Ireland

Cheap Car Hire in Ireland from £8

Dublin, Ireland
26 Mar — 2 Apr
Driver's age: 26-65
Dublin, Ireland
Tue 26/3
Midday
Tue 2/4
Midday

Ireland car hires in 2024

Get helpful information to start your search for the perfect car hire in Ireland. The average price data is based on the last 12 months and was last updated on 19 March 2024.

Most popular company

Budget

Most common car type

Compact

Average price per day

£25

Cheapest price per day

£8

What are the car hire prices for popular cities in Ireland?

Discover the price range for hiring a car in popular cities across Ireland, helping you budget and make informed decisions for your upcoming travel. There are 164 pickup locations in Ireland to choose from. Price data has been averaged over the last 12 months and was last updated on 19 March 2024.

Price

£7 - £41

Out of all the popular cities in Ireland, Cork is the cheapest city to rent a car in at just £7/day. Renting a car in Cork is 83% cheaper than renting one in Donegal where the per day rate is around £41. Other fairly inexpensive cities in Ireland to get a rental car in are: Milltown (Kerry) (£15/day), Shannon (£16/day), and Dublin (£16/day). While these cities typically have cheaper prices than the rest of the country, travelers looking to rent a car in Dublin should expect to spend around £16/day on their transportation. The most popular city to rent a car in Ireland is Dublin.

What is the cheapest time to rent a car in Ireland?

Discover the most affordable period to rent a car in Ireland and save money on your trip. The monthly average price data is based on historical data over the last year and was last updated on 19 March 2024.

January

£14

February

£12

March

£24

April

£26

May

£40

June

£37

July

£47

August

£50

September

£28

October

£20

November

£16

December

£29

Currently, the cheapest month to rent a car in Ireland is February. The most expensive time to rent a car is August. The cheapest prices for each month are shown above, but prices will vary based on availability, how far out you book your rental car, and of course, car type.

Popular car types in Ireland

Explore the most popular car models available for hire in Ireland and choose the one that suits your needs. The price data is sourced from various car hire companies and was last updated on 19 March 2024.

There are currently 269 hire locations operating in Ireland spread across 28 car hire agencies. In the past week, the cheapest car type to hire in Ireland is small car at £8 a day. Below are all the 5 car types available for hiring in the area, along with estimated starting prices:

Economy

Economy

Compact

Compact

Intermediate

Intermediate

Standard

Standard

SUV

SUV

People carrier

People carrier

Mini

Mini

Premium

Premium

Compare available car types for hire in Ireland

Compare and contrast the various car types offered for hire in Ireland to find the perfect fit for your trip. Price data is based on averages over the last 12 months and was last updated on 19 March 2024.

Small cars

£11 - £44

All Car Types

£20 - £81

To hire a small car in Ireland, you would pay an average price of £25/day. February is the cheapest month to hire a small car in Ireland (~£11/day), while the most expensive month to hire that same car type is August (~£44/day). In fact, February is about 56% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a small car hire for Ireland. When comparing with other car types available for hire in Ireland, hiring a small car saves you 48% in costs. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best Ireland small car hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To hire a medium car in Ireland, you would pay an average price of £51/day. February is the cheapest month to hire a medium car in Ireland (~£22/day), while the most expensive month to hire that same car type is August (~£80/day). In fact, February is about 57% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a medium car hire for Ireland. When comparing with other car types available for hire in Ireland, hiring a medium car is 6% more expensive. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best Ireland medium car hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To hire a large car in Ireland, you would pay an average price of £112/day. February is the cheapest month to hire a large car in Ireland (~£61/day), while the most expensive month to hire that same car type is July (~£194/day). In fact, February is about 46% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a large car hire for Ireland. When comparing with other car types available for hire in Ireland, hiring a large car is 58% more expensive. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity.

To hire a SUV in Ireland, you would pay an average price of £37/day. February is the cheapest month to hire a SUV in Ireland (~£21/day), while the most expensive month to hire that same car type is August (~£58/day). In fact, February is about 45% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a SUV hire for Ireland. When comparing with other car types available for hire in Ireland, hiring a SUV saves you 21% in costs. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best Ireland SUV hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To hire a van in Ireland, you would pay an average price of £126/day. February is the cheapest month to hire a van in Ireland (~£63/day), while the most expensive month to hire that same car type is August (~£190/day). In fact, February is about 51% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a van hire for Ireland. When comparing with other car types available for hire in Ireland, hiring a van is 63% more expensive. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best Ireland van hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

To hire a pickup truck in Ireland, you would pay an average price of £65/day. December is the cheapest month to hire a pickup truck in Ireland (~£58/day), while the most expensive month to hire that same car type is July (~£321/day). In fact, December is about 13% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a pickup truck hire for Ireland. When comparing with other car types available for hire in Ireland, hiring a pickup truck is 28% more expensive. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity.

To hire a luxury car in Ireland, you would pay an average price of £126/day. February is the cheapest month to hire a luxury car in Ireland (~£79/day), while the most expensive month to hire that same car type is August (~£161/day). In fact, February is about 38% cheaper than prices during the rest of the year to book a luxury car hire for Ireland. When comparing with other car types available for hire in Ireland, hiring a luxury car is 63% more expensive. Please note that average prices are based on historical data and can vary depending on how early you book, availability for your travel dates, and vehicle popularity. Here are the best Ireland luxury car hire prices found by Cheapflights users in the past 7 days:

Fiat 500£8/day
2
M
Fiat 500
Chevrolet Spark£10/day
2
M
Chevrolet Spark
Hyundai i30£10/day
4
M
A/C
Hyundai i30

Tips for hiring a car in Ireland

Browse helpful tips for hiring a car in Ireland including age restrictions, car type suggestions and more. Tips were last updated on 19 March 2024.
  • In Ireland, children who are shorter than 150 cm or lighter than 36 kg must use an appropriate child restraint system by law. You have the option of bringing your own car seat or hiring one from your car hire company. Make sure the car seat fits your car and complies with the EU safety standards. It's forbidden and risky to put a child seat that faces backwards in the front passenger seat that has a working airbag. The best place for children to travel is in the back seat of the car.
  • To explore more than one country on your trip to Ireland, be aware of the costs and requirements for crossing the borders with your hire car. You must inform the car hire company in advance and pay a cross-border fee. This fee will extend your insurance/cover to the UK and give you a VE103 form that allows you to take the car abroad temporarily. You also need to carry your driving licence, passport and hire agreement with you at all times. You generally aren’t allowed to take your hire car to any other countries outside the UK, such as France, Spain or Germany.
  • If you’re flying to Ireland and need a hired car, you should know where to find the car hire desks at the airports. Ireland has four major airports: Dublin (DUB), Cork (ORK), Shannon (SNN) and Belfast (BFS). Dublin Airport has car hire desks in the main arrivals hall of Terminals 1 and 2. All the other airports have desks in the main terminal. If you arrive at Belfast Airport, there's a free airport shuttle bus leaving roughly every 10min from outside the main terminal exit to the car hire centre.

Top hire agencies in Ireland

Explore the leading car hire agencies in Ireland known for their outstanding service and extensive range of vehicles to choose from. There are currently 8 car hire companies in Ireland. Reviews were last updated on 19 March 2024.
Have a look at the top car hire agencies available in Ireland, including those that serve Dublin, Knock and Cork. Make sure to read through user feedback, confirm pickup locations, and check the fine print before choosing.

keddy by Europcar

33 locations

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

29 locations

Europcar

28 locations

Sunnycars

28 locations

Hertz

16 locations

CARHIRE.ie

10 locations

Dollar

10 locations

Thrifty

10 locations

Best Ireland car hire deals found

Browse through a selection of recently found affordable car hire deals in Ireland. Plan your trip with ease and find the perfect hire option for your needs. There are currently 8 hire car agencies in Ireland with an average daily rate of £15. Data was last updated on 19 March 2024.
Have a look at some of the deals we've found on car hires in Ireland including options serving Dublin, Knock and Cork. Deals are constantly refreshed so come back soon for more car hire options.
Fiat 500£8/day
2
M
Fiat 500
Chevrolet Spark£10/day
2
M
Chevrolet Spark
Hyundai i30£10/day
4
M
A/C
Hyundai i30

Car hire FAQs

Find answers to frequently asked questions about car hires in Ireland, including policies, requirements, and more. FAQs were last updated on 19 March 2024.
  • Should I hire a car in Ireland?

    Hiring a car in Ireland is a great way to explore the country at your own pace and discover its hidden gems. Ireland is famous for its scenic drives, such as the Wild Atlantic Way, the Ring of Kerry, the Copper Coast and the Causeway Coastal Route. These routes take you along stunning coastlines, rugged mountains, charming villages and ancient sites. Some of these places are hard to reach by public transport or organised tours, so having a car gives you more flexibility and freedom. Hiring a car also allows you to experience the Irish culture and hospitality, as you can stop at any pub, restaurant or B&B along the way and chat with the locals.

  • What is driving like in Ireland?

    Driving in Ireland can be fun and rewarding but also challenging. You need to be alert and careful on the narrow, winding and sometimes bumpy roads. You also need to follow the speed limits, which vary depending on the road and area. Remember that cars drive on the left side of the road and give way to traffic from the right. Driving in Ireland can be expensive, as you may have to pay for tolls, parking, fuel and insurance, and you must have a valid driving licence, car registration and insurance documents with you at all times. Driving in Ireland can be enjoyable if you plan ahead, follow the rules and respect the road.

  • How old do you have to be to hire a car in Ireland?

    The age requirements for hiring a car in Ireland vary depending on the car hire company and the type of vehicle. Generally, you need to be at least 25 years old to hire a car in Ireland, and you may have to pay a surcharge if you are under 30 or over 70. Some companies may allow you to hire a car if you are 21 or older, but they may charge you an extra fee. You also need to have a valid driving licence from your country of residence. Have a credit card in your name handy to pay for the hire and the deposit. If you have a driving licence from outside the EU, bring an International Driving Permit (IDP).

  • Which car hire company is considered to be the best in Ireland?

    Taking our users’ ratings and reviews into consideration, Enterprise Rent-A-Car (9.4 rating), keddy by Europcar (9.0 rating) and Alamo (8.4 rating) seem to be the best car hire companies in Ireland.

  • What is the most popular car hire provider in Ireland?

    The most popular car hire company at Ireland is Budget. With prices on ECONOMY starting at £6/day about 201% more people book with Budget than other companies in the country.

  • What is the cheapest city to get a rental car in Ireland?

    At £19/day, it is 39% cheaper on average to rent a car in Limerick than any other city in Ireland. The cheapest price found in Ireland was for £7/day in Limerick.

  • What side of the road do you drive on in Ireland?

    Cars in Ireland are to be driven on the left side of the road.

See more FAQs

Small car hires in Ireland

Find small car hire deals in Ireland from well-known providers in the area and save on gas mileage with the options provided below. small car hires in Ireland cost an average of £10 per day. Price data was last updated on 19 March 2024.
Fiat 500£8/day
2
M
Fiat 500
Hyundai i10£8/day
2
M
Hyundai i10
Ford Ka£8/day
2
M
Ford Ka

Car hires by fuel type in Ireland

Browse car hires by fuel type in Ireland. Currently, Petrol/Diesel cars are the cheapest to rent in Ireland. Deals were last updated on 19 March 2024.

Browse through car hire deals by fuel type in Ireland. There are currently 3 fuel types to choose from with Petrol/Diesel being the cheapest (£11+).

Electric

Electric

Hybrid

Hybrid

Petrol/Diesel

Petrol/Diesel

Airport car hires in Ireland
Hire a car at one of these airports in the Ireland area

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