Car Rental

10 Rules for Renting a Car in Ireland

Ireland by Locals

18 Apr 2026 — 9 min read

Car Rental Counters in Dublin Airport

I Didn't Want To Write About Car Rental In Ireland

I spend time every day in Irish travel Facebook groups, and rental car insurance is the question that comes up more than almost anything else.

But I've put off writing this post because car rental is painful. Simple as that.

It's confusing, each rental car, insurance & credit card company has their own complex rules. I'm going to explain the general overview here but am going to give a massive bold print disclaimer

I am not an insurance advisor. Policies change, terms vary by company, and your situation is unique. Always read the full policy documents and check your credit card benefits before you travel.

You'll see quotes below. These are directly from people in the Facebook group. This guide is built from those real conversations, what worked, what didn't, and what caught people off guard.

The Three Important Coverages

Before we get into the detail, you need to understand these three things.

1. Third Party Liability (TPL).
Covers damage you cause to others (their car, their person, or that stone wall you hit). This is mandatory and included in every Irish rental quote.

2. Collision Damage Waiver (CDW).
Covers the rental car itself. Without it, you’re on the hook for the whole car if it’s totaled. With it, you only owe the 'excess' (the deductible), which is usually a few thousand Euro. Note: Standard CDW almost never covers tyres, glass, or the underbody.

3. Excess Protection / Super CDW.
With it, your excess drops to zero or a couple of hundred Euro instead of a few thousand. You can buy 'Super CDW' or buy third-party 'Excess Insurance' which is cheaper but requires you to pay the rental company upfront and then file a claim to get your money back.

Now the rules.

My Ten Rules To Renting A Car In Ireland

Rule 1: Third Party Liability Is Mandatory in Ireland

Third Party Liability is required by Irish law. Every rental company includes it. It covers damage you cause to other people and their property. This is the one piece of coverage you never have to think about.

Rule 2: CDW Is Actually Not Insurance But You Need It

CDW is not actually insurance. It's a waiver where the rental company agrees to not come after you for the full replacement cost of the car. With CDW, your liability is capped at the excess.

Without it, you're liable for the entire value of the vehicle.

If your quote looks too cheap, it probably doesn't have CDW. While some websites let you untick this box, do not do it unless you have a very specific letter from your credit card company (more on that in Rule 8). If you show up without CDW or that letter, they won't give you the keys unless you pay their much higher 'walk-up' rates.

Rule 3: CDW Was Not Created For Irish Roads

CDW does not cover tyres, wheels, windscreens, underbody, roof, mirrors, keys, or misfuelling. Which is shame because broken mirrors, scratches from hedges, and cracked windscreens from loose gravel are very common here.

I drive an old car for this exact reason. I drive around Ireland so much that it's pointless having a new shiny car. It never stays that way for long.

If you want peace of mind, you need more than CDW.

"We did not meet one American or Canadian that didn't have some damage to their rentals. It was kind of a running joke of how did you knock your mirror off."

"I was charged $800 a few years ago for a scratch on a tire."

"We learned the hard way with one flat tire and one about to rip. The 'full coverage' I had purchased did not include tire insurance — infuriating."

Rule 4: Excessive Holds

The excess is the amount you pay out of pocket if something happens. Your deductible.

The rental company holds this amount, and sometimes significantly more, on your credit card when you collect the car. The hold varies wildly by company. Make sure your card can absorb it plus your other trip spending, because that credit is frozen for the entire rental.

"They put a $6,000 hold on my card. If you don't have enough available credit, take the car company insurance."

Rule 5: Pay Extra For Less Stress

You can reduce the excess from thousands down to hundreds or zero by buying additional coverage. You'll see this coverage called different things like Super CDW, Excess Waiver, Excess Protection, Damage Waiver.

Different names, same idea.

Whether to get it or not depends on your appetite for risk and your savings account. But it is not a decision to make when you are jet lagged at 6am at a cold Dublin Airport car rental counter.

If you want it: Buy it when you book online. It’s almost always cheaper than buying it at the desk.
If you have it from a third party: Bring a printed copy of your policy. The counter staff will not look it up for you, and "I have it on my phone" often isn't enough to stop the sales pitch.
If you don't want it: Be prepared for a very pushy upsell. The agent might tell you that "the average repair cost is €1,500." They probably aren't lying.

Me? I always get full insurance. Not even a tough decision. I want to relax on holiday not remember insurance clauses.

"We got the full insurance from the rental company and the agent said we could bring back a tuna can and we'd be covered. We were happy we did because we did bust one of the side mirrors. It was no issue at all."

"We budget about $45 per day for complete coverage. It's worth it to us to be able to turn in keys and a hub cap and have no arguments about damage."

Rule 6: The Three Options To Book Your Car

1. The All-Inclusive Companies

Rent from an all-inclusive company like My Irish Cousin or NewWay. Everything is included: CDW, excess protection, tyres, glass, roadside assistance.

The Pro: Total peace of mind. You pick up the keys and drive. If you clip a mirror, you just hand back the keys and walk away. No credit card holds, no inspections.
The Con: You pay for that privilege. They can be the most expensive, but not always.

"Someone hit me while I was parked. When I returned it they made a note and I never heard anything again."

2. The Low-Cost Aggregators

DiscoverCars is the world's biggest rental car comparison site. They negotiate lower rates with all the main rental companies, so you're often paying less than you would booking direct for the exact same car.

The Pro: Usually the lowest price. They compare across multiple companies in one search. You can add their full coverage for around €10/day which covers your excess, tyres, glass, and even lost keys.
The Con: That full coverage is a reimbursement policy. If you damage the car, the rental company charges your credit card first using that excess hold we talked about. You then claim it back from DiscoverCars' insurance partner. You get the money back, but you're out of pocket in the meantime.

Can you trust them? They are rated 4.6/5 from 250,000 reviews on TrustPilot.

3. Booking Direct (The Middle Ground)

Go to the likes of Hertz, Enterprise, or Sixt directly.

The Pro: If you buy their full insurance on their website, the counter agent has nothing more to sell you. You deal direct with the company in case of problems, no middleman.
The Con: They can be more expensive than the aggregators for the same car.

Rule 7: But I Have Insurance With My Credit Card

Many US credit cards include rental car coverage, but the details vary and Ireland has specific complications. And Ireland is not always covered.

I absolutely recommend that you call the number on the back of your credit card and ask these questions before you rely on them for your insurance.

Does my coverage apply in Ireland & Northern Ireland ?
Is my rental car coverage primary or secondary outside the United States?
Does my coverage apply when CDW is included in the base rental rate and can't be declined?
Are tires, wheels, windows, and underbody damage covered?
What's my coverage limit?
Do I need to register my trip or file anything before I travel?
How does the claims process work, and how long does reimbursement take?

Remember CDW usually doesn't cover the most common Irish damages of mirrors, wheels and tyres. Rental companies often charge a fee if you use credit card coverage, it's not much, about €30-50.

Remember, the underpaid counter agent didn't make that rule!

"My Chase Sapphire covered the £3,700 damage. But the process took a few months to clear."

Rule 8: A Letter of Coverage

If you're using credit card coverage, most Irish rental companies will ask for a Letter of Coverage. This is where things get messy. Based on what travellers in Irish travel groups have reported, here's what they recommended.

Get the letter right before you leave home.
It should be very recent, ink still wet recent.
Make sure it mentions Ireland specifically
Print a hard copy. The counter staff will not call your card company to sort it out for you.

"When I called for the Letter of Coverage I was told it will say 'Worldwide' but not Ireland specifically. The rental company nearly didn't accept it. They ended up getting the manager to override because I have a solid history with them."

"Our rental agency requested that we have a new letter written because ours was older than two weeks when we did the actual pickup."

Rule 9: Document the Car Before You Drive Away

Take a video walkthrough of the entire car before you leave the lot.

Check that any pre-existing damage is noted on the rental agreement. If it isn't, flag it immediately.

The left side of the car is where most existing damage will be. Hopefully you don't add more.

And record another video when you return the car. It's not unheard of to get a letter from the rental guys after you get home claiming damage.

"No matter who you rent from, take pictures of the vehicle before driving away, especially of the left side and left wheels. That's where the most scratches will be. Make sure the pics capture the surroundings to show you haven't driven it yet."

Rule 10: Book Automatic & Refuse The Upgrade

Most rental cars in Ireland are manual. If you're not comfortable driving a stick shift, get an automatic. It's difficult enough driving on our roads.

Book an automatic well in advance, they disappear quickly, especially in summer.

Choose the smallest car that fits your group and luggage. Between tight parking spaces, narrow roads, and close encounters with hedges, smaller is smarter. Don't accept the SUV upgrade at the counter.

If you do, get every bit of insurance that you can.

"You will be dealing with very narrow, windy roads, many blind spots, speeding oncoming traffic and you will be driving on the other side of the road with the driver's seat on the right side. You will be disoriented."

Here's How to Book Your Car

Get a quote from My Irish Cousin and NewWay. They're the benchmark, everything included, nothing to worry about.
Check DiscoverCars rates
Check a few car rental companies directly such as Sixt, Europcar & Hertz.
Compare the total cost including all coverage you selected. Be sure you're comparing apples to apples.
Don't skimp. This is your trip of a lifetime. Leave it with memories of Ireland, not insurance battles.
Print out every policy document and read them before you leave home. Understand what's covered and what isn't while you're sitting at your kitchen table, not when you're stressed after an accident on a back road in Kerry.
If anything is unclear, call the company. Better yet, email them, then you have it in writing.

Essentials For Your Rental Car

Save the €10 per day GPS fee and use your own phone for directions. Download Google Maps Offline, add Waze and Google Maps apps. I use them all.
It's illegal to hold your phone while driving in Ireland. Bring a removable phone mount for your car. I have this one.
Driving directions & photos quickly drain your battery so get a portable charger. I've had this my INIU Portable charger for years.

Skip The Rental Car

If you read all this and decide renting a car sounds like more hassle than it's worth, that's a perfectly valid conclusion. Ireland has excellent coach tour companies like Brendan Vacations and you can see everything without the stress.