Car Rentals in Ireland – A Brief Overview

Ireland provides a fabulous travel experience to the tourists and visitors as you need not own a car to drive here. With Car Rental Ireland, you can rent a car or any other larger vehicle to visit the close-by locations if you have an authentic driving license. Though several top-end companies offer car rental services, one should ensure that a car is hired from a government-approved car rental company. Such companies provide a safe and roadworthy vehicle of a varied range of models and sizes.

If you aspire to rent a car, it is mandatory to have the original copies of your photo identity proof and a credit card handy. You also must present your valid driving license while hiring a car. Few car rental companies may also ask you to provide a few additional documents, such as an international driver’s permit. Before you reserve a rental car, it is recommended that you read all the terms and conditions. Then, confirm your reservation at the earliest to ensure that you get a car of your choice at an affordable price. If you rely on a middleman to hire a car, ensure that he is dealing with an authentic car rental company. Also, keep an eye on what you should be paying him. Don’t end up paying more than the usual price. 

How to rent a car in Ireland?

Hiring a rental car in Ireland is the appropriate option to discover the country at your own pace. By renting a car, you can plan your travel schedule at your will. However, car rental in Ireland is not that simple when compared to other countries. Follow these steps to rent a car in Ireland. 

  • Remember the arrival and departure dates and venues.
  • Decide whether you need a car for the entire trip or specific locations only.
  • Select an appropriate rental company.
  • Select the best car that suits your taste and comfort.
  • Get the quotes and choose a car that you can afford to hire. 
  • Recheck the insurance options. 
  • Confirm your reservations. 
  • Have a thorough understanding of tips for picking up and returning a rental car in Ireland.  

Guidelines to be followed:

  • While you pick up a car from the rental company, you will be asked to sign a rental contract. Do not forget to read all the instructions, terms and conditions and understand the same before signing the contract. Ask the rental company and clarify any points mentioned in the agreement that you haven’t understood.
  • Few rental companies provide the car’s schematic view with exterior damages marked on it. In such cases, you are recommended to check if any other damages on the vehicle are not observed in the diagram. Make sure that you bring it to the company’s notice before you pick the car failing, which you may incur additional charges for the damage that you did not do.
  • At times, you may not inspect the car properly (usually when you hire a car at night). In such cases, do not miss out to ask for a torch or flashlight, which helps you inspect the vehicle thoroughly before hiring it.

Check for these before use Car Rentals in Ireland:

  1. Tyres: Ensure that the car has inflated types that are in good condition. Check for a spare tyre too.
  2. Tools: The hired car should have a jack and a wrench to replace a tyre if it is punctured. Make sure that the car is well-equipped with all the safety tools required while travelling. 
  3. Fuel: Check if the car runs on petrol or diesel. Most car rental companies expect you to refill the vehicle while returning the car. So, check if the vehicle is fully fueled at the time of hiring.
  4. Lights: Check if all the lights, including indicators, fog lights and brake lights, are working correctly. 
  5. Windscreen: Check the windscreen thoroughly for flaws. Get the defects repaired if present. Also, check if the windscreen wash system is functioning correctly. 
  6. Insurance: Check if you are appropriately insured. Make sure that all the travelers are insured if you are travelling as a group. Do not forget to get the complete details of the discounts offered, if any. 
  7. Check with the car rental company if you can cross the borders when you need to travel across the national borders. 
  8. Get the vehicle inspected in your presence at the time of return to avoid extra charges on your credit card after using Car Rental Ireland.

What is the best time to book a car rental Dublin?

When it is about booking the car rental Dublin, many of us are in great confusion when to book the car for hire? Is it right to book early or book at the last moment? It is, indeed, one of the age old questions that many individuals think and even ask. So, in this post we thought of digging deep into the subject in order to reveal the cheapest time for booking the car for hire in Dublin.

As per the research done by the experts, it is believed that the best time for making a booking for a car rental Dublin airport is nearly 4 weeks before the onset of the travel. Booking earlier than this will make you miss on significant offers and booking later than this will pose a risk of not getting the right rental deal.

However, if we compare the data of the 12 month period related to car booking times and the associated prices, then we found that it is often better to leave the booking of the car for a later period when the booking falls outside the purview of the peak timings. However, a few caveats are attached to it, namely, the traveler is required to be flexible with both the travel date as well as the travel timings and any one specific car model can surely not be set in the mind as we need to look for the cheapest available deal.

Cheap last minute deals- The new emerging trend

An industry wide trend that is making the rounds these days is to enjoy a car hire with the cheapest last minute deals. A combination of certain factors has led to the boom of this new strategy. Let’s unveil few of such factors:

  • New car models

Every day new companies are coming up in the market and flooding it with the new models of the car. Hence, there are a number of great options that are available for the car rentals at Dublin Airport for the travelers to choose from. The more the variety, the more is the choice availability even at the last minute.

  • Availability of best prices

With the weakening of the currencies worldwide, there has been a reduction in the value of money. This is the reason, the car hire companies are offering fantastic prices for the car hires even at the last minute.

  • Demand factor

This is particularly true during the non peak timings, when the car availability is good and the demand is not so high. Such times call for a cheap price. And the price keeps on falling as we get closer to the starting date of the rental period. However, there are chances to miss out the great deals if you wait too much.

The last minute deals are all about the timings. You may get a good price if you wait more, but there is an equal chance that you let go a good deal because of waiting for a better deal to come your way. Thus, the best thing to do in such a situation is to book when you feel happy with the price so offered and the attached services.

Booking when traveling during peak travel time

The cheapest average time to book the car for rental during the peak travel times, often varies from country to country. For instance, booking just 5 weeks before one festival will lend you a good deal while there are instances when booking even 56 weeks before a festivity will not lend you good deal.

Traveling members and car rental booking

The couples and the solo travelers who are not travelling with any responsibility of kids and elderly people and are not bound by any fixed travel date plans can afford to leave the things for the last moment in the hope of getting a better deal. But, in case you are travelling with family, it is better to book the moment you get a good price instead of waiting to nab a bargain.