- You’ll often find cheaper Ireland car hire deals by booking as part of a package deal from the UK.
- The golden rule elsewhere is true here too: book well in advance for the cheapest Ireland car hire, especially if you’re arriving in the peak summer months of July or August.
- Road signs and speed limits use kilometres rather than miles, so make sure you properly work out how fast you’re really going!
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Search for the best car hire deals in Ireland
Countries don’t come much more ready-made for road-tripping than Ireland. Measuring just 480 kilometres (300 miles) from rugged Banba’s Crown in County Donegal at its tip to the ocean-bashed Brow Head in County Cork at its toe, it’s a beautifully proportioned destination for a self-drive holiday.
Car hire in Ireland is easy, and so too is finding adventure, whether you’re coasting around the gorgeous headlands of the Ring of Kerry or meandering through charming Connemara.
Car hire in Ireland is easy, and so too is finding adventure, whether you’re coasting around the gorgeous headlands of the Ring of Kerry or meandering through charming Connemara.
Travel Information
Language: Irish Gaelic | Currency: Euro (€) | Local time: GMT | Avg. Flight time: 1 hrs
Big brands with wheels for hire
All the main car hire companies have a good presence in Ireland. Among them, Hertz has rental locations in Cork, Dublin, Kerry, Knock, Shannon, Waterford and Wexford; Avis can be found at Cork, Dublin, Kerry, Knock and Shannon; and Budget has offices in Ballygar, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Killarney, Knock, Roscommon, Rosslare Ferry Port and Shannon.
Europcar has more than 15 destinations across Ireland as a whole, and Enterprise has a similarly wide spread. In addition to these international brands, you’ll also find local specialists such as Irish Car Rentals and Dooley Car Rentals.
Open roads and big horizons
Once you’ve sorted a vehicle, the fun really begins. The independence of having your own transport means you can choose whether to stick to the main tourist honeypots or venture off on your own explorations. Car rental in Ireland isn’t about cheap thrills or rushed journeys – it’s more about sitting back and letting the landscapes unfold around you.
You’ll be relieved to hear that the basic road rules in Ireland are broadly identical to those in the UK. Perhaps most crucially, the Irish drive on the left – although be aware that road signs and speed limits use kilometres rather than miles.
All roads lead to rich rewards
There are some spectacular road trips in Ireland. The famous Wild Atlantic Way passes through nine different counties, leading from the Inishowen Peninsula all the way down to the Celtic Sea Coast, with highlights including the seascapes of the northern headlands, the surf beaches of the west coast and the raw archipelagos of the southern peninsulas.
On the other side of the country, meanwhile, the region known as Ireland’s Ancient East has 5,000 years of history to showcase.
While the country can at times be pricey, Ireland’s cheapest attractions are arguably its most magnificent: that is, its devastatingly handsome views. With your own wheels, you’ll have the freedom to see just why the destination continues to draw travellers from across the world.