Ireland Car Rentals

We can provide just about any type of wheels while in Ireland -- from the standard manual transmission economy cars that come with our low-priced Ireland Fly & Drive Packages to mini vans and chauffered transportation. Just let me know what you're looking for and I'll find it.

MINI Cooper - MINI Coopers are no longer available in Ireland (sigh!) -- however they are available for the England, Scotland and Wales Fly & Drive packages. If you're a MINI owner, like myself, you can only imagine the fun on the back roads of Ireland in these sporty little cars! These are special request cars and cannot be booked online ... please submit a Quote Request for the Britain Fly & Drive, request a MINI in your notes (manual only) and I'll hook you up!

Size Matters

Economy cars can fit a maximum of two adults and luggage ... you're not going to fit three people so don't even try. You can fit 3 in a compact car and 4 in a full-size but only for a short trip, say 6 or 7 nights.

If you plan on spending an extended amount of time in Ireland, consider upgrading to the next size for the long road ahead. If you're planning on a trip longer than 6 or 7 nights I would highly recommend upgrading to the next size car.

Airport Surcharge

There is a €23 per car tax for picking up rental cars at the Dublin or Shannon Airports. This fee cannot be collected here in the U.S. and therefore is not included in any price quotes given through this site.

Lowest Priced Cars

If you've read about package pricing you know that purchasing a car alone doesn't yield the best rates. If you're arranging everything yourself then the lowest priced car rentals, I've found, are with Auto Europe.

If you need Car Insurance in Ireland, you can add it for a small fee compared to other companies. I've personally used Auto Europe in Ireland as well as Italy without a problem. Best of all, Auto Europe Free Rental Upgrades typically apply to rentals in Ireland so pay for the economy car and in most cases you'll get an upgrade to a compact car for the same price!

Age Restrictions

Car rentals are restricted to those between the ages of 21 and 75 only and there are surcharges for those on the fringes.

If you are between 21 and 23 there is a supplement insurance surcharge of approximately €25 per day and for those 71 - 75 the surcharge is €10 per day, both payable directly to the rental company. These rates are subject to change and vary by rental agency.

Petrol Prices

October 2007: €1.13 per liter unleaded = $1.70 US x 4 = $6.78 per gallon (approximately). You can find updated prices through http://www.aaireland.ie/petrolprices/

Return the Car Full?

Some rental car agencies make you prepay the first tank of gas and ask that you return the car empty... but how likely are you to return the car empty when traveling in another country? Very unlikely and therefore they fill up the tank again and charge the next customer for a full tank, making money off of you.

I've addressed this with a few rental agencies at the 2002 Irish Tourist Board Convention and the answer is simple: return the car full and they'll refund your prepaid tank! Simple and saves a few dollars!

Please note that Auto Europe typically states in their contract that there will be no refunds if you return the tank full - very important because you could lose $60 or more by filling up.

Additional Driver

Each rental comes with one driver autmatically covered under the rental agreement. Additional drivers are registered, and paid for, at the time of check-in. Just make sure you both have your valid U.S. licenses and you're set. Oh ... there is a surcharge, of course. It's approximately €5-6 per additional driver, per car, per day.

We've had many requests to pay this fee upfront but people change their minds, reservations change, etc. and the refund or change process is time consuming and costly therefore all additional drivers are presented and paid at check-in.