Planning to drive from Dublin around the island. Would like to drop the car off in Belfast & take a bus to Dublin to fly home. I am picking up that there could be exceptional costs to the Belfast drop off because it is not the same country!
Opinions please! Thank you.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23267 posts
That is possible so check it out with the rental company. Call and ask. Easy ! Last year we paid a 50 euro fee for dropping a Hertz car rented in France but dropped in a small city in France. If you haven't booked your flights, look into returning from Belfast. Could be more convenient and cheaper after factoring the cost and time to return to Dublin. In all of our European travel it is rare for us to fly home from the arrival city.
Posted by
Ireland
217 posts
A small city in France is still in France though. Dropping off in Belfast means dropping off in the UK and any car hire companies that allow it are likely to charge handsomely for the privilege.
Posted by
Waterville, Ireland
409 posts
I'll stop in at Budge tomorrow when I'm in Killarney and ask.
There WILL be a small fee to take it INTO N.I. from RoI -- they all have some sort of fee, as they insurance changes when the car crosses into the second country....
I'll check on the drop off fee (which may depend on month....).
Susan
Expat living in Waterville
Posted by
OP
16 posts
& no plane tickets purchased as yet. Good ideas to think about. I am wandering off topic as I am also wondering what there is to see in Belfast! I see that the Titanic Museum is big, but we went to an exhibit in Kensington, London a few years ago.
I also never thought about a fee on a rental car to enter Northern Ireland. Looks like there would also be a fee to leave & go back into Ireland??
Thank you. This site is really quite amazing!
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
6532 posts
Check with the rental company since you’re returning the car in another counter. Dublin is the Republic of Ireland while Belfast is Northern Ireland. You are correct that there could be a hefty charge. Since Belfast is only 4 or so hours from Dublin, why not just return the car the Dublin Airport and skip the bus.
Posted by
Colorado Springs
2822 posts
There is indeed a hefty one-way charge if you elect to drop the car in Belfast. - It's an international rental.
It's less than a 2 drive from Belfast to Dublin airport, and most of it is on the Motorway. Your best option seems pretty obvious.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
6532 posts
Thanks for correcting the driving time Robert. I forgot that we made a couple stops, most notably Trim castle, between the two cities.