Welcome to our Ireland Car Rental and Irish Information page. We have included here links to our Driving in Ireland pages which will provide all of the information you need to drive in Ireland. Below we have itemised some useful information when renting your car with us and also lower down the page links to information you may require. We are fully aware of the importance of your car rental to you. If you are traveling on business or for pleasure we want to ensure that you receive the very best service and vehicle possible. Please browse through the following Frequently asked questions if you are looking for further detail on your impending car rental. We look forward to assisting you.

Are my booking details secure on this website?
Yes. We have a fully secure site. Irish Car Rentals use a 128 bit Thawte SSL Web Server to offer secure communications by encrypting all data exchanged to and from the booking form on the website. Because of this you can pass your credit card and personal details through our booking system with confidence. We have strict guidelines as to our client’s privacy and we will not pass on your details to any other party for any reason.

Basic Information- what happens when I submit a reservation?
When you click on the "submit" button you will receive your booking number beginning with "ICR" followed by a 6 digit number e.g. ICR125631. You will automatically receive an e-mail to the address you have supplied outlining your booking details. When you create a booking a secure confirmation is sent to the Irish Car Rentals reservation desk in Limerick, Ireland. The rental is then added to the system and the car is made available for hire. A booking deposit is charged to your credit card at this stage. Please ensure that you complete the Booking Form in Full, (paying particular attention when noting your Credit Card Details and E-mail address), and that you have ensured that you are aware of the costs involved. When you arrive at the rental desk at the airport you will sign a rental agreement, pay any local charges or additional costs, be taken to your vehicle and then be given any instruction on the vehicle as may be required. Once you have started to drive the car you are liable for any accidents, damage or other costs incurred until the vehicle is safely returned to the airport compound.

What kind of car can I expect?
We operate the most modern fleet of cars in Ireland and 95% of our vehicles will be under 6 months old. When you ask for a quotation you will see that there are often 2 or more models or makes offered within the "Car Group".  Irish Car Rentals cannot guarantee a particular make or model of car but we will guarantee a car within the "Car Group" will be available for collection as required. Specific requests for Cars with CD Players, airbags etc: and or other features cannot be guaranteed as being available but we will make every attempt to supply if you request them in the "additional comments" filed of the booking form. It is recommended that travelers with additional luggage such as Golf Clubs or Fishing equipment rent a vehicle one grade above the normal requirements shown on the quote form. If a renter has a specific requirement for options please state them in the comments box of the rental booking form. Irish Car Rentals will try to comply with any reasonable request but cannot guarantee availability of a specific model.

What Driver Information & drivers license requirements apply?
All drivers must be in possession of a full-unendorsed driver's license at the time of rental. (Certain minor endorsements may be acceptable, please call us prior to booking). All drivers must have held a full driver's license for at least 12 months prior to hiring a car with Irish Car Rentals and must present themselves with their full-unendorsed driver's license at the pick up location at the time of rental. Holders of US, Canadian, Australian and All EU member states are NOT required to supply an International Driving License (IDL). An International Driving License (IDL) is required if your national driver's license is not in Roman script. International driver's licenses MUST BE accompanied by the original domestic license of the driver. (This is clearly stated on the international license).

Age Requirements - Restrictions.

The minimum age to rent a vehicle is 25 years and drivers must have held a full driver's licence for at least 12 months prior to hiring a car.  

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) Explained
Collision Damage Insurance covers damage to the rental car and limits the liability for damages to a vehicle whilst on hire. In case of an accident resulting in damage to a rental vehicle the Customer is liable for a payment for damage to the rental car. This liability can be reduced to EUR 100 at an additional charge of EUR 9.50 per day. The excess on luxury cars, minivans and minibuses ican be reduced to EUR 100 for an additional charge of EUR 15 per day. These charges are collected at the point of collection by the reservations agent. Irish Car Rentals include CDW insurance in the quoted rate unless you indicate on the booking page that you do not wish to have this included.

Theft Protection Explained
This insurance option limits your financial liability for loss or theft of the Irish Car Rentals vehicle, its parts and accessories, provided the vehicle is used in accordance with the terms and conditions of the rental agreement. If Theft is not included in the rate you have chosen it is available locally at EURO 7.50 per day. 

MasterCard CDW waiver (For US Residents holding a MasterCard Gold or Platinum)
Master Rental Insurance may allow you to avoid the additional cost of the theft and collision damage waiver (CDW) for rental cars in some countries. This coverage is ONLY available with Gold or Platinum MasterCard's issued by US banks. If you pay for the entire rental with your eligible MasterCard card, you may be covered for up to $50,000 without excess. This is an insurance program; certain restrictions and exclusions apply. In order to establish if your MasterCard includes Auto Rental Insurance in the Republic of Ireland please call your credit card issuer and/or MasterCard at 1 800 6227747. This coverage is a service provided by MasterCard to the cardholder and therefore it is the cardholders responsibility to ensure that they are adequately covered for the entire duration of the rental period.

Can I hire a baby seat?
Yes. Please indicate in the "additional comments" field on the booking for that you require a baby seat. Please advise us your child’s weight. Child / Baby Seats are Mandatory in Ireland. Child Seats and Baby seats are available by prior notification at an additional cost of EURO 49 per rental. Baby seats are NOT available for rental for children under 6 months old. NEW EU CHILD SAFETY PROTECTION LAWS HAVE COME INTO FORCE making it compulsory for all children to travel in the correct child seat, booster seat or booster cushion. Notes: Where safety belts have been fitted they must be worn. Children under 3 years of age must not travel in a car or goods vehicle unless restrained in the correct child seat. Children aged 3 years or over who are under 150cms in height and weighing less than 36 kilograms (i.e. generally children up to 11/12 years old) must use the correct child seat, booster seat or booster cushion when travelling in cars or goods vehicles. Children over 3 years of age must travel in a rear seat in vehicles not fitted with safety belts. Rearward-facing child car seats must NEVER be used in the front passenger seat of cars with an active airbag. Drivers have a legal responsibility to ensure passengers aged under 17 use the correct seat, booster seat, booster cushion or seatbelt.

Can I drive my car into Northern Ireland?
Yes. If you wish to drive in Northern Ireland it is a requirement of rental that they inform  Irish Car Rentals that you wish to do so on collection of the vehicle. (Usually at the airport desk) An additional charge of EURO 25 applies. This is to extend the AA 24 hour roadside assistance to cover Northern Ireland and is compulsory. The renter is free then to drive throughout Northern Ireland. Cars can not be taken off the island of Ireland.

What is the Fuel Policy of  Irish Car Rentals?
Fuel Policy: For your convenience we are pleased to offer you the convenience of the Prepaid Fuel Option. You may now purchase your initial tank of fuel from Irish Car Rentals at the time of rental at a price that is very competitive with local fuel stations. This method eliminates the need for you to refill the tank before returning your rental vehicle. Please be aware that we are unable to give a refund for unused fuel. 

How do I change or cancel my reservation?
If you wish to change or cancel your reservation please send an e-mail to  Irish Car Rentals at the following email address: info@irishcarrentals.com please mark on the subject line if you wish to "amend" or "cancel" the reservation. Please always note your reservation number on the e-mail.

Can I travel out from one location and return the vehicle to another?
Yes. Charges may apply for some locations. You can see what charges may apply if you calculate your rate on the booking engine.

Where do I go when I arrive at my destination?
DUBLIN AIRPORT: Car Hire Section, Arrivals Hall, Dublin Airport. Tel: + 353 1 8444199. Directions to our Dublin Airport desk: Turn right when you come out of baggage reclaim, you will see the Car Rental desks directly in front of you, we are the last desk in the row.  DUBLIN CITY: 7 Terenure Road East, Rathgar, Dublin 6 (In between AIB Bank and Pharmacy in Rathgar village).  Tel: + 353 1 4904444.  SHANNON AIRPORT : Arrivals Hall, Shannon Airport.  Tel: + 353 61 472649.  CORK AIRPORT: Arrivals Hall, Cork Airport. Tel: + 353 214318644.  KERRY AIRPORT:Arrivals Hall, Kerry Airport. Tel: + 353 61 206080.  KNOCK AIRPORT: Arrivals Hall, Knock Airport. Tel: +353 61 206094.  LIMERICK CITY:  Desk located within Ennis Road Motors Showroom, Ennis Road, Limerick.  Tel: + 353 61 206025.  We deliver cars to many other locations including: Killarney town, Galway City and Airport, and Cork City. If you require a delivery to any one of these locations please contact our reservations team for details of delivery charges and meeting points.

What happens if my flight is cancelled?
If you flight is cancelled please contact us via e-mail or to one of our Toll Free numbers. UK and Europe: 00800 4747 4227, United States 1 877 347 3227. Our international number is + 353 61 206088. We will make every effort to keep you car until you arrive.

Will my personal Auto Policy cover me in Ireland?
We can not accept the insurance coverage of a hirer if his/her policy is not a fully comprehensive Irish policy. Insurance coverage from overseas companies or insurers is not accepted due to past problems experienced. This is normal policy for Irish Car rental companies.

Will My Credit Card Cover Me for CDW and Theft insurance’s?
The only credit card insurance that covers for Auto rental insurance in the Republic of Ireland is MasterCard Gold or Platinum (issued in the United States). Please contact MasterCard direct to have this confirmed to you. Toll Free 1 800 622 7747

Do I Need Proof of MasterCard Insurance?
It is always best to receive written confirmation from MasterCard that you are covered. Please pay particular attention to the fine print in relation to the rental duration permitted.

What credit cards does  Irish Car Rentals accept?
 Irish Car Rentals accepts MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Diners Club. 

What if I get a traffic violation while in possession of a rental vehicle?
If you get a traffic violation while in possession of a  Irish Car Rentals vehicle please advise our staff on return.

What happens if the car breaks down?
In the very unlikely event of a breakdown with  Irish Car Rentals help is never far away. You are covered by 24hour AA Roadside assistance insurance. Details of this service will be provided in the rental agreement wallet you receive on arrival

When do I have to include my credit card number?
We need your credit card number when you are booking the car. Please note the  Irish Car Rentals site is secure. Your personal details will not be shared with third Parties at any stage.

Can I take the seats out of a minivan?
Unfortunately this is not possible. By law the seats have to stay in the van. However Cargo vans are available on request. Please contact the reservations team.

Who do I contact if I have any questions after I have rented the car?
Full contact details are on your rental documentation. You can e-mail us here Please submit your booking or rental agreement number also.

What happens if I don’t like my car?
In the unlikely event that you are not completely satisfied with your rental car please call the nearest office to you. The telephone numbers will be supplied to you on arrival

How old are the vehicles in your fleet?
On average vehicles are less that six months old. Every effort is made to have the best vehicle available.

What do I do if I lock my keys in the car, get a flat tire or break down?
Every  Car is covered by a 24-Hour AA Roadside assistance policy. The Free phone details in Ireland are available with your rental agreement when you pick the car up.  Irish Car Rentals has a specific Policy with the AA in Ireland (The AA in Ireland is similar to "AAA" in the U.S.).  Please be advised that callout charges may apply in the event that the callout does not arise from a mechanical fault with the Irish Car Rentals vehicle.

What do I do in the event of an accident?
In the event of a traffic accident please notify  Irish Car Rentals as soon as possible Contact the Irish Police (Gardai) on 999 and ensure that the police (Gardai) are called, so that they can report the accident. Do not admit liability at any stage.

Should I Hire a Manual or Automatic?
If you drive a stick shift at home and are well used to it, you should have no trouble in Ireland, except that the gear stick is on your left-hand side. With the small country roads and all the hills in Ireland it is sometimes better to have automatic.

Is the local tax (VAT) included in my rental rates ?
Yes. The rate is at 13.5%. This can not be claimed back by non-US Nationals as car rental is a service not a product. VAT is applicable on all extras purchased. All additional services and insurances are subvject to VAT @13.5%

Can I extend my rental dates?
Yes. You can call the nearest  car rental location to extend your rental. Our phone number will be on the rental agreement.

Can I tow with a rental car?
Unfortunately this is not permitted. Towing is a violation of the rental agreement and is not permitted under any circumstances

Can I rent a car with a roof rack or bike rack?
Unfortunately roof racks and bicycle racks are not available for hire and may not be attached to the rental car.

What if I have another question?
If you have another question please email our reservations team will be more than happy to assist. We have provided some very useful information on this website in respect of Road signs, Driving Information and other useful resources. Should you need further information or want one of our expert Car Rental staff to contact you please do not hesitate to contact us.

If you are having difficulty booking or require further information please contact us either by email or Telephone: 
FREE FROM :: USA 1 877 347 3227 :: Europe 00800 4747 4227 :: Ireland (Low Call) 1850 206088 
or call our central reservations office in Limerick +353 61 206088. All of the above information is subject to change without prior notification.