Northern Ireland car rentals
Search hundreds of rental car sites at once for car rental deals in Northern Ireland
Cheap car hire in Northern Ireland
| Mini |
| Economy |
| Compact |
| Intermediate |
| Standard |
| Full-size |
| Luxury |
| People mover |
| Passenger van |
| SUV |
| Commercial |
| Pick-up truck |
Top tips for hiring a car in Northern Ireland
- Take in the beautiful scenery of Northern Ireland from behind the wheel of your hire car, and enjoy exploring at your own pace. With the roads being in generally good condition throughout the country, you’ll find a two-wheel drive car is more than suitable for your needs. Although if you want to do any off-road driving in the rugged countryside then you might prefer a 4X4. When you’re driving in urban areas, such as Belfast, you might want to consider a smaller car so that parking is easier.
- It is important that you follow the highway code that has been put in place for everyone’s safety. Drink-driving is a very serious offence and anyone who is found to have more than 0.35 mg of alcohol per ml of blood when they do a breath test will be penalised accordingly. Everyone in the car must also wear a seat belt and it is the driver’s responsibility to ensure that children below 12 years or age, or shorter than 135cm, are in a suitably sized child seat. It is also illegal to use phones in the car unless you are on a hands-free kit.
- When you are driving your car hire in Northern Ireland you will find that there is lots of on-street parking in rural areas that is free. In built-up areas there is also a lot of on-street parking that is free. However, if you are looking to park in Belfast, Lisburn or Newry then you should be aware of the Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ), which require you to pay for how long you wish to park for. If you are looking to use a CPZ in a town that borders with Ireland then you should be able to use both British Pounds and also Euro as currency.
- Book your rental car in Northern Ireland at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
- Economy rental cars in Northern Ireland are around 41% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about hiring a car in Northern Ireland
Should I hire a car in Northern Ireland?
You should hire a car in Northern Ireland as it allows you the flexibility and time to visit places of interest without having to wait for scheduled public transport or rely on a taxi service. For example, if you are staying in Belfast and you want to visit Glenarm on the Causeway Coast then you can reach it in 45min by car. However the same journey would take twice the amount of time by public transport. It would also cost a lot if you planned to do a return taxi trip to your destination.
What is driving like in Northern Ireland?
Driving in Northern Ireland is the same as driving in the rest of the UK, so you won’t have to spend time getting acclimatised to the roads. For example, you’ll drive on the left side of the road and you will be familiar with the steering wheel on the right side of the car. The speed limits are also the same as in the rest of the United Kingdom, so you’ll know what your limits are. One thing you should note is that the speed limits might change slightly (and be in kilometres rather than miles) if you cross the border to Ireland. Check with each individual agency to see whether there is a border crossing fee before you head to Ireland, as some will charge you for doing so.
How old do you have to be to hire a car in Northern Ireland?
Ensure that you are the correct age to hire a vehicle in Northern Ireland and check the policy of each individual agency as they are likely to vary. In general you need to be 21 years of age to hire a car in the country, with many of the companies having a surcharge for drivers that are under a certain age, such as 25. These drivers will also have a smaller selection of cars to choose from as vehicles with more powerful engines are reserved for the more experienced drivers.
What is the most popular car hire in Northern Ireland?
Economy (Kia Picanto or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in Northern Ireland.
How can I find car hires near me in Northern Ireland?
Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.
Where should I hire a car in Northern Ireland?
Based on car searches on KAYAK, the most popular cities to hire a car in Northern Ireland are Belfast (78% of total searches of users looking to hire a car in Northern Ireland) and Londonderry (11%).
Car rental locations in Northern Ireland
Car rental directory
Free2Move car hire locations in Northern Ireland
19 Locations
keddy by Europcar car hire locations in Northern Ireland
12 Locations
Enterprise Rent-A-Car car hire locations in Northern Ireland
11 Locations
Sunnycars car hire locations in Northern Ireland
11 Locations
Europcar car hire locations in Northern Ireland
9 Locations
Sixt car hire locations in Northern Ireland
7 Locations
Firefly car hire locations in Northern Ireland
5 Locations
Hertz car hire locations in Northern Ireland
5 Locations
Shouqi car hire locations in Northern Ireland
5 Locations
Avis car hire locations in Northern Ireland
4 Locations
Easirent car hire locations in Northern Ireland
4 Locations
FLIZZR car hire locations in Northern Ireland
4 Locations
Good to know
Most popular car type | Economy |
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When to book a rental car in Northern Ireland
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