Car rental in Ireland – economy cars, compact cars, SUVs and 9‑seater minibuses

How To Find Your Most Suitable Vehicle

See Also our Car Hire Cost analysis and driving rules video on an earlier blog.

When you search online for “car rental Ireland”, “Dublin airport car hire”, “cheap car rental Ireland”, “Ireland minibus hire”, or “9 seater car rental Ireland”, you’ll see broadly similar vehicle types and insurance options from the major companies:

• Enterprise, Hertz, Europcar, Sixt, Avis, Budget, Alamo, Thrifty, National

• Irish Car Rentals, CARHIRE.ie, Payless, Conn’s, Dan Dooley, My Irish Cousin

• Brokers: Auto Europe, DiscoverCars, KAYAK, Rentalcars, etc.

Below is a visitor‑focused overview you can use to find the best car to rent for driving in Ireland, rental car insurance, and requirements to rent a car in Ireland.

Driving requirements to rent a car or minibus in Ireland

Questions people ask often: Is driving age a problem for car rental?, What are the license requirements for a hire car Ireland?, and do I need an international driving permit in Ireland?.

1. Minimum age to rent a car in Ireland

   • Standard cars: usually 25–74 years old.

   • Some companies rent to 21–24 year olds with restrictions:

     • Limited to smaller categories (e.g., economy/compact).

     • Young driver surcharge (about €10–€25 per day).

   • Minibus / 7–9 seater often has higher limits:

     • Many require 25+ or even 30+, with at least 2+ years’ license.

2. Maximum age

   • Many rental car companies in Ireland have an upper age range (e.g. 70–79).

   • Older drivers may need:

     • A recent medical certificate.

     • Letter from insurer confirming they are claim‑free.

   • This varies by company and is important for search terms like “senior car hire Ireland”.

3. Driving licence requirements

   • EU/EEA/UK licences: Accepted directly, full licence required.

   • US, Canada, Australia, NZ, etc.:

     • Full, valid licence is usually accepted without an IDP.

     • Some companies still recommend an International Driving Permit (IDP)

   • Non‑Roman alphabet licences (e.g. Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic):

     • International Driving Permit is effectively required plus your original licence.

4. Experience

   • Most car rental companies in Ireland require:

     • 1–2 years holding a full licence (sometimes more for minibuses, SUVs, luxury).

5. Other conditions to rent a car in Ireland

   • Credit card in main driver’s name for deposit (sometimes debit accepted with conditions).

   • Passport or national ID for identification.

   • Named additional drivers must meet the same age and licence rules and pay an additional driver fee.

Main types of rental cars in Ireland (with typical insurance)

The car rental market in Ireland can be split into : economy car rental , medium sized car hire, automatic car rental, SUV rental, and 9 seater minibus hire .

Note: Each company shows model images in its fleet section (e.g. “Our Fleet” or “Vehicle Guide”). I’ll describe the usual look so you can match them when searching.

1. Small / Economy car rental in Ireland

This catagory will be the cheapest, and classed under cheap economy car hire, or small car for driving narrow roads in Ireland.

• Typical models (or similar):

  • VW Polo, Toyota Yaris, Ford Fiesta, Renault Clio

  • 

• Toyota Yaris

  Capacity:

  • Around 4 passengers, 1–2 medium bags.

• Best for:

  • Solo travellers or couples, narrow country roads, cities (Dublin, Galway, Cork).

• Typical photo on sites:

  • Small 4‑door hatchback, white or silver, compact and low, with modest boot space.

Typical insurance for economy cars in Ireland:

• Included as standard (almost always)

  • CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) with a high excess (e.g. €1,200–€3,000).

  • Theft protection (sometimes combined with CDW).

  • Third‑party liability (required by Irish law).

• Optional / upsell at desk or online

  • SCDW / Excess reduction / “Full cover”: reduces excess close to €0.

  • Windscreen, tyre, underbody cover: often not included in basic CDW.

  • Personal Accident Insurance (PAI): for driver/passengers’ medical costs.

2. Compact / Intermediate car rental in Ireland

For more than two people and more for families:

• Typical models:

  • Opel Astra, Toyota Corolla, VW Golf or similar.

    

• Capacity:

  • 5 passengers, 2–3 medium bags.

• Best for:

  • Small families; a balance between comfort on motorways and manoeuvrability on rural roads.

• Typical photo:

  • 5‑door hatchback or saloon, blue/grey/silver, slightly longer and roomier boot than economy cars.

Insurance for compact/intermediate rentals:

• Same structure as economy:

  • CDW + Theft + Third‑party liability by default.

  • Excess usually similar or slightly higher than economy.

• Add‑ons:

  • Super CDW / Excess waiver to reduce or remove excess.

  • Windscreen & tyre cover, often separate.

  • PAI, roadside assistance upgrades.

3. Standard / Full‑size and SUV rental in Ireland

For people who like more leg room and a higher road profile

• Typical models:

  • Skoda Octavia (large hatch/saloon), VW Tiguan, Toyota C‑HR Hybrid, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage.

    

• Capacity:

  • 5 passengers, 3–4 suitcases.

• Best for:

  • Families or small groups with more luggage; longer trips (e.g. Ring of Kerry, Wild Atlantic Way).

Insurance for standard/full‑size/SUV rental:

• CDW and Theft included but:

  • SUVs often have higher excess amounts than small cars.

• Strongly pushed add‑ons:

  • Excess reduction / Super CDW is heavily recommended by companies for SUVs due to cost of repairs.

  • Some plans exclude tyres, glass, roof and undercarriage, so check wording.

• Cross‑border cover:

  • If a visitor wants to go to Northern Ireland, ask for “cross‑border insurance for car hire Ireland”; some charge a daily fee.

Words you need to search for “SUV car rental Ireland with full coverage”, “automatic SUV with CDW included Ireland”.

4. Luxury / Premium car hire in Ireland

These will be classed as the luxury car rental, premium car hire Dublin, or executive car rental Ireland.

• Typical models:

  • Audi A4/A6, BMW 1 or 3 Series, Mercedes C‑Class (exact models vary).

    

• Capacity:

  • 4–5 passengers, 2–3 bags.

• Best for:

  • Business trips, special occasions, those wanting more comfort and performance.

Insurance for luxury car rental:

• CDW + Theft + Third‑party still standard, but with very high excess.

• Many companies:

  • Restrict age (e.g. 30+ only).

  • Require premium excess cover or may hold a higher deposit on your card.

• Some offer “all‑inclusive” or “premium protection” packages, which:

  • Reduce excess close to zero.

  • Include additional roadside assistance, glass/tyres.

5. Minivan / 7‑seater and 9‑seater minibus hire in Ireland

For larger families and groups these are classed as 7 seater car hire, 9 seater minibus rental Ireland, people carrier hire, group minibus hire Ireland with insurance.

• Typical models:

  • 7‑seaters: Ford S‑Max / Galaxy, VW Touran / Sharan.

  • 8–9‑seaters: Mercedes Vito/Viano, Ford Transit Tourneo, Renault Trafic, VW Caravelle.

• Capacity:

  • 7–9 passengers, 4–8 large suitcases, depending on configuration.

• Best for:

  • Large families, small tour groups, golf trips with equipment, group tours along the Causeway Coast, Cliffs of Moher, etc.

Insurance and conditions for minibus rental Ireland:

• Age & licence:

  • Often 25+ or 30+ only.

  • Usually 2–5 years’ full licence required.

  • Some companies may insist on a clean licence (no serious endorsements).

• Insurance:

  • CDW and Theft included, but:

    • Excess can be especially high (often higher than for standard cars).

  • Optional:

    • Minibus excess waiver / Super CDW for people carriers.

    • Glass & tyre cover (highly recommended – more vulnerable vehicle).

    • Extra driver insurance for sharing long drives.

• Commercial vs private use:

  • For typical tourist use (friends/family), normal car rental insurance applies.

  • For paid tours or commercial use, you need specific commercial insurance and possibly different licence categories – that is outside standard tourist rentals.

Insurance terminology for Ireland car rental searches

Useful search keywords: “CDW Ireland explained”, “Irish car rental insurance guide”, “should I buy excess insurance for car hire in Ireland”.

1. CDW – Collision Damage Waiver Ireland

   • Reduces your liability from the full value of the car to a fixed excess.

   • Almost always included in “basic” rates in Ireland, but with high excess.

2. Theft Protection

   • Covers the theft of the vehicle (not necessarily your items inside).

   • Usually bundled with CDW.

3. Third‑party liability

   • Mandatory by law; covers damage or injury to others.

   • Ireland usually includes a high liability limit; it’s part of the base rate.

4. Excess / Deductible

   • Amount you still pay if the car is damaged or stolen (e.g. €1,500).

   • Varies by car category (often higher for SUVs, luxury, and minibuses).

5. SCDW / Excess Waiver / Full Protection / “Super Cover”

   • Optional upgrade from the rental company that:

     • Reduces excess to near €0.

     • Sometimes includes glass, tyres, roof, underbody – but not always, so read the small print.

       
       

6. Third‑party excess insurance (external)

   • Bought from an independent insurer or broker website.

   • Does not change the rental company’s excess, but reimburses you if they charge it.

     
     

     Optional extras

   • PAI (Personal Accident Insurance) – covers driver/passengers’ medical costs.

   • Roadside assistance upgrade – towing, lockout, misfueling, etc.

   • Cross‑border cover – for driving to Northern Ireland or elsewhere in the UK.

We hope that answers any queries you may have. Please subscribe to our email newsletter for more travel advice and information.