Car Rental Ireland — Pick Up at Dublin, Shannon, Cork & Beyond

When collecting your rental car in Ireland, you'll need a valid driving licence (full, clean licence from your home state), your passport and a credit card in the driver's name. This is for the security deposit which is a pre-authorisation (not an actual charge) placed on your card, the amount of which varies depending on your car category and any additional protection purchased.

An international driving permit is not required for US citizens in the Republic of Ireland, though it can be useful.

Yes, Irish Car Rentals has a dedicated automatic fleet. When booking, it's important to filter by transmission type to ensure you're booking an automatic category car. Automatic cars are available at all major collection points in Ireland. We recommend you book in advance to secure an automatic, especially during peak summer season.

Yes, you can drive to Northern Ireland with Irish Car Rentals. If you wish to travel to Northern Ireland during your hire, please let our team know when you pick up your car. A Cross Border Travel fee will apply.

We make it easy for drivers from the age of 22 to rent from us. To drive our Mini, Economy, Compact and Intermediate vehicles the minimum age is 22 years of age. To drive our Vans the minimum age is 27 years of age. To drive our Full size, Premium and Luxury vehicles the minimum age is 28 years of age. Drivers under the age of 26 (22 - 25 years) will need to pay a small daily young driver surcharge. There is no maximum age limit to hire a car with Irish Car Rentals.

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and Theft Waiver (TW) (also known as Collision Damage Protection and Theft Protection) reduce your financial liability to the excess amount (as stated on your rental agreement) if the car is damaged or stolen. These waivers are included in your rental, unless you choose to waive CDW with your American or Canadian Visa or Mastercard Credit Card. In this case, please double check with your credit card provider that you have adequate cover for your hire so there are no surprise charges at the counter.

You also have the option to add Premium Protection Cover to your booking. This reduces your excess amount to zero and provides additional cover for damage to the windscreen, glass, lights and tyres.

Driving in Ireland is very manageable for American visitors with a little preparation, though it can feel different at first because you'll drive on the left-hand side of the road. Before setting off, take a few minutes to adjust your seat and mirror positions, get comfortable with the controls, and ease into the journey slowly on your first day. Drivers new to Irish roads should be mindful of roundabouts, where traffic flows clockwise and you yield to traffic from the right, as well as narrow rural roads that may require patience and careful positioning. Speed limits are posted in km/h, and unlike in many parts of the US, there is no turn on red unless specifically indicated. By taking your time, planning routes in advance, and allowing yourself to adjust, driving in Ireland can quickly become a confident and enjoyable part of your trip.

Irish Car Rentals has convenient pick up points in every major city and airport.across Ireland. You can pick up your rental vehicle from any one of our locations, which are: Athlone, Cavan, Clonmel, Cork Airport, Cork City, Drogheda, Dublin Airport, Dublin City Centre (Spencer Dock), Dublin North, Dublin South (Cookstown), Dublin South (Sandyford), Galway City, Kerry Airport (Farranfore), Kilkenny, Knock Airport (Ireland West), Letterkenny, Limerick City (Ennis Road), Naas, Navan Town, Shannon Airport, Sligo, Waterford and Wexford. Our opening hours differ by location, with main airport and city locations staying open for longer. You can check the opening hours of the location you want to pick your vehicle up from here. https://www.irishcarrentals.com/car-rental-locations