Renting a Car in Ireland: My Honest Experience with NewWay

It took me 10 years of traveling to Ireland to finally rent a car because I was scared. Instead of facing that fear, I relied on public transport to build my itineraries.

The idea of renting a car in Ireland was incredibly daunting. I was scared of the internet horror stories about super-cheap rental car quotes being doubled at the pick-up counter. As a solo traveler, I was also terrified of navigating the famously narrow winding roads by myself. 

So I kept using public transport.

Until I wanted to visit County Donegal and realized that a car was necessary to complete my Donegal bucket list.

That road trip completely changed how I travel in Ireland. 

I could stop at scenic viewpoints whenever I wanted, eat at tiny local restaurants that buses never reached, and explore places like Donegal that simply aren’t practical without a car.

Since then, I’ve completed a second road trip that took me from the Wicklow Mountains across to Connemara and off to the remote Achill Island. 

As I’m writing this post, I am planning my next Irish road trip; this time I’m driving the Ring of Kerry and road tripping around the Dingle Peninsula. I’m stoked.

Since I’m planning another Irish road trip and comparing rental cars all over again, I figured it was the perfect time to write about what it’s actually like to rent a car and drive in Ireland.

I’ll also share the rental insurance decisions I make, when it’s worth renting a car, when public transport is honestly the better option, and the rental company I keep coming back to.

This post contains affiliate links, which means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a tiny bit of income if you decide to make a purchase or booking. Please read my disclaimer for more information.

Do You Need to Rent a Car in Ireland

I visited Ireland ten times before renting a car and don’t regret waiting. Public transportation let me see plenty, but once I started road tripping, it completely changed how I experienced Ireland.

You should NOT Rent a Car if…

But I don’t always think it’s worth it to rent a car. In fact, I’ve been to Ireland twice already this year and did not rent a car for one of those trips!

If your itinerary includes basing yourself in Ireland’s main cities like Dublin, Cork, Galway, or Belfast, you do not need to rent a car. Take a train or bus between the cities and use public transport or guided tours to build out the rest of your itinerary.

If you’re traveling solo to Ireland for the first time and are nervous about renting a car, then don’t. Driving on the opposite side of the road and car, navigating roundabouts and the narrow roads is super exhausting. Instead, enjoy the countryside views from trains and buses. Don’t think you can’t get to small towns with a rental car. Before I rented a car, I visited Ennis, Kinsale, Cobh, Dingle, and Doolin, all without one. 

Renting a car will increase the cost of your trip to Ireland. Make sure you can afford the car rental, insurance, gas, and tolls. If it will totally blow your budget and make you question whether you should even go to Ireland, then don’t rent a car. It’s 100% still worth it to go to Ireland without a car. Save your money, use day tours for ease of travel, and enjoy it without having to navigate country roads!

If you’ve read this section and decided that you’re not going to rent a car for your trip, I’ve got the perfect car-free 7-day Ireland itinerary for you!

You should rent a car if…

You want total freedom and the ultimate flexibility for your itinerary. The first time I rented a car was for a road trip in County Donegal. I really wanted to visit this part of Ireland and realized that once I got beyond Donegal town, public transport was extremely limited. So I bit the bullet and rented a car.

That road trip showed me how much easier it was to explore Ireland on my own schedule with a car. 

You can go anywhere you want, whenever works for you, stop in super small towns for lunch, and pull over at every beautiful beach if you want to!

You can also plan hikes in a way that works for your schedule instead of the bus’.

If you’re planning to drive the Ring of Kerry, want to spend a weekend hiking in the Wicklow Mountains, or stay at scenic B&Bs, then rent a car.

Still not totally sure?

There are ways to combine renting a car and public transport in the same itinerary! 

I’m planning to pick up the car, drive the Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula over 2 weeks, then return the car at Shannon Airport. From there I’ll take a bus to Galway for the weekend and then hop on another bus to fly home from Dublin Airport.

If you believe that renting a car will help you accomplish your itinerary, then let’s get into the nitty-gritty details. 

Requirements for Renting a Car in Ireland

If you take nothing else from this post, I hope you remember this: read the terms and conditions of the rental car company you book with! All of the answers to your questions will be there!

Age Requirements

Generally speaking, the age requirements to rent a car in Ireland are 21-25 years, but the minimum may differ depending on your preferred rental car company. 

For example, I use NewWay, and their minimum age requirement is 25 years; when I was looking at Sixt, the terms and conditions said the minimum age is 21.

Valid Driver’s License

Visitors from the US, Australia, Canada, the UK, and some European countries can use their valid driver’s license, provided it’s in English.

If you don’t meet these requirements, you will need an International Driving Permit. 

Some car rental companies require that you’ve held a valid license for a certain number of years. 

Again, check the terms and conditions.

Credit Card Requirements

Many first-time renters don’t realize they’ll often need a credit card in the exact same name as the reservation. Many car rental companies place a large hold on your credit card; I’m talking anywhere from $1,000-$5,000+. Make sure that your credit card has enough space on it to accommodate that type of hold.

How to Rent a Car in Ireland

Know Your Itinerary

First things first is to know your itinerary to decide what dates you’ll need to rent your car. If you’re planning on spending a few days in Dublin upon arrival, do not pick up your rental car until you’re ready to leave the city. Driving in Dublin is insane and not worth it at all!

Alternatively, you could land, pick up your rental car, do your road trip, and then return the car and spend a few days in Dublin at the end of your trip.

Choose Your Pick-Up Location

Knowing your itinerary will also help you figure out where you need to pick up your rental car. 

Renting a Car in Dublin, Ireland

Most likely, your itinerary starts and ends in Dublin. This is the case for most visitors, so Dublin Airport has the biggest selection of rental car companies compared to other airports in Ireland, making the rental a bit cheaper.

However, when you leave Dublin Airport, you have to immediately face about three roundabouts. You’re not driving in the city center, but the area around the airport is pretty busy! Once you get on the highway, you should be able to relax into it.

Renting a Car in Shannon, Ireland

If you’re traveling to Ireland from the east coast of the United States or from another European country, consider flying into Shannon Airport.

It’s close to epic road trip destinations like the Ring of Kerry and the rest of the Wild Atlantic Way.

This is where I am flying into for my trip this September. I found the prices comparable to renting a car from Dublin Airport, and they have a large selection of rental car companies.

Compare Prices

Various factors will influence the cost of your rental car. It’s important to know what makes sense for you! 

I choose the smallest automatic car every time!

Decide on Manual vs Automatic

Manual transmission (stick shift) vehicles are the norm in Ireland; therefore, they are more readily available and cheaper. If you’re renting a car super last minute, a manual may be the only option! If you’re not comfortable with driving a manual, do not rent one. Learning how to drive a manual while also learning how to drive in Ireland is a bad idea.

Automatic transmission vehicles are typically easier for Americans, but they are more expensive than the manuals.

I recommend paying more for the automatic if you’re not comfortable with a manual. 

Vehicle Size

I recommend renting as small a vehicle as possible. Not only are they cheaper, but you’ll be grateful for your small car when squeezing past a bus on the narrow roads! 

If it’s just you or just you and one other person, get the smallest vehicle option. The trunk will be small so pack accordingly.

Roadside Assistance

As a solo traveler, having 24/7 roadside assistance is a necessity. If anything happens, I want to be able to call someone and have them fix it. Thankfully, I haven’t had to use it, and I’m knocking on all of the wood around me that it continues that way. 

Not all rental car companies include roadside assistance. Some do, for an additional fee.

NewWay includes this automatically in the price. 

Time of the Year

Overall, the most expensive time of year to visit Ireland is the summer months of June-August. The cost of rental cars increases during this time as tourists flock to Ireland hoping for good weather for a summer road trip.

If you’re traveling in the summer months, make sure you book your car well in advance.  

Rental Length

This is probably obvious, but the more days you have the car, the more expensive the overall total will be. That’s why I think it’s a good idea to try to combine a rental car with other forms of transportation. It’s silly to rent a car just to have it sit in a parking spot for 3 days because you’re in a city and don’t need it!

Determine the Type of Insurance You Need

I’ll be honest: rental car insurance makes my head spin.

Every company seems to use different terms, there are credit card benefits to consider, and half the articles I read made me more confused than when I started. But this one does a decent job at explaining it.

This was a big deterrent to me renting a car in the first place.

But, after renting cars in Ireland multiple times, here’s the conclusion I came to:

I personally pay for the rental company’s insurance.

Could I save money by relying on my credit card’s coverage? Probably. My credit card actually provides rental car insurance in Ireland.

But using it means accepting a large hold on my credit card, making sure the rental company accepts that coverage, bringing printed proof of insurance, and potentially paying for any damage upfront before seeking reimbursement.

For me, that extra stress isn’t worth the savings.

I’d rather know exactly what I’m paying before I arrive at the rental counter and enjoy my road trip without worrying about paperwork if something happens.

That’s one of the biggest reasons I’ve continued renting with NewWay; they include the coverage I want in one transparent price.

That said, your situation might be different. Here’s a quick overview of the different forms of insurance options you’ll see when booking.

Basic Insurance

Every rental car in Ireland includes basic third-party liability insurance.

This protects other people and their property if you’re responsible for an accident.

It does not cover damage to your rental car.

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)

This reduces how much you’ll have to pay if your rental car is damaged or stolen.

Many travelers decline the rental company’s CDW because their credit card provides similar coverage.

If you choose that route, make sure:

• your credit card specifically covers rentals in Ireland
• your rental company accepts that coverage
• you bring printed proof of your insurance
• you’re comfortable with the large security hold placed on your card

If damage occurs, you’ll usually pay first and then submit a claim for reimbursement.

Super CDW

Super CDW further reduces, or sometimes eliminates, your financial responsibility for smaller damage like scratches or dents.

If you’re nervous about driving on Ireland’s narrow roads (I definitely was), this extra peace of mind can be worth considering.

Credit Card Coverage

Many travel credit cards include rental car insurance, but they’re not always accepted in Ireland due to the high level of insurance claims.

If you plan to rely on it, don’t assume you’re covered.

Read your card’s benefits carefully before booking and confirm that both:

• Ireland is included
• your rental company accepts that coverage

Bring printed proof from the credit card company with you to the rental desk.

My Insurance Recommendation

If you’re comfortable navigating credit card insurance and don’t mind the security deposit, you can absolutely save extra money by declining the rental company’s additional coverage.

If you’re renting a car in Ireland for the first time or you’re already nervous about driving on the left like I was, I honestly think paying a bit more for straightforward coverage is worth it.

It let me focus on enjoying my Donegal road trip instead of wondering whether every tiny scratch would become an insurance headache.

Book Directly

Now that you’ve decided how much insurance you’re comfortable with, it’s time to actually book your rental car. 

Check out comparison sites like DiscoverCars to compare prices between various rental car companies. 

But, ultimately, book directly with the company and make sure you understand the terms and conditions!

This is when I realized that while a rental car from Sixt was $400 for 13 days on DiscoverCars, when I went directly to their website and selected the additional insurance and roadside assistance the total went up to $1000!! 

Which is more expensive than NewWay which already has everything included!

Now if I was going to use my credit card insurance, then this would reduce the price, but again, I’m not quite ready for that step!

What it’s like Renting with NewWay

I have rented a car with NewWay three times now, and I honestly don’t think I’ll change. Even though I was considering trying a different company for my upcoming road trip, once I have a good experience with a company, I am loyal.

By the time I was finally ready to rent a car after putting it off for ten years, I knew I wanted the simplest experience possible. I didn’t want to stand at the rental counter wondering whether I should buy more insurance or worrying that I’d missed something in the fine print. That’s why I chose NewWay the first time. 

The second time I rented with NewWay because I was familiar with them and loved that as long as I wasn’t negligent, I could return the car without stress.

As I was planning my third road trip, I was actually considering trying a different company to provide a different perspective for this post. 

And to see if the horror stories are true.

As other blogs suggested, I checked DiscoverCars to compare rates and found quotes for cars as low as $400 for 13 days. The NewWay quote was around $800. 

But when I went directly to the sites of rental car companies like Budget and Sixt and opted in for the additional insurance and roadside assistance, the price was actually a bit higher than NewWay.

My credit card does provide additional rental car insurance in Ireland, but those companies required a hefty credit card hold.

Ultimately, since the price was comparable and I have had excellent experiences with NewWay, I decided to rebook with them for peace of mind.

NewWay Booking Process

The booking process with NewWay is super simple and straightforward.

Choose the dates you’ll need the car and the pickup and drop-off locations.

The next page will populate with cars in varying sizes and transmission types, with the price right below it.

Select the car that suits your needs.

As you move through the process, there won’t be options for additional insurance, but there will be additional options to add more drivers, sat nav, or car seats for an extra cost.

If you don’t add any of those items, the price you saw when you selected the car type will be the price you see when you book it, and what you pay when you pick up your car!

NewWay Pricing

I love the transparent pricing from NewWay. If you are going to use your credit card’s car rental insurance coverage, I don’t recommend NewWay because the two policies will negate each other. 

Print out your coverage and use a different company. The car will be cheaper, but a large deposit will be charged to your credit card. Make sure you have enough room for it and for whatever you’ll spend on the rest of your trip. 

NewWay Customer Service

Each time I’ve picked up the car, they’ve been super friendly. The first time, the representative could tell I was nervous about driving, and she encouraged me, which was so kind. 

At drop-off, they’re not overly helpful, but they’re efficient so you can get to your flight on time. 

What to Expect Picking Up Your Car with NewWay

Ok, so you’ve booked your rental car, landed in Ireland, and are heading to pick up your car. What now?

After following signs for the rental car, you’ll find NewWay

The representative will review the contract with you. They’ll ask for a credit card (matches the name on the reservation exactly) and your driver’s license. Make sure you have physical, up-to-date documentation. They will not accept photos or photocopies. 

You may need to take a shuttle to the rental car center to pick up your car keys. 

Take photos of your car, interior and exterior, prior to leaving the lot. Newway has never requested this, but I do it for peace of mind. 

Also take time to familiarize yourself with the turn signal.

Then you’re on your way!

What to Expect Returning Your Rental Car

After you’ve completed your Ireland road trip, it’s time to return your rental car.

Make sure you return the car with a full tank of gas; otherwise, they will charge you more for it than you’d likely pay at the pump.

The paperwork NewWay gives you will have a QR code on it with the address for the rental car return center. Input this information into your GPS and follow the directions and signs to the rental car center.

Don’t worry if you get lost. I did the first time and a kind gentleman showed me where to go

You’ll pull into a line of cars, find one that looks short.

Get out of the car and get your luggage sorted. Clean out any remaining trash (although maybe do this at the gas station).

A representative will come over and check the license plate, take the keys, check the gas tank is full, and you’ll be on your way

NewWay has never walked around the car inspecting for damage.

My Top Tips for Driving a Car in Ireland

1. Take Your Time

The number one thing you need to do when driving in Ireland is take your time.

Before you leave the rental car lot, spend some time familiarizing yourself with the lights, windshield wipers, and turn signals. Also set up your mirrors. 

Put your destination in GPS and take a deep breath. You got this.

2. Stay to the Left

I’m sure you know this, but you’ll drive on the left hand side of the road in Ireland. 

I sing Beyoncé’s song constantly for the first hour or so of driving. Radio is off and I’m just humming “to the left to the left”.

I promise it helps.

3. Pick a destination about 45 minutes away to take a break on your first day

The first time I rented a car I had a 3 hour driving ahead of me to Donegal. I knew I would need a couple of breaks in there so I picked a place I wanted to visit about 30-45 minutes outside of Dublin.

I got to the Hill of Tara at around 8:00 am. I was able to stretch my legs, take a break, and see a stunning place that’s been on my Ireland bucket list for ages. There was no one else there!

So pick a spot on the way to your destination on day one to take a break. Readjust your mirrors, stretch your legs, and just rest for a minute.

4. Let’s Talk about Roundabouts

The only time I almost got in an accident in Ireland was at a roundabout in Derry.

I checked the cars already in the roundabout and saw a car with a turn signal on that I thought meant they were exiting before I would enter. So I started to enter and they did not exit. 

Terrifying, but an accident was avoided.

My biggest tip for this is to triple check that no car is coming and stay on the outside lane so that way you can exit when needed.

There are a ton of roundabouts you’ll encounter; the repetition will help you get the hang of them.

5. Expect Narrow Roads

I don’t think the roads that you’re driving will be as narrow as you see on social media. Unless you’re driving the Connor Pass or Slea Head in Dingle.

Are the roads narrow? Yes, especially if you’re coming from the US and especially once you get out into rural Ireland.

Keep an eye out for cars heading your direction and look for pull-ins. If there is a pull in, pull into it, flash your lights, and let the other car pass. They may be closer to one and let you pass.

You’ll figure it out, I promise.

Also, the speed limits are insanely high on these roads, but just refer to tip one and take your time. If there is a line of cars behind you pull over where you can and let them pass you.

Side note: do not park in the pull in areas. They’re there to allow cars to pass, not to park.

6. Always Keep a Half Tank of Gas

Rural areas have limited gas stations. If you see one, fill up your tank! Also, double and triple check that you are using the correct type of fuel for your vehicle type.

7. Learn Irish Road Signs

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the rules of the road in Ireland.

For instance, in the US, you can turn right on a red unless there is a sign stating otherwise. In Ireland, you can not turn left on a red…ever. 

8. Watch for Sheep, Cows, Walkers, and Cyclists 

Once you get out into rural areas, like Achill Island you’ll see free roaming sheep and cows. Take it slow around turns and as you pass them!

One time, I was driving around a blind turn and there were about eight huge cows in the middle of the road!

They were mostly off to the side, but make sure you’re using extra caution in rural areas.

There are also a lot of hill walkers and cyclists in scenic parts of the country. Take care when passing them. 

9. Navigate to a Parking Lot in Towns

One of my biggest tips if you’re driving into a town is to find a parking lot and navigate to that. It’s way easier to pay a bit for parking than navigate multiple traffic lights and busy town centers!

I totally understand if you’re nervous about renting a car in Ireland. I put it off for 10 years because I convinced myself it would be too stressful, too expensive, or simply beyond my comfort zone. 

I don’t regret waiting because I think any trip to Ireland, no matter how you get around, is worth it. 

But renting a car opened up an entirely different side to Ireland. It gave me the freedom to stop at empty beaches, take spontaneous detours, hike trails on my own schedule, and explore places like Donegal and Achill Island that would have been difficult to reach without a car 

If your itinerary is mostly cities, skip the rental and save your money. But if you’ve been dreaming about exploring Ireland’s quieter corners, don’t let fear make the decision for you the way I did for so many years. Read the terms and conditions, choose the insurance that gives you peace of mind, and trust that you’ll settle into driving much faster than you expect. I certainly did.

Read More About Ireland Travel Planning

• How to Plan a Trip to Ireland: A Step-by-Step Guide
• Is Ireland Safe to Travel Alone as a Solo Female Traveler
• The Only Ireland Packing List You Need for Any Season
• What Not To Do In Ireland: Avoid These Tourist Mistakes in Ireland
• 20 of the Best Places to Visit in Ireland
• How to Spend 7 Days in Ireland without a Rental Car
• How to Spend Four Days in Ireland: The Ultimate Itinerary
• How to Get Around Ireland as a Solo Traveler
• How Much Does a Trip to Ireland Cost? A Realistic Budget