Car Rentals in Ireland
Discover the Emerald Isle at your own pace on a road trip designed by Nordic Visitor. Choose your wheels from our selection of high-quality vehicles, provided by a local, reputable car rental agency.
Self-Drive Vehicles for Hire
Hit the road on one Ireland’s epic road trip routes, and you’ll discover countless majestic sites. We make planning easy by providing you with a great selection of vehicles from a reputable car rental agency. Plus, we’ll set you up with a map and other useful information for your adventure.
To find your perfect itinerary, discover our range of self-drive tours. If you’re not sure where to start, don’t hesitate to get in touch and enquire about our best-selling adventures.
Rental car types for Ireland:
| Group | Name | Transmission |
|---|---|---|
| B | Opel Astra or similar | Manual |
| C | KIA Picanto or similar | Automatic |
| D | Toyota Corolla or similar | Automatic |
| E | Skoda Octavia or similar | Automatic |
| F | Volvo S90 or similar | Automatic |
| G | Nissan Qashqai or similar | Automatic |
| H | Ford Transit or similar | Automatic |
Important information:
• Young drivers: Drivers aged under 25 will need to pay a young driver surcharge, which varies depending on the vehicle you are renting. There are also some restrictions on the type of car you can rent. Please get in touch for more information.
• Drivers over the age of 75: If you are aged between 75 and 79, the car rental company requests that you only drive a vehicle in Ireland if you still drive regularly in your home country. They will also ask you to provide 2 letters to secure your rental:
- One from your doctor stating that you have been in good health for at least the past 12 months.
- One from your insurance provider stating that you have not had an accident in the last 5 years, and that you hold a current car insurance policy.
• Drivers over the age of 80: If you are aged 80 or above, please contact us directly so that we can look into alternative options for you.
• Car seats: In Ireland, all children under 17 that are shorter than 150 centimetres (4 foot 9 inches) and weigh less than 36 kilograms (79.3 pounds) must sit on the correct child seat or booster. These can be rented from the car rental agency for a small fee. Please pre-order them by asking your Nordic Visitor travel consultant at time of booking.
• Driving licence: Drivers must have held a full, valid driving licence for at least 1 year to rent a car in Ireland. You will also need to have been eligible to hold a driving licence for at least 2 years.
• Terms & conditions: Your rental agent will go through all the terms and conditions when you pick up your car.
• Extra driver: Each tour package includes 2 authorised drivers for your rental car. It’s possible to add an additional driver for an extra fee. Contact us for further details.
Included in all rentals:
• Unlimited mileage
• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)
• 2 authorised drivers
• Third party liability
• Theft protection
• 24/7 emergency roadside assistance
• Airport security fee (if you are picking up or dropping off your rental car at an airport)
Not included:
• Petrol/Diesel
• GPS
• Taxi fares between your accommodation and the car rental office
• Child seats or boosters
• One-way drop off fees
• Parking fees, parking fines, or towing charges
• Fines for traffic violations
• Excess waiver (deductibles)
• Fees for ferries (unless included in the itinerary)
• Negligent driver vehicle damage (eg. due to damage caused to tyres, wheels lost or damaged keys, damage to the interior of the vehicle, incorrect fuel, alcohol/drug use, off-road driving, etc). It also does not cover costs following a road traffic accident where the vehicle has to be recovered from an off-road location and there is no third party involved. All costs incurred must be paid by the renter.
• Border crossing fee (if driving from Ireland to Northern Ireland)
Optional*
• Additional driver(s)
• Child seats or boosters
*Optional features are available for an additional fee, which you will pay when you collect your rental car. They must be pre-ordered by letting Nordic Visitor know at time of booking.
Payment information: All self-drive tours with Nordic Visitor cover the cost of the rental, but you are ultimately responsible for any extra charges or costs incurred while using the vehicle.
The car rental company accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards only at time of pickup. They must be in-date for at least 3 months after your departure from Ireland.
The car rental agency will require a deposit of up to €3000 at the time of rental. The actual amount will be calculated based on the cost of your chosen vehicle, the fuel provided, and any extra features. The deposit will be returned to you upon acceptable return of the vehicle.
Your rental agent will make an imprint of a credit card in the driver’s name when you collect your car. Your Nordic Visitor voucher covers the cost of the rental, so this imprint will only be used to cover any extra charges or costs incurred by the use of the rented vehicle.
Good to know:
• Remember, motorists drive on the left side of the road in all of Ireland.
• If you are not used to left-hand driving, we highly recommend booking a vehicle with automatic transmission. Keep in mind that you will need to shift gears with your left hand in a manual transmission vehicle, as the driver seat is on the right.
• While exploring Ireland, if you experience a breakdown, you’ll find an emergency roadside assistance number displayed on your car’s key fob and on the inside of the windscreen.
• See our Driving in Ireland page for more information.
Frequently asked questions:
What do I need to rent a car in Ireland?
You need a valid driving licence (see the question below for more criteria) to rent a car in Ireland, as well as a credit card in the driver’s name. You should also get to grips with the rules of the road, so make sure to read our driving guide.
Do I need international driving licence in Ireland
If your valid driving licence is from the USA, Canada, Australia, China, Malaysia, India or within the EU, you don’t need an international driving licence or international driving permit to drive in Ireland.
If you’re visiting from a different country, or if your licence is not in a Latin script, you may need an international driving licence or permit. Check your government’s website for more information about if your licence is valid for driving in Ireland.
Are there toll roads in Ireland?
There are 11 toll roads in Ireland. At 10 of them, there are booths where you can stop to pay the fee with cash. Some also accept Visa and Mastercard debit cards.
The M50 is the only toll road in Ireland where you aren’t required to stop. A sensor will register your car’s number plate. Your rental car company will then bill you for the M50 toll.
Please double check the M50 toll conditions with your rental car company when you collect your vehicle. If the company are not handling the toll fee in your case, you’ll then need to go to the eFlow website to pay. Make sure to do this by 8 PM the next day after you drive on the M50.
What side of the road do people drive on in Ireland?
Cars in Ireland drive on the left side of the road. Make sure you’re familiar with the rules of the road before embarking on your adventure. Get started with our driving guide.
