Car rental and gasoline prices in Ireland
Replies: 7 - Last Post: Oct 19, 2012 3:37 AM Last Post By: tony2phones
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Car rental and gasoline prices in Ireland
As a follow-up to my last question (and thanks again for the helpful responses!), I'm trying to create a rough budget for an 8-10 day trip to Ireland with my mother. A few questions about renting a car:-I have a New York state license and have been driving for over 15 years. I'm over 30 years old. From what I understand, I can use that license both in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Anything to be aware of, in your experience?
-Any recommendations on find a cheap economy car? Any rental companies to avoid?
-This may sound a bit dumb, but I live in the city and haven't driven daily for a long time. How much should I expect to spend on gasoline? I figure we'll probably use the car to get around the island, moving every two days, and for driving around areas once we've checked into our hotels. I know I can look up the price of gasoline, but I honestly don't know how often we'll have to fill the tank.
-Should we plan on just picking up a car on the way out of Dublin? I'd prefer not to have a car in a big city, but will public transit work to get us around? Any things I may not have thought of, such as scheduling issues?
Thanks again! This forum has been very helpful.
1
Hi,I live in Ireland-northern Ireland but I would defo recommend NOT using a car in Dublin, it is a one way system in most if the city so it can be awfully confusing and a bit daunting to drive.
I had family over last September and the covered a huge amount of miles and got all around the north, Dostoevsky Galway and across to Dublin I just over a week. It's a small country!
Depending on the size of car you get you should average out @£40 per day for fuel and toll roads.it will really depend on how far yo travel. There are great new motorways right across the country so you can get Dublin to Belfast in @2 hours but if you go the old roads these are much nicer and will take @6 hours but obviously cost more on fuel.
Cars are all smaller than in the US and you will need to specifically request an automatic as we all drive stick over here. Don't get anything too big unless you really need it as parking in the cities can be tight and we have lovely country roads you will want to travel on so big cars will limit this.....
I would certainly recommend coming North to see the sites up here like the causeway and Belfast and Derry but be careful if the NI insurance as some companies try to charge extra to cross the border (don't pay this as it is all Europe!)
Have fun and enjoy our travel
2
€20 should get you 100 miles in most hire cars. Your licence is fully acceptable. As above stick shift will be cheaper than auto. Do not Drive in Dublin (no need). Check hire car prices but remember 99% of complaints about car hire come from people who have rented through bargain agencies whilst 99% of people renting direct from the hire companies themselves go home happy.Insurance is the most important most expensive element of Irish car hire and also one reason you "Must" inform the hire car company you will be crossing the border.
4
Hi....I live in Ireland-northern Ireland but I would defo recommend NOT using a car in Dublin.
I am of the opposite opinion.
Sure it has one way systems, as does every capital city in the world, but Dublin is a good driving city.
All you need is either a local road map or sat-nav and it's easy.
Much worser are the motorway junctions and cross-overs in Belfast. Designed by leipreacháns.
5
Thanks to all. Very helpful points.Any thoughts about public transit in Dublin? I don't expect we'll be out super late, but in case we are, will we have any trouble?
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DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) a suburban rail service and Dublinbus provides regular services into the evening. Timetables available on line together with details of discounts. http://www.dublin.ie/transport/dart.htmBus Eireann services may be useful for longer day trips. St Kevins Bus if you want to go to Glendalough i
The Getting Around sections in your Ireland lp or Rough Guide are also useful. .
R
7
Dublin is a fairly compact city has good public transport running fairly late and then lots of Taxi's.Having a car in Dublin as a tourist is a burden, not only do you have to drive a city with few easily visible street names, streets forming a maze unless you have some slight idea where you are and where you are going, Kamikaze pedestrian J walkers and cab drivers not to mention Dublin Bus "nutters" sorry drivers. And on top of that you need to find some where safe to park your rental when not in use. Do not do it.
