Based on your experience, renting an automatic transmission, 8 days, with full coverage, no deductions, small car, carry-on luggage, one extra driver (me)-
Does €100 a day seem reasonable? My husband is looking at My Irish Cousin and New Way. MIC seems better so far.
Is this too early to reserve automatic trànsmission?
Our April 2027 itinerary is evolving, thanks to you all. And whoever brought up Ashford Castle, we need to have words about planting that idea....
Our experience in June: Costco reserved @ Enterprise SUV manual (but free upgrade to automatic) and 2 drivers, about $220 for a week. Used Chase United card for free insurance. Costco uses a third party for insurance that does not cover Ireland, so you'd have to buy on the spot coverage if you want it, or find your own coverage.
May has about a 50% chance of sunshine, the highest of the year. Read my honest trip report, In the end Ireland wasn’t a good choice for me, but I’ve seen a lot. I think it’s a better starter country than one for experienced travelers.
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/trip-report-wet-vegas-and-england
My opinion: I recall your being well-traveled and having seen a lot if Europe. If you are not of Irish descent or into partying, Ireland is light on sights and scenery if that’s your main reason for visiting. Sites are also expensive and crowded.
I've got a Costco (actually Budget) reservation for 19 days next Apr 29 for 232 Euro total, including another driver. It's a four door hybrid like a Suzuki Swift, which is fine for us as two people with carry-on luggage. I didn't price an automatic since we don't really care.
Seeing someone say "Ireland is light on sights and scenery" is the silliest thing I've ever read on these forums. I would be curious about what they consider "heavy".
Specifying an automatic with zero deductible insurance is what's driving up your cost. That said, $100 per day isn't completely unreasonable if you accept coverage from the rental car company.
You can save on the insurance if you have one of the premium credit cards that cover Ireland but you'll want to do a deep dive into the fine print to ensure that you know exactly what is (and isn't) covered, as well as reviewing their claims process in detail.
I usually book our car well in advance, and then use that reservation as a place-holder while I continue to shop around for a better deal. Don't forget to check with any memberships you may have (USAA, Costco, etc.) - we've occasionally find better deals there, to include the insurance cover, the extra driver, etc.
It always helps me get more comfortable with driving on the left again by previewing my daily routes using the Street View feature on google maps. Might be worth a look for you too.
I've generally found driving in Ireland to be relatively low stress but I do try to avoid the congestion of the cities. Dublin in particular is a rabbit warren of confusion that I'd rather avoid. Have also found Irish drivers to be some of the kindest and most patient on earth, especially in the rural areas (the N, L, and R roads).
We rented an automatic compact car in England last month for around $100 per day. That included full coverage from the company (Sixt). I know it’s a different country than Ireland, but same part of the world. We are researching a trip to Scotland for next year and are finding similar rates (approx $100/day). Again, I understand that Scotland is not the same country as Ireland:)
I think you can save $$$ if you can drive a stick, but unfortunately neither my husband nor I ever acquired that skill!
And back in 2024 we found plenty to do in Ireland and Northern Ireland for about two weeks, but I can’t remember exactly what the cost of the rental car was. And we are decidedly not partyers and we weren’t looking for our Irish roots either. But everyone has different opinions on what they like:)
Woa, that’s an eye-opener.
I always use my credit card coverage (not saying anyone else should). But I just priced a week long rental of a small car through AutoEurope, automatic, and it was about $35/day with basic coverage versus over $100/day with their full coverage.
This year, I have checked options through AutoEurope and then booked direct and it’s been cheaper. AutoEurope no longer allows free cancellation.
I'm following all these experiences. Please keep posting.
Thanks to all that have.
