- 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 hiring a car is by no means a must and may well not work out to be the cheapest Belfast transport option.
Having said that, car rental in Belfast will open up a world of nearby attractions, with Northern Ireland highlights including the Giant’s Causeway, the Old Bushmills Distillery and Londonderry (not to mention several ‘Game of Thrones’ filming locations) all less than an hour-and-a-half drive away.
Though not strictly necessary, car hire in Belfast can also come in handy on short trips when you want to avoid wasting time waiting for buses.
Securing cheap car hire in Belfast
Both George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD) and Belfast International Airport (BFS) have several agencies offering cheap car hire. Belfast International Airport features six different rental agencies in its arrival hall, among them Hertz, Budget, Enterprise and Europcar.
These four big-name brands can also be found in Belfast City Airport, while Ireland-wide agency Dooley Car Rentals offers meet and greet services for those arriving by ferry into the Port of Belfast. If you want to ensure you get the cheapest Belfast car hire deal, shop around online before you arrive.
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.