KAYAK’s insights & trends for Northern Ireland car hire
Check out the latest trends and booking tips to hire a car in Northern Ireland with confidence.
How far in advance should you book car hire in Northern Ireland?
You should book your car hire in Northern Ireland around 7 days before your trip in order to get a below-average price.
What is the cheapest car hire company in Northern Ireland?
In the past 72 hours, the cheapest hire cars were found at Hertz (21 €/day), Avis (22 €/day), and Free2Move (28 €/day).
What is the most popular rental car in Northern Ireland?
Hires in the Small category (Opel Corsa or similar) are the most popular option in Northern Ireland, costing 42 €/day on average. Some users have found deals as low as 16 €/day.
What is the cheapest month to hire a car in Northern Ireland?
The cheapest month to hire a car in Northern Ireland is November at an average cost of 19 €/day. August is the most expensive month to hire a car in Northern Ireland when prices are 47 €/day on average, which tends to be 53% above the yearly average hire price for Northern Ireland.
Which car hire company in Northern Ireland has the most locations?
Avis operates 2 locations in Northern Ireland, more than any other car hire company.
Northern Ireland car rental price comparison by vehicle type
Find the right rental car in Northern Ireland by comparing prices across vehicle types.
Small
Medium
Large
SUV
Van
Luxury
Convertible
Small cars
19 € - 39 €
All Car Types
46 € - 78 €
How much does it cost to hire a small car in Northern Ireland?
How much does it cost to hire a medium car in Northern Ireland?
How much does it cost to hire a large car in Northern Ireland?
How much does it cost to hire an SUV in Northern Ireland?
How much does it cost to hire a van in Northern Ireland?
How much does it cost to hire a luxury car in Northern Ireland?
How much does it cost to hire a convertible in Northern Ireland?
Small car hire in Northern Ireland typically costs around 26 € per day. The best time to book is January, when prices average 19 € per day, which is about 27% less than the yearly average. Small cars are usually 58% cheaper than the average car hire in Northern Ireland, making them ideal for budget-conscious travellers.
Medium car hire in Northern Ireland typically costs around 62 € per day. The best time to book is January, when prices average 42 € per day, which is about 33% less than the yearly average. Medium cars are usually 2% more expensive than the average car hire in Northern Ireland, offering a good balance of space and value.
Large car hire in Northern Ireland typically costs around 82 € per day. The best time to book is January, when prices average 52 € per day, which is about 37% less than the yearly average. Large cars are typically 26% more expensive than the average car hire in Northern Ireland but offer more comfort for longer trips.
SUV hire in Northern Ireland typically costs around 66 € per day. The best time to book is September, when prices average 48 € per day, which is about 28% less than the yearly average. SUVs are typically 8% more expensive than the average car hire in Northern Ireland but provide extra space and capability for groups or road trips.
Van hire in Northern Ireland typically costs around 81 € per day. The best time to book is January, when prices average 57 € per day, which is about 30% less than the yearly average. Vans are typically 25% more expensive than the average car hire in Northern Ireland but are the best choice for families or groups needing maximum passenger capacity.
Luxury car hire in Northern Ireland typically costs around 91 € per day. The best time to book is September, when prices average 67 € per day, which is about 27% less than the yearly average. Luxury cars are typically 33% more expensive than the average car hire in Northern Ireland but deliver premium comfort and style for special occasions.
Convertible hire in Northern Ireland typically costs around 111 € per day. The best time to book is January, when prices average 71 € per day, which is about 37% less than the yearly average. Convertibles are typically 46% more expensive than the average car hire in Northern Ireland but are perfect for scenic drives and warm-weather destinations.
Good to know
Most popular agency
Most popular car type
Average price
Good deal
Budget
Small
33 €/day
23 €/day
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.
25% of our users found a car hire in Northern Ireland for 23 € or less
Small rental cars in Northern Ireland are around 47% 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.
How much does it cost to rent a car in Northern Ireland?
On average a rental car in Northern Ireland costs 33 € per day.
How can I find car hires near me in Northern Ireland?
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