Car Rental Near Me: Compare Cheap Ireland Rates 2025

Anyone who’s typed “car rental near me” into a search bar in Ireland knows the struggle: dozens of rates, fine print, and hidden charges that can turn a €13 promise into a €60 bill. This guide cuts through the noise, comparing base prices from major providers and revealing the real cost once you factor in insurance, fuel, and location surcharges.

Cheapest daily rate in Dublin: from €12 (economy car) ·
Major providers at Dublin Airport: Europcar, National, Sixt, Thrifty, Budget, Hertz ·
Typical weekly rental cost: varies widely; Kayak shows economy from €14/day ·
Irishcarrentals.com offers: unlimited mileage, zero hidden fees, 4-hour free change window

What is the cheapest way to rent a car in Ireland?

Compare major providers: Hertz, Budget, Enterprise, Irishcarrentals, Kayak aggregator

• Hertz: Claims the lowest prices on car hire in Dublin and Ireland (Road Genius car rental comparison site).
• Budget: Advertises low cost car hire from Dublin, Cork, Belfast, Shannon, and other locations (Dublin Tourism official tourist office).
• Enterprise: Operates a branch in Dublin South (Wicklow area), often with competitive weekly rates (ODO Ireland travel guide).
• Irishcarrentals.com: Independent aggregator with 23 locations, unlimited mileage, zero hidden fees, and a 4-hour free-change window (Ireland Rent A Car booking guide).
• Kayak: Aggregator shows economy cars from €14/day in Dublin (Road Genius car rental comparison site).

Focus on unlimited mileage and zero hidden fees policies

Unlimited mileage is crucial for road trips covering Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way or the Ring of Kerry. Most standard rental packages include limited mileage (typically 150–200 km/day), with overage charges of €0.20–€0.50 per extra km. Irishcarrentals and some Hertz plans offer unlimited mileage at no extra cost (Ireland Rent A Car booking guide).

Check airport vs city center locations for rate differences

Airport pickups in Dublin carry location surcharges of roughly 15%–25% over the base rate (ODO Ireland travel guide). Off-airport branches in the city center or suburbs may offer lower daily rates, but you’ll need to factor in transport costs to reach them. In Dublin, city center locations such as Hertz on South Lotts Road or Enterprise in Sandyford can save you €30–€40 total (Dublin Tourism official tourist office).

The trade-off: airport convenience vs. lower base rates. If you’re arriving by flight and need immediate wheels, the airport surcharge may still be worth it – but booking early and comparing off-site options can cut your total cost by up to 20%.

What is the cheapest car hire in Dublin?

Daily rates from aggregators: €12–€20 for economy cars

Economy cars (like a Fiat 500 or Hyundai i10) start around €13–€14 per day in Dublin according to Road Genius car rental comparison site, while ODO Ireland travel guide estimates €25–€35 per day off-peak. The discrepancy highlights how much prices vary by season and availability. Summer peak rates can climb to €40–€55 per day for the same class.

Providers with Dublin airport desks: Kayak, Hertz, Budget, Enterprise, Sixt

• Kayak’s aggregator lists multiple providers and often shows the lowest upfront price (Road Genius car rental comparison site).
• Hertz operates at South Lotts Road, Dublin (Dublin Tourism official tourist office).
• Budget has counters at Dublin Airport and city center (Dublin Tourism official tourist office).
• Enterprise serves south Dublin from its Sandyford branch (ODO Ireland travel guide).

Off-airport branches may offer lower rates but add transfer cost

A city center pickup can save you 15–25% on the base rate, but you’ll need a bus or taxi to the rental office – typically €10–€20 from the airport. For stays longer than a week, the savings often outweigh the transfer cost (Dublin Tourism official tourist office).

What this means: if you’re flexible, picking up a car in the city center two days later and returning it to the airport can cut your bill by €50 or more.

How much does it cost to rent a car for a week in Ireland?

Typical weekly rate range: €100–€500 depending on car class and season

A compact manual car off-peak runs about €30–€45 per day, so a week could cost €210–€315. In summer peak, the same car jumps to €50–€70 per day, totaling €350–€490 (ODO Ireland travel guide). Economy cars are cheaper: off-peak weekly from €100 (€14/day) to €245 (€35/day).

Base cost can be low but add insurance, GPS, young driver fees

• Young driver surcharge (under 25): €15–€35 per day (Ireland Rent A Car booking guide).
• Additional driver fee: €10–€17 per day (Ireland Rent A Car booking guide).
• GPS: €5–€12 per day (Dublin Tourism official tourist office).
• Child seat: €7–€15 per day (Dublin Tourism official tourist office).
• Super Cover (excess reduction): €45–€65 per day (Ireland Rent A Car booking guide).

Unlimited mileage plans save money on longer trips

If you plan to drive more than 200 km per day, unlimited mileage becomes essential. A weekly rental with unlimited mileage from Irishcarrentals or Hertz often costs only 10–15% more than a limited-mileage plan (Ireland Rent A Car booking guide).

The pattern: a €14/day economy car quickly becomes €50–€70/day once you add young driver fees, GPS, and insurance. Always calculate total cost per day including all add-ons.

How to get the lowest price on a rental car?

Book early: best day to book is 2–3 months before trip

Bookings made 60–90 days in advance typically lock in the lowest rates. Waiting until two weeks before can add 30–50% to the price (ODO Ireland travel guide).

Compare on aggregators like Kayak and Skyscanner

Aggregators pull rates from multiple suppliers, allowing side-by-side comparison. Kayak shows economy cars from €14/day in Dublin (Road Genius car rental comparison site). Skyscanner also lists deals from dozens of providers (Citizens Information government guidance).

Opt for economy cars and avoid unnecessary add-ons

• Bring your own GPS (use phone navigation) to save €5–€12/day (Dublin Tourism official tourist office).
• Decline Super Cover if you have a credit card with rental insurance (Ireland Rent A Car booking guide).
• Choose a manual transmission if you can drive one – automatics cost €10–€20 extra per day (ODO Ireland travel guide).

The catch: saving on add-ons requires advance planning. If you arrive without a SIM card for maps or forget your credit card’s coverage details, you’ll end up buying extras at the counter.

What is the best company to rent a car from in Ireland?

Hertz: strong brand, claims lowest prices in Dublin and Ireland

Hertz has a large presence in Dublin, with branch details including South Lotts Road and phone 353-1-667-5028 (Dublin Tourism official tourist office). They offer unlimited mileage on many plans and a loyalty program.

Budget: low cost with locations at airports and city centers

Budget positions itself as the low-cost option with desks at all major Irish airports and city centers (Dublin Tourism official tourist office).

Enterprise: reliable with branch in Dublin South

Enterprise is known for consistent service and a branch in Sandyford (Dublin South) that serves the Wicklow area (ODO Ireland travel guide).

Irishcarrentals: independent with unlimited mileage and free change window

Irishcarrentals offers 23 locations, zero hidden fees, and a 4-hour free-change window – a unique selling point for travelers who need flexibility (Ireland Rent A Car booking guide).

Comparison: Major car rental providers in Ireland

Three providers, one pattern: base rates are close, but add-ons vary wildly.

The implication: even a low headline rate from Irishcarrentals can be undercut by one-way fees if you’re not doing a round trip.

Pros & Cons of renting from an aggregator vs a direct brand

“For the lowest prices on car hire in Dublin and Ireland, book with Hertz.”

Hertz Ireland website, via Road Genius car rental comparison site

“Low Cost Car Hire with Budget Car Rental Ireland from Dublin, Cork, Belfast, Shannon, Galway, Kerry, Killarney and Knock.”

Budget Car Rental Ireland, via Dublin Tourism official tourist office

“Planning an Irish road trip? Car rental Ireland with 23 locations, unlimited mileage, zero hidden fees, and a 4-hour free-change window.”

Irishcarrentals.com, via Ireland Rent A Car booking guide

For Irish travelers and visitors, the decision is clear: book an economy car early through an aggregator like Kayak or Irishcarrentals, skip unnecessary add-ons, and pick up your car at a city center location to avoid airport surcharges – or accept the airport fee for convenience. The cheapest rental on paper rarely stays cheap; the real winner is the provider that shows you the full price before you commit.