Car Rental in Belfast

Why rent a car in Belfast?

Long underrated as a destination for tourism, Belfast is finally starting to receive the attention it deserves. This city has everything from fascinating history to beautiful green areas, local markets, and famous pub culture. With a rental car, you can also go on to explore the rest of Northern Ireland and, if your rental car provider permits it, the neighboring Republic of Ireland.

Top ways to enter Belfast

• Belfast International Airport. The busiest airport in Northern Ireland, Belfast International serves more than 6 million passengers every year. The airport is located about 21 km (13 mi) northwest of the city proper.
• Belfast City Airport. Also known as George Best Airport after the famous Northern Irish footballer, the smallest of the two city’s airports is a base for Flybe and is also served by a handful of other airlines. The airport is just 5 km (3 mi) from the city center.
• Dublin Airport. Located on the other side of the border and serving the Republic of Ireland’s capital, Dublin Airport is nonetheless only about a 100 minute drive south of Belfast. 

City facts

• Although Northern Ireland is geographically separate from the rest of Britain, it has a similar oceanic climate with high and steady precipitation and relatively little temperature changes throughout the year. The average temperature is 15 °C  (59 °F) in July and August and 5 °C  (41 °F) in January and February.
• Belfast is made up of nine unofficial quarters based on cultural zones. Each of them prides itself on a unique history, local character, and annual events held in them. Some of the more famous ones are the Cathedral Quarter, the Titanic Quarter, and the Gaeltacht Quarter.

Top sights and activities

• Botanical Gardens. Covering 28 acres, the large and beautiful Botanical Gardens is one of the nicest places of Belfast. Its standout attraction is the Palm House which houses many unique tropical plants and animals, including a 400-year-old Xanthorrhoea and even carnivorous flowers.
• Belfast Zoo. Another place for a great day outdoors, Belfast Zoo houses many unique animals, from Asian elephants and Western lowland gorillas to giant anteaters and Jamaican boas. The zoo is located on the slope of Cavehill, a basaltic hill that’s a great natural attraction in itself.
• Ulster Museum. With fascinating collections that include ancient (and more recent) historical artifacts, zoological and botanical specimens, and great exhibits of wildlife art, Ulster Museum offers a fascinating and comprehensive perspective on what Northern Ireland is about. The museum is located in the Botanic Gardens in the southern part of the city.
• Titanic Belfast. Recently celebrating its 10th birthday, the unmistakable building of the Titanic Belfast is dedicated to the infamous passenger liner which was built in Belfast. A large museum, it explains the maritime and shipbuilding history of Belfast and tells the story of the ship’s early days and tragic sinking. Visit the official website to learn more. 
• Belfast Exposed. A photo gallery that opened in 1983, it is one of the most notable of its kind in Northern Ireland, if not the whole of the United Kingdom. Producing socially relevant work often intimately tied to the realities of Belfast, the gallery has an archive of over 500 thousand images and also serves as a venue during the Belfast Film Festival and the Belfast International Arts Festival.

Traffic and parking

• The United Kingdom drives on the left-hand side of the road.
• On-street parking is usually heavily restricted. Never park on a white, double yellow or double red line (stopping on motorways and next to red lines is illegal).
• You are not allowed to use your mobile phone while driving, unless you use a hands-free system.
• Unless specifically indicated otherwise, the speed limits are 112 km/h (70 mph) on motorways, 112 km/h (70 mph) on dual carriageways, 96 km/h (60 mph) on single carriageways and 48km/h (30 mph) in residential areas and areas with street lightning.
• In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the legal alcohol limit is 0.08% for both experienced and novice drivers. Do keep in mind, however, that in Scotland the legal alcohol limit is 0.05% for both experienced and novice drivers. Exceeding the limit can lead to large fines, a suspended license, or even imprisonment.
• The insurance and documentation of the car needs to be in it whenever you’re driving.
• If you’re the driver, you need to have your passport or ID card with you at all times.
• The emergency numbers are 999 and 112.

Toll roads

Currently there is only a single toll road in the United Kingdom, the M6 toll in England. You also have to pay a toll for using a number of bridges and tunnels.

As an alternative to the M6 around Birmingham, the M6 Toll is a 43km (27 mile) long portion of the road, also known as the Birmingham North Relief Road (BNRR), that relieves congestion on the M6 itself. There are toll gates where you can pay by either cash or credit card. As of March 2023, the price is £8.20 for using the toll road from 5am to 11pm, £7.00 for using the toll road at night from 11pm to 5am. Find out more on the M6 Toll official website.

Find out more about toll roads in the United Kingdom on the European toll road website. 

Ideas for day trips

• Ulster Folk and Transport Museums. Located in the nearby town of Cultra, these two museums are both worth a visit. The Transport museum has interesting exhibits of steam locomotives, vertical take-off aeroplanes, and horse-drawn trams, while the folk museum offers a full re-creation of an old Irish town.
• Ulster American Folk Park. Known as Ulstèr Merikay Fowk Pairk in Ulster–Scots, this is a collection of about 30 buildings that showcases the lives of people from Ulster who immigrated to the United States over the last couple of centuries. In addition to seeing the buildings, visitors can learn about the farm works and other traditional professions of the community, and even try Ulster-American cuisine. Located near Omagh, Folk Park is about 75 miles (121 km) west of Belfast and can be reached by car in 1 hour and 40 minutes.
• Carrickfergus. Famous for its beautiful Norman castle, Carrickfergus is a town with a truly historic feel. Its atmosphere can be soaked up by either walking its narrow streets or going on a stroll along its beautiful marina. The town is just a 30 minute drive north of Belfast.
• Killough. A small seaside village, Killough is home not only to tranquil beaches, but also to Ballynoe Stone Circle, a late-Neolithic monument that is something like Northern Ireland’s answer to Stonehenge. From Belfast, it is only an hour’s drive south.
• Giant’s Causeway. One of the most famous attractions in Northern Ireland (and one of the most popular day trips from Belfast), the Giant’s Causeway is about 3 miles (4.8 km) of coastal basalt formations. A world heritage site, the natural attraction is on Northern Ireland’s north coast. A trip from Belfast takes about 90 minutes.

Most popular cars

The most popular rental car types in Belfast are compact, economy, and mini. The most popular rental car is the Renault Clio. Travelers also love the Vauxhall Corsa and the Hyundai i30.

Further destinations

• Important: While there are many rental car companies that permit cross-border trips between Northern Ireland (which is itself a part of the United Kingdom) and the Republic of Ireland, you should still ask your rental car provider in advance. Please also visit our United Kingdom car rental page to learn more about who needs a visa to travel between the two countries. 
• Derry. Also known as Londonderry, Northern Ireland’s second city boasts historic sites dating back nearly 1500 years, as well as a number of more recent churches, museums, and murals. Derry is about 112 km (70 mi) northwest of Belfast near the border with the Republic of Ireland.
• Dublin. The capital of the Republic of Ireland is truly a fun place to visit. It boasts many tourist attractions, fascinating architecture, and many famous past and present inhabitants. Easy to reach from Belfast, it is only about two hour’s drive south along the coast.
• Galway. Located on the coast of the Atlantic, this university city is famous for its nightlife, but equally important are its historic sites, art spaces, and role as a modern center for the Irish language and culture. It is about a four hour drive from Belfast to Galway, but in this case, the long distance is well worth the time.

Car rental prices in Belfast

• Small cars - from $22 per day
• Medium cars - from $29 per day
• SUVs - from $31 per day
• Large cars - from $33 per day
• Premium cars - from $53 per day
• Station wagons - from $119 per day
• Vans - from $46 per day

Money-saving and other tips

There are things you can do to get a good car rental deal in Belfast. Start with these:

• Compare the 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 Belfast is the cheapest in September when renting a car is nearly 50% cheaper than the yearly average.