ireland car rentals

We used Sixt and had a great experience

I've used Sixt twice in Ireland and was generally happy. My only complaint was getting the car in Dublin airport was very slow both times (they didn't seem to be working any slower than the other companies' counters, they were just busier). I'll use them again on my next trip. If I can offer a bit of unsolicited advice, get the smallest car you think you can tolerate. At some point on one of the very narrow roads you will be glad for a small car.

Thank you . Appreciate the advice on car size.

Easirent in Shannon.....great price and zero hassle. Also wonderful customer support. We had a tire pressure problem and they had it handled for us without hassle and effectively. Only used them once but what an improvement over the other companies we've used. They are off site from the airport but they will pick you up and drop you off ...at no charge. They have sites in Dublin.

clearly get the smallest car you can cram yourselves into and spring the extra cash for an automatic. Don't let them offer you an "upgrade" to a larger car, you will not benefit from a larger vehicle. I paid for the super coverage insurance and I price checked a bunch of companies and ended up using Hertz with no hassles. Be sure to give your driving route a look on google earth street view to get an idea of what is in your future giving extra view to the roundabouts. Take the bus into Dublin from the airport, don't get your car until you are ready to head out of the city. Easy to ride the bus or take a taxi back to the airport car rental area.

Had looked at picking up a hertz rental in Dublin but reviews were not good. Seems like airport hertz franchise much better?

hmm, we didn't have any trouble with Hertz at all, I had booked thru Auto Europe and they are a broker (with US connections)...it was busy but the young guy at the counter was helpful. They did not have the size car I wanted when we arrived and suggested we move up a size with no extra charge...often this happens when you want an automatic. I knew due to driving in Scotland that I did not want to go up a size and I told him I really needed the smaller size. He showed us pix of the various sizes available but I stayed with my initial reservation...we actually wanted a "city" car but wanted a four door. He found a four door city car, automatic and it was perfect for my wife and I. The car had a very small wheel base so it turned on a dime (you will miss turns and have to turn around and will have to park in tiny tiny spots!) and had all the power I needed for the interstate highway and for mountains out west. They didn't add any extra charges or anything and if I recall the super insurance was a bit pricey, like 12 bucks extra a day. I didn't use it but for me it was worth the extra charge. Also the drop off at Dublin airport was a breeze but I see you are returning to Shannon so I cant speak to that but believe it will probably be less a hassle than Dublin. I will add that for me, driving in Dublin would have been a real challenge, we left the airport, hit the "interstate" and went west to the more rural areas.

thanks very much. from all the blogs and reviews we have read it seems like car rental in Ireland is much more of a hassle (at least for some folks) then it was last time we visited (in 1988). This time traveling with our son and daughter in law (their 1st time). Hoping to make the trip glitch free.

We are in Dublin now. We rented from Dan Dooley and it was easy, peasey and out the door. They did want to upgrade us to a small SUV but I declined and I am glad I did. We got the smallest 4 door automatic they had. We have (2) 24 inch suitcases, 2 of the rick steves carry on bags and 2 back packs. The luggage is a tight fit in the trunk. The two backpacks are not huge so if you have a lot of luggage....... We booked through a site here in the states so we were able to pay for the wheel and tire insurance beforehand. That insurance is normally sold at the airport but since we had already paid for it our cab driver took us directly to the off site rental place...no need to go back to the airport. I would definitely get the wheel and tire coverage as my first turn out of the rental parking lot I hit the curb. I think I did that another time the first day of driving. It is amazing how you want to drift to the left while driving. The first day of driving was a bit scary but by the 3rd I was not holding my breathe when another car passed :) The roads are narrow but it is surprising (they may not look it) that they will fit two small cars. I have been driving a week now and I feel very comfortable driving. I have driven on the motorways, N roads and R roads, heck I even drove down a hiking trail. Signage is very bad in some areas.

You may be interested in Kevin Drum's recent experience driving in South Kerry.

Just returned. We flew into Dublin, bused to near the hotel, bused to Belfast and picked up a car at the City Airport there. Rented from Hertz, no problem, a Skoda, which was nice and had GPS. Drove all over Northern Ireland and the West Counties, no problem except drifting left, as others have mentioned, and returned the car w/ no damage. We rented a larger car, as that is what we are used to, and were glad we did. We felt safer on the motorways. Automatic, of course. Full insurance. We planned on dropping the car at Shannon and taking the train back to Dublin, but because of the hurricane, we were unable to do so. So we drove back to Dublin and dropped the car at the airport there when we left. Again, no problem. No problems parking, driving, maneuvering the roundabouts, or traffic. Of course, it was October. We found the Irish drivers very skilled and courteous.

The only problem was that it was very expensive, but we anticipated this because of renting a larger automatic car, pick up in one country and drop in another, keeping it longer because of the storm, and full insurance. You could certainly do it cheaper.

In case someone reads this even though the original poster has already had their trip:

Here's my reason for not discounting a big car in your thought process. I drive alot, and when you drive the small cars, on small roads, they're fantastic, yes. HOWEVER when you drive a small car on the highway (Dublin to Galway, say; or Dublin to Cork) the smaller engine just sucks and sucks up petrol!!! You can practically watch the gauge sink. So..... think about what you're using it for, and then decide!

I use Europcar and Budget (and occasionally a small private guy). I don't get insurance (unless I'm going to Dublin) and was hit by a lady while parked. Yes, Europcar took the 1300 deposit off my credit card; it was put back 9 days later when the lady's insurance paid up. So I'll continue to take the chance and not get full coverage - I find it too expensive when it's really only covering your excess (as the rental car company has insurance already, a requirement by irish law).

Susan
ExPat in Waterville