Renting a car in Ireland is the best way to experience everything the country has to offer. You will be able to explore Ireland at your own pace, not on someone else's schedule. You can stay longer in an area you are drawn to, change your itinerary at will, or just take the long, meandering road to your next destination.

Car rental in Ireland isn't as simple as it is in other places. You have a few important choices to keep in mind as you choose your rental car – from size and transmission to rental company and insurance coverage.

Car in front of Durrow viaduct. Car rental in Ireland — **Click Here** to pin this to your Ireland travel board!

There is a lot of information in this article- if you want a condensed version here is what you MUST know about renting a car in Ireland.

Most cars in Ireland are manual transmission. If you can not drive a ‘stick shift' be sure to reserve an automatic. Rates are higher.
Understand additional fees you may encounter (all are listed here).
You do not need a car in Dublin. Plan to pick up after your city stay or return when you visit.
Cars are a bit smaller and boot (trunk) space can be limited. Review car size carefully before booking.
Additional insurance is mandatory, whether you purchase it or use a credit card. Read this section to understand your options (this is the most important part).

How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Car in Ireland?

Car rental costs will vary based on the type of car you rent, when you rent it, the time of year you are visiting, where you rent from and where you return the vehicle, as well as any additional products or services you add to your rental.

Average Ireland rental car costs in 2025(updated January 24, 2025)
7 day round-trip rental with SCDW from Dublin Airport via Irish Car Rentals using my exclusive rental link.

May
Manual Economy	€385.79	Automatic Economy	€507.84
Manual Compact	€408.66	Automatic Compact	€537.19
Manual Intermediate	€501.29	Automatic Intermediate	€583.00
Manual SUV/Family	€517.82	Automatic SUV/Family	€614.40
July
Manual Economy	€376.03	Automatic Economy	€452.02
Manual Compact	€398.71	Automatic Compact	€479.30
Manual Intermediate	€468.15	Automatic Intermediate	€548.98
Manual SUV/Family	€480.02	Automatic SUV/Family	€560.91
October
Manual Economy	€336.27	Automatic Economy	€444.77
Manual Compact	€367.77	Automatic Compact	€489.82
Manual Intermediate	€480.56	Automatic Intermediate	€526.49
Manual SUV/Family	€493.50	Automatic SUV/Family	€610.49

Additional Ireland Car Rental Costs

As you can see above, it costs more to rent a car with an automatic transmission than a manual, but that's not the only cost that can be added to your car rental in Ireland. Other fees can include:

Renting a diesel vehicle will increase rental costs but may save money on fuel
One-way rental costs
Irish car rental taxes (some companies build this into the rental cost)
SCDW (or Excess) insurance (you want this -> read the section on insurance)
Cross border fee (if you visit Northern Ireland)
Additional Driver
Refueling (return the car with an empty fuel tank)
Age related costs (under 25 and over 75)
GPS rental (don't do this! Use the map on your mobile device. Get tips here!)
Toll tag use (most visitors don't need this! Learn why here.)
Petrol (obviously)
Admin fees (some rental agencies charge fees for using your own insurance or using a credit card)

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How to Save Money on Car Rental in Ireland

The cost of renting a car can seem steep, so you may be looking for a way to save a bit of money.

Whatever you do, DO NOT scrimp on the insurance. The SCDW insurance with a zero deductible is often the best money you will spend. Considering using credit card insurance coverage? Read this first.

Here are a few ways to save money on your car rental:

Rent early for the best rate. I recommend booking as soon as you know your travel dates.
Rent a manual transmission vehicle (but ONLY if you already know how to drive it!).
Rent the smallest vehicle you can be comfortable in (don't forget about your luggage).
Only rent a car for the days you need it (you will NOT need a car in Dublin city).
Return your car to the same location you rented from.
Rent from Irish Car Rentals with my exclusive link to save 10%.