Car Rental in Ireland

Sixt Car Rental in Ireland

We have branches at three important locations in Ireland. You can find us in Cork, Dublin and Dun Laoghaire. It is easy to book online and many of our top offers allow for rebooking and cancellation, making it easy to have more flexibility when planning your travels. As you are guided through the online booking process you can take a look at all the great optional features that are available to add to your rental car. Keep reading on down this page to get an idea of some of the top architectural and natural sights in Ireland, which can you can use to help plan your itinerary.

Our Service

You can choose from a range of car categories that are suitable for a range of travel and occasions. In Ireland you will find all of our rental cars are from premium international brands such as Toyota, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Ford.

Here are some tips on choosing the right rental vehicle for your trip:

• A smaller model sedan, such as the Ford Ka, can be perfect for navigating through both smaller towns and larger cities.
• Larger estate sedans are a good choice for weekend trips and long-distance trips between cities. Their extra comforts and top amenities make the time spent on the road a pleasure.
• Station wagons and SUVs are ideal for ample leg and luggage room. Typically you have space for three large suitcases plus two hand bags.
• When traveling with a bigger party we also have 7 to 9-seater minivans and some branches can provide 12, 15 and even 17-seater passenger vans.

Driving license

If your license is printed using a non-Latin alphabet, for instance in Russian, Arabic or Chinese, you will need to get an International Driver's Permit (IDP). An IDP can only be obtained before you leave the United States from either the American Automobile Association (AAA) or the American Automobile Touring Alliance(AATA). Further information is given during the booking process.

Age restrictions

You must be over 21 when booking with Sixt in Ireland. Please note a surcharge may apply for those under 25. More information is available in the booking process concerning which car categories apply for specific age restrictions.

Refueling

All vehicles are supplied with a full tank of fuel and should be refilled prior to return to Sixt, otherwise our current refueling charges will apply.

Additional drivers

An additional driver can be included onto your rental agreement upon presentation of a valid driver's license.

Payment methods

Payment for your car rental in Ireland must be done via a credit card. Sixt accepts all major credit cards and AirPlus. All prepaid and debit cards (such as VISA Electron) are not accepted. The payment method must have been issued in the name of the driver and this must be presented at the time of vehicle pick-up and be valid at this time.

Accidents

In the event of an accident, please inform the police immediately. It does not matter whether the vehicle is only slightly damaged, the accident was self-inflicted or if no other vehicles were involved. In addition, any damage to the vehicle must be reported directly to Sixt during the rental period. For this purpose, a form for an accident report is enclosed with the vehicle documents. In an emergency contact the Irish police or ambulance service on 999. Sixt Ireland can be contacted on +353 1 235 2030.

FAQs

TIP: It is generally cheaper to rent a car at least three months before any high season. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before collection is almost always possible, but is dependent on the chosen tariff.

Driving Tips

Driving is the best way to explore Ireland. While major highways are excellently maintained the lanes can be narrow, windy and bumpy. On the smaller routes you can see some of the most beautiful parts of this pleasant green land!

Traffic is generally not congested, though you may find build-ups of congestion in Dublin city center during rush hours. Look out for nearby signs when parking to inform you of any restriction. For example, double yellow lines means no parking, while single lines are restricted to specific times.

Tips for driving your rent a car in Ireland:

• Some motorways have tolls so be sure to keep some spare change on hand (most do not accept credit cards).
• You must deactivate speed camera detection when using a GPS device.
• Don't be alarmed if another driver flashes their hazard lights at you. It is a common way to say a quick "thank you" for showing driving courtesy.
• Do not use your horn between 11.30 pm and 7.30 am.
• If the rental car is damaged during journeys over unpaved roads you will be responsible for the cost of repairs. It is advised to completely avoid driving on any unmarked or unofficial roads.
• A fine of 80 euro (subject to change) is applicable for speeding, holding a phone while driving and crossing a continuous white line (eg. when overtaking).

General speed limits in Ireland

• In urban areas, a maximum speed of 50 km/h is generally permitted, sometimes this is limited to 30 km/h.
• On regional and local roads the speed limit is 80km/h
• On national roads it is 100 km/h and on motorways 120km/h.

Places of Interest

Top 4 Architectural Sights

• Newgrange
• Henrietta Street, Dublin
• Kilmainham Gaol
• Rock of Cashel

Older than the Rock of Cashel, the Pyramids and Stonehenge, Newgrange is a prehistoric monument in County Meath. Set in stunning countryside, you can visit via a guided tour from the visitor center which is also the ideal place to park. When in Dublin make sure to stroll down Henrietta Street for a chance to check out the earliest and best of Dublin's Georgian design. Kilmainham Gaol is one of the most interesting architectural sights to visit. The museum covers a turbulent period in Irish history while the building itself has extraordinary panopticon prison architecture from its remodel in the 1850s. Ireland is renowned for its huge number of Norman Castles but the Rock of Cashel predates this! The round tower dates back to c.1100, and the whole complex is home to one of the most remarkable Celtic and medieval art collections in Europe.

Top 4 Natural Sights:

• Cliffs of Moher
• Glenveagh National Park
• Cooley Penninsula
• The Burren, County Clare

The Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland's most popular tourist destinations for their scale and beauty. Staggeringly steep cliffs that drop from the pleasant green countryside tower above the Atlantic ocean and offer some of the best views on the island. Glenveagh National Park is around 170 square kilometers of rolling hillside standing above Glenveagh Castle (also worth a visit for its architecture and gardens). Cooley Penninsula has all you need for a great day trip with the Cooley Mountains, ancient monuments and Carlingford are all here to explore. The Burren, meaning 'Great Rock', is another geological marvel. The karst hills of The Burren are covered in crisscrossing cracks creating a unique landscape of limestone paving slabs.

Top filming locations

The 2015 film, "Brooklyn", was shot in the beautiful town of Enniscorthy in County Wexford. Enniscorthy was chosen because it is the actual birthplace of screenwriter Colm Tóibín, and many people from the town became extras in the film. If you go be sure to visit Vinegar Hill which overlooks the town and gives great views of the surrounding landscape.

"The Wind That Shakes The Barley", directed by Ken Loach, won the Palme d'Or at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. A great introduction to this part of Irish history itself, it also features the impressive landscape of County Cork, the southernmost County of Ireland. We highly recommend the picturesque town of Timoleague, ideally situated to take advantage of local outdoor activities such as fishing, surfing and hiking, the village is also dominated by a stunning Franciscan Abbey.

Crossing Borders

You are allowed to cross the border to Northern Ireland. A written permission issued by the Sixt branch is mandatory to cross the border and a charge is applied, please see our Rental Information for further details. In case of an offence against Cross Border & Territorial Restrictions all protections lose their validity.