from $16.71 per day
-
Car Rental at Kerry Airport from $16.71 per day
-
Car Rental at Donegal Airport from $75.85 per day
-
Car Rental at Limerick City Ennis Road from $17.50 per day
Map of Car Rental Locations
Which is the cheapest month to rent a car in Ireland?
The cost of renting a car in Ireland depends on the time of year. This graph compares price changes from month to month in order to help you find the best offer.
Average Rental Price in Ireland
The cheapest month of the year to rent a car in Ireland is January — prices start from $20.11 for an Economy class vehicle. This is 50% cheaper than the yearly average and 66% cheaper than renting a car in the month of December (when prices start at $59.19 for a Compact class). This information can help you identify the low season. But these are only average numbers. The exact price for your trip will depend on the length of your rental and how far in advance you book. Just enter your dates in the form at the top of the page to see exact prices.
What’s the average rental length in Ireland?
The average length differs from month to month. The longest rental periods are in March — an average of 7 days. The shortest are in January — an average of 5 days.
Average Rental Length in Ireland
What's the most popular time of year to rent a car in Ireland?
DiscoverCars.com users search for cars in a lot of locations daily. We gathered this information in order to analyze car rental popularity in Ireland. The most popular month is July, while the least popular is November.
Popularity of Car Rental in Ireland by Monthly Searches
Most Popular Car Models of Rental Suppliers
| Rental Supplier | Model | Doors | Luggage | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Renault Clio | 4 | 2 | Medium cars |
| Easirent | Ford Fiesta | 5 | 2 | Small cars |
| SIXT | VW Polo | 5 | 1 | Small cars |
| Easirent | Fiat 500 | 3 | 2 | Small cars |
| Budget | Volkswagen Polo | 3 | 1 | Small cars |
| Budget | Skoda Citigo | 4 | 1 | Small cars |
| Easirent | Ford Focus | 5 | 2 | Medium cars |
| SIXT | Toyota Yaris Aut. | 5 | 1 | Small cars |
| Easirent | Ford Fiesta | 5 | 1 | Small cars |
| Budget | Toyota Corolla | 5 | 2 | Large cars |
Our Customers' Reviews
Because we want to make sure each review listed here is left by a real customer, we don’t have an option to post a review here. Instead, we ask each and every customer to leave a review after they return their rental. This way, you know that all reviews are authentic, verified, and trustworthy.
ZA
Canada
VW Touran Aut.
January 22, 2023
Nature spots
NV
Ireland
Ford Fiesta
January 3, 2023
All good as long as it brings from A to B
TS
United Kingdom
VW Golf
December 20, 2022
Short stay in the city
JS
United States of America (USA)
Nissan Qashqai
November 21, 2022
We started in Dublin and traveled along the coast and up towards Galway and back to Dublin. Highly recommend stopping at the castles and hiking spots you can along the way. The people we met throughout Ireland were all welcoming and made our stay so fun!
YW
Malaysia
Ford Focus
November 17, 2022
Ennis is amazing place I ever saw. Is too beautiful. Especially the seaside when I was ride.
BM
United States of America (USA)
Ford Galaxy Aut.
October 12, 2022
8 golf courses absolutely amazing
JD
United States of America (USA)
Skoda Citigo
September 21, 2022
amazing scenery driving through ireland
PN
Ireland
VW Polo
September 18, 2022
all was good with the car
SS
United States of America (USA)
VW T-Roc
September 13, 2022
1333 klicks through some of the most beautiful countryside and met wonderful people along the way.
KF
United States of America (USA)
VW Golf STW
September 2, 2022
Beautiful countryside!
BS
United States of America (USA)
VW T-Cross
August 16, 2022
We put 1800 miles on our hybrid toyota on all kinds of roads, from the backroads of Donegal to the Cork - Dublin highway and the car did great. We were comfortable and it was easy to handle
PR
United States of America (USA)
Ford Fiesta
July 25, 2022
We needed the flexibility of having a car for our trip as we were running all around Ireland. This allowed us the freedom to go to the Powerscourt Gardens one day and Sligo the next day.
BY
United States of America (USA)
Toyota Rav 4
June 13, 2022
Great car
CJ
United States of America (USA)
Ford Ka
May 5, 2022
No worries mate fully coverd
MK
Netherlands
VW Polo
March 17, 2022
I know about the toll at the M50 but that's something to mention to customers when renting the car. Ireland is a beautifull country to travel by car.
MS
Australia
VW Polo
November 17, 2021
Beautiful colours in the leaves on the trees in the south east of Ireland as I drive down from Dublin to Waterford . Excellent dining in pubs in Kilkenny .
FD
Belgium
Ford Galaxy
November 9, 2021
Ireland was very fantastic , friendly people , good food and drinks and beautiful nature ... , a place to come back to !
RR
Ireland
VW Polo
September 29, 2021
Perhaps deal directly with rental staff by phone or at the desk. Would have been cheaper and more efficient
TD
United Kingdom
VW Polo
October 6, 2020
I wasn't over for a holiday. But I am originally from Ireland and I can hand on heart say that the conditions of the main roads are brilliant. And it's easy to detour in to villages and such if you want to come off the motorway. The sign posts are done really well.
DC
Ireland
Ford Fiesta
September 8, 2020
very good impressions
Car Rental Statistics
Highest rated company
Alamo
9.21 / 10
Lowest rated company
Easirent
6.89 / 10
Total number of reviews
177
Total rental companies
12
Average daily price
$50.68
Lowest daily price
$11.85
Total cars available
845
Top 12 Suppliers in Ireland in 2023
Alamo
+353018445848
Eastlands Car Hire Facility Cloghran, Swords, Dubber, Dublin
$32 - $111
Enterprise
+353018445848
Eastlands Car Hire Facility Cloghran, Swords, Dubber, Dublin
$32 - $228
SIXT
+35312352030
Kinsale Road
$30 - $129
Budget
+353669763199
Kerry Airport, Crag, Farranfore
$22 - $257
Working hours
Mon:10:00-16:00
Tue:10:00-16:00
Wed:10:00-16:00
Thu:10:00-16:00
Fri:10:00-16:00
Sat:10:00-16:00
Sun:10:00-16:00
Thrifty
061471369
Shannon Airport
Working hours
Mon:05:30-23:00
Tue:05:30-23:00
Wed:05:30-23:00
Thu:05:30-23:00
Fri:05:30-23:59
Sat:05:30-23:00
Sun:05:30-23:00
Hertz
+353018445466
DUBLIN AIRPORT T1/T2
$18 - $77
Working hours
Mon:00:00-01:00; 05:00-23:59
Tue:00:00-01:00; 05:00-23:59
Wed:00:00-01:00; 05:00-23:59
Thu:00:00-01:00; 05:00-23:59
Fri:00:00-01:00; 05:00-23:59
Sat:00:00-01:00; 05:00-23:59
Sun:00:00-01:00; 05:00-23:59
Avis
+35316057500
Dublin Airport
$17 - $204
Working hours
Mon:00:00-00:15; 05:00-23:59
Tue:00:00-00:15; 05:00-23:59
Wed:00:00-00:15; 05:00-23:59
Thu:00:00-00:15; 05:00-23:59
Fri:00:00-00:15; 05:00-23:59
Sat:00:00-00:15; 05:00-23:59
Sun:00:00-00:15; 05:00-23:59
National
018445848
Car Hire Desk Dublin Airport
Working hours
Mon:05:00-23:00
Tue:05:00-23:00
Wed:05:00-23:00
Thu:05:00-23:00
Fri:05:00-23:00
Sat:05:00-23:00
Sun:05:00-23:00
Keddy
+35361206094
MAIN TERMINAL, KNOCK AIRPORT
Working hours
Mon:08:00-16:00
Tue:08:00-16:00
Wed:08:00-16:00
Thu:08:00-16:00
Fri:08:00-16:00
Sat:09:30-17:00
Sun:09:00-17:00
Flizzr
+35312352030
Kinsale Road,Cork Airport
$16 - $203
Working hours
Mon:07:00-23:00
Tue:07:00-23:00
Wed:07:00-23:00
Thu:07:00-23:00
Fri:07:00-23:00
Sat:07:00-23:00
Sun:07:00-23:00
Europcar
+35391396555
MOTOR PARK, 3rd EXIT OFF KIRWAN RB,
$15 - $582
Working hours
Mon:09:00-17:30
Tue:09:00-17:30
Wed:09:00-17:30
Thu:09:00-17:30
Fri:09:00-17:30
Sat:10:00-13:00
Easirent
+353858616180 / +35361260090
Sky Court Centre, 1st Floor Car Park Management Centre, Tullyvarraga
$12 - $156
Working hours
Mon:06:00-00:30
Tue:06:00-00:30
Wed:06:00-00:30
Thu:06:00-00:30
Fri:06:00-00:30
Sat:06:00-00:30
Sun:06:00-00:30