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 25 August 2026.
Most popular company | Budget |
|---|---|
Most common car type | Economy |
Average price per day | £20 |
Cheapest price per day | £10 |
There are currently 317 hire locations operating in Ireland spread across 32 car hire agencies. In the past week, the cheapest car type to hire in Ireland is small car at £10 a day. Below are all the 5 car types available for hiring in the area, along with estimated starting prices:
Economy
£11+
Compact
£10+
Intermediate
£15+
Standard
£14+
People carrier
£75+
Mini
£10+
Premium
£66+
Passenger van
£88+
Get relevant, data-driven information to help you hire a car in Ireland, including pricing trends, ideal booking times, and more.
January
£21
February
£18
March
£23
April
£26
May
£31
June
£25
July
£44
August
£50
September
£30
October
£21
November
£19
December
£25
Budget
Cleanliness
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Overall
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Hertz
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Avis
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Europcar
Cleanliness
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Easirent
Cleanliness
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National
Cleanliness
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FLIZZR
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Thrifty
Cleanliness
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Find answers to frequently asked questions about car hires in Ireland, including policies, requirements, and more. FAQs were last updated on 25 August 2026.
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.
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.
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).
The most popular car hire company at Ireland is Budget. With prices on ECONOMY starting at £9/day about 302% more people book with Budget than other companies in the country.
At £12/day, it is 64% cheaper on average to rent a car in Limerick than any other city in Ireland. The cheapest price found in Ireland was for £9/day in Limerick.
Cars in Ireland are to be driven on the left side of the road.
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 (£10+).
Electric
£20+
Hybrid
£14+
Petrol/Diesel
£10+