Ireland car hire

Driver's age: 26-65
Mon 25/3
Mon 1/4

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Cheap car hire in Ireland

Economy€13/day
Compact€13/day
Intermediate€36/day
Standard€18/day
SUV€44/day
People carrier€76/day
Full-size SUV€116/day
Mini€11/day
Premium€73/day
Passenger van€150/day
Luxury€53/day
Compact SUV€16/day
Intermediate SUV€18/day
Compact estate car€20/day
Standard SUV€34/day
Commercial€40/day
Best prices found by KAYAK users in the past 48 hours.

Top tips for hiring a car in Ireland

  • It is almost always necessary to have a credit card to rent a car in Ireland; if you plan to use a debit card, be prepared to have a large cash deposit on hand. It is also important to have comprehensive car-excess insurance, available either through the rental agency itself or through another reputable company such as a credit card provider.
  • There are many recommended self-driving routes for touring Ireland with a rental car, including a route once named the world’s "Best Self-Drive Holiday Destination": the 2,500 km (1,550 mi) Wild Atlantic Way. Other popular destinations accessible by rental car include the coastal town of Galway, the Cliffs of Moher, Boyne Valley, and the cliff-top "Sky Road".
  • Children under 5 ft (59 in) in height and weighing less than 36 kg (79 lbs.)—usually those younger than 11 or 12 years—are required to be seated in an appropriate child seat or booster seat. Most rental companies like Europcar and Sixt offer baby or child seats, which must be booked in advance and will cost an additional fee, starting from about €6 ($6.80) per day. Note that some agencies do not provide seats for babies under 6 months old.
  • Anyone planning to rent a car in Ireland and travel into Northern Ireland or take a car ferry to the rest of the UK will first need to check with their rental provider. The vast majority of agencies do allow rental cars to be driven into Northern Ireland or even dropped off there; however, they will usually charge an additional fee, e.g., 34 € ($38) for cross-border travel with Europcar. But only a few providers like Easirent allow for trips to Scotland, Wales or England.
  • 25% of our users found a car hire in Ireland for €18 or less
  • Book your car hire in Ireland at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
  • Off-airport car hire locations in Ireland are around 75% more expensive than airport locations on average
  • Compact car hire in Ireland are around 10% cheaper than other car types, on average

FAQs about hiring a car in Ireland

  • How much does it cost to hire a car in Ireland?

    On average a car hire in Ireland costs €37 per day.

  • What is the most popular car hire in Ireland?

    Compact (Nissan Qashqai or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in Ireland.

  • What is the cheapest car hire company in Ireland?

    In the past 72 hours, the cheapest car hires were found at Budget (€13/day), CARHIRE.ie (€15/day) and Payless (€16/day).

  • What is the best car hire company in Ireland?

    Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car hire companies in Ireland are Enterprise Rent-A-Car (9.1, 55 reviews), Sixt (6.8, 360 reviews), and Hertz (6.8, 76 reviews).

  • How can I find car hires near me in Ireland?

    Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.

  • Where should I hire a car in Ireland?

    Based on car searches on KAYAK, the most popular cities to hire a car in Ireland are Dublin (69% of total searches of users looking to hire a car in Ireland), Cork (11%) and Shannon (4%).

  • How much does it cost to hire a car for a week in Ireland?

    On average a car hire in Ireland costs €183 per week (€26 per day).

  • How much does it cost to hire a car long term for a month in Ireland?

    On average a car hire in Ireland costs €786 per month (€26 per day).

  • What is driving like in Ireland?

    Travelers who choose to rent a car in Ireland will find driving around a straightforward procedure: roads are usually paved and well maintained. Do, however, be aware of very narrow roads and note that in Ireland people drive on the left-hand side, like in the UK. Toll roads are not especially common—there are only 8 in the entire country—but they include some popular roads like the M50 highway around Dublin.

  • How old do you have to be to hire a car in Ireland?

    To rent a car in Ireland, drivers need to be at least 21 years of age and have possessed a valid driver’s license for 12 months or longer. Most drivers between 21 and 25 years old will find themselves paying a daily surcharge (for example, about 24 € ($27) per day with Hertz), though a few smaller local companies may choose to waive this fee. A US or other English-language driver’s license can be used to rent a car in Ireland.

  • How much does petrol cost in Ireland?

    Petrol prices in Ireland are relatively average for Europe. Compact or midsize cars often run on diesel, which may help to save on fuel costs. Payment is usually made inside the station, with most accepting cash or credit card. In rural areas, petrol stations can be few and far between, so make sure to fuel up regularly. Expect to pay around 1.30 € ($1.47) per liter of diesel and 1.45 € ($1.64) per liter of petrol.

  • What are the speed limits in Ireland?

    Different speed limits are enforced throughout Ireland, with speed cameras regularly operated from visibly marked vans. In towns and cities, the limit is usually 30 or 50 km/h (19 or 31 mph), while regional and local roads have a maximum speed limit of 80 km/h (50 mph). National roads, including highways, carry a limit of 90 km/h (56 mph), while motorways allow up to 120 km/h (75 mph).

Car hire directory

  • keddy

    keddy by Europcar car hire locations in Ireland

    33 Locations

  • enterprise

    Enterprise Rent-A-Car car hire locations in Ireland

    29 Locations

  • europcar

    Europcar car hire locations in Ireland

    28 Locations

  • sunnycars

    Sunnycars car hire locations in Ireland

    28 Locations

  • hertz

    Hertz car hire locations in Ireland

    16 Locations

  • carhire

    CARHIRE.ie car hire locations in Ireland

    10 Locations

  • dollar

    Dollar car hire locations in Ireland

    10 Locations

  • thrifty

    Thrifty car hire locations in Ireland

    10 Locations

  • easirent

    Easirent car hire locations in Ireland

    9 Locations

  • payless

    Payless car hire locations in Ireland

    8 Locations

  • sixtrentacar

    Sixt car hire locations in Ireland

    7 Locations

  • avis

    Avis car hire locations in Ireland

    6 Locations

Good to know

Most popular agency

Easirent

Most popular car type

Compact

Average price

€26/day

Good deal

€18/day

When to book a rental car in Ireland

Average daily price per month
Car hire prices as pick-up date approaches

The rates displayed include all taxes and fees for hire cars for the class listed and were found by KAYAK users in the last 48 hours. Offers are subject to change and may not be available on all car hires listed or dates of travel. Some hire car providers charge additional fees for other services (GPS, infant car seats, etc.). Please check the website of the respective hire car provider.