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Recommendation on car rental that will let us go into Northern Ireland as well....

Do any of you have a recommendation of a car rental company that will let us take the car into Northern Ireland as well?

Please let me know your experience.

Also, any other weird thing I might need to know about renting a car for 24 days???

Posted by
553 posts

This past May I rented with Alamo through Auto Europe. No additional fee to go into Northern Ireland. We did a 29 day rental, no problem, pickup and return to Dublin airport. Another benefit to renting through Auto Europe was that they capped the fee for an additional driver at 80 euro. We were very pleased with Alamo, both the counter staff and car lot staff were wonderful. They didn’t even look at the car for any damage when we dropped it off. YMMV.

Posted by
315 posts

We plan to rent through Sixt next summer. In our case, they will let us pick up in Belfast and drop off at the Dublin airport (so I can't imagine it would be a problem to rent in the Republic and take it into Northern Ireland). For those who will ask, the drop-fee is $125. Well worth it for the options it opens up in our itinerary, including a shorter rental period.

Posted by
12172 posts

I had no issues going into N. Ireland with my car. It was a Hertz car but I got it through Auto Europe.

Posted by
3514 posts

Having no issues driving between the Irelands is one thing. There is no border checkpoints, gasoline is gasoline, etc. so no issues should be expected.

Not being restricted from doing so in the fine print on the rental agreement is another. Make sure it is very clear where you plan to drive the car and the rental company knows. If there is a restriction and your car from the Republic happens to break down in the North, things could get very complicated and expensive.

Posted by
139 posts

I agree, read the fine print. We rented a car but didn’t drive it to Northern Ireland just because it wasn’t part of our itinerary for this trip (next time), but I remember clearly while picking up our car at DUB, the gentleman next to us who was also picking up his car asked if he could drive it to Belfast, and the employee told him “no”.

The gentleman looked confused and asked why not? And the employee said “it’s too far away” and that was the end of it.

I guess you can just make sure your insurance covers it there.

Posted by
6386 posts

We rented from Avis at Dublin airport and drove all over Northern Ireland and the Republic. Not problem at all. Remember, there is a fee for driving on the M50 around Dublin. That fee can be paid at any number of stores. Just keep the receipt to show when you return the car.

Posted by
138 posts

I rented from Holiday Auto and got a car from Dollar/Thrifty which I drove throughout Ireland and Northern Ireland. The M50 tolls were automatically billed through them to my credit card. Easy peasy.

Posted by
797 posts

When are you planning on making this trip? Just remember that everyone here is relating their experiences in good faith but Halloween is coming soon, and as of October 31st, Brexit may or may not complicate aspects of travel. I wish you the best of luck.

Posted by
7280 posts

Irv’s Brexit point is a potentially valid, uncertain concern. And we rented directly with Enterprise last September, picking up the car in Galway and dropping off in Dublin, with a few days in Northern Ireland in between - no problem.

Posted by
924 posts

Note that I've adjusted Irv's wording. Anything noting Brexit as a concern should remain vague in order to avoid conjecture. As I've already had to remove some additional Brexit commentary, and we know that Brexit discussion leads things off topic, lets please avoid the subject unless it relates directly to the OP's question.

Back to car rental...

Posted by
7280 posts

It’s a good thing some rental car company wasn’t formed years ago by someone whose last name was Brexit ! 😄

Posted by
86 posts

Enterprise Car Rental good for both jurisdictions in Ireland. They also rent one-way. We are flying PHL-DUB, SNN-PHL.