- If you plan on heading south of the border into the Republic of Ireland at any point in your trip, let the car hire agency know in advance. They will probably whack on a cross border coverage fee, but at least you will be covered in case of an accident or breakdown.
- When it comes to metered, on-street parking, you have two options: either carry coins and feed the meter as and when necessary, or register in advance with Parkmobile and use your mobile phone to activate and deactivate your parking time.
- The border with the Republic of Ireland is an open border and you won’t necessarily know you’ve crossed it. But street signs are a good indicator of which side you are on. If they are in English only, you are in Northern Ireland. If English and Irish both feature, you are in the Republic.
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Search for the best car hire deals in Belfast
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Belfast is a relatively compact city, so you may want to stick to public transport and walking for getting around the centre itself.
Belfast is packed with history and culture, and nowhere demonstrates this better than Titanic Belfast, a fascinating museum that delves into the story of the doomed ship, pre- and post-iceberg. Crumlin Road Gaol, a 19th-century Grade A listed prison, is another of the city’s historic gems, while the Ulster Museum, with its vast collection of ancient fossils and artefacts, is a great bet for families.
Outside of the city, car rental in Belfast will open up a world of attractions which are much easier to reach with your own wheels. Northern Ireland’s nearby highlights include the Giant’s Causeway, the Old Bushmills Distillery, Lough Neagh (the biggest lake in the UK and Ireland) and Londonderry – not to mention several ‘Game of Thrones’ filming locations – all of which are less than a two-hour drive away.
Securing cheap car hire in Belfast
There are two main airports that serve Belfast, George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD) and Belfast International Airport (BFS). Both have several agencies offering cheap car hire. Belfast International Airport features six different rental agencies in its arrival hall: Hertz, Budget, Enterprise, Alamo, National and Europcar. It’s around a 40-minute drive into the city via the M2.
Over at George Best Belfast City Airport, you’ll find Alamo, Enterprise, Budget, Avis, Europcar, National and Hertz, which you will find in the terminal. Belfast City Airport is, perhaps unsurprisingly, located very close to the city centre.
Ireland-wide car hire agency Dooley Car Rentals offers meet and greet services for those arriving by ferry into the Port of Belfast as well. If you want to ensure you get the cheapest Belfast car hire deal, shop around online before you arrive.
Car hire in downtown Belfast
If you are looking to pick up your hire car in the city centre, there are a whole host of options across the city - some of which you can find below:
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
157 Cromac St, Belfast BT2 8JE, UK
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Arrivals Hall, Belfast City Airport, Belfast BT3 9JH, UK
Hertz
City Harbour Airport, Belfast City Airport, Belfast BT3 9JH, UK
Hertz Car Hire
30 Ravenhill Rd, Belfast BT6 8EA, UK
Avis Car Rental Belfast City
69-71 Great Victoria St, Belfast BT2 7AF, UK
Sixt Car Hire Belfast City Airport
Connsbank Rd, Belfast BT3 9EF, United Kingdom
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Unit 1, Boucher Crescent, Belfast BT12 6HU, United Kingdom
Europcar Belfast City Airport
Syndenham Bypass, George Best Belfast City Airport, Belfast BT3 9JH, United Kingdom
Breezing through Belfast
The good news for UK mainland drivers attempting to take on the city’s roadways is that car hire in Belfast doesn’t throw up any surprises. Roads in Belfast are well-signposted, you’ll be driving on the same side of the street as you are used to, and driving rules and etiquette are pretty much the exact same.
If you are comfortable cruising around Liverpool, Edinburgh or London, you will be similarly at ease behind the wheel here. Parking in Belfast won’t cause you a headache either, with plenty of easy-to-locate car parks as well as ample street-side parking.
