Do I Need A Car In Ireland? Here’s Everything You Need To Know (From A Former Local) (2025)

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Planning to visit Ireland and wondering if it’s worthwhile to rent a car? Here’s my honest opinion (as a former local)!

One important part of planning a trip to any new destination is figuring out whether or not you’ll need to rent a car. Some destinations are nearly impossible to visit without a car, like the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. In others, like Florence, Italy or Paris, a car is nothing but a hindrance. 

I moved to Ireland in 2020 and lived in the country for three years, during which time I explored near and far. I never bought a car while I was living in Ireland, but I often rented them to get around. For the most part, I’ve found that you really need a car if you want to get out of Dublin and explore the rest of the country. 

In this post, I’ll share all of my thoughts on renting cars in Ireland. From the times when you’ll really need four wheels to get around to the workarounds if you’d rather not drive yourself. 

Table of Contents
So, Do You Need a Car in Ireland?
Reasons to Have a Car in Ireland
Alternatives to Renting a Car
Tips for Renting a Car in Ireland
How to Get from the Dublin Airport to City Center
Advice for Those Moving to Ireland
FAQs
Conclusion

So, Do You Need a Car in Ireland?

For most travelers, I would say that you do need a car when visiting Ireland. Large parts of the country are rural, and public transit only adequately serves a few select routes in the country. To really experience rural Ireland or anywhere off the beaten path, a car is a must. 

One big exception is travelers who only plan to visit Dublin. Within Dublin, there’s really no need to have a rental car because local transit is great and the city is very walkable. Cork and Galway are similarly walkable, with decent local buses. 

For itineraries that start in Dublin, I’d recommend renting a car on your way out of the city. Although Dublin is a bit spread out, most of the tourist attractions are pretty close together, and it’s quite challenging to drive in Temple Bar.  

Reasons to Have a Car in Ireland 🚗

Ireland is in some ways the ideal destination to rent a car because it’s made for road trips. Whether you want to see the Cliffs of Moher, camp in Dingle, or drive the Ring of Kerry, you can do it at your leisure with a rental car. 

Public Transit is Limited

The top reason to consider renting a car when visiting Ireland is, as previously mentioned, that public transit is limited to major routes in Ireland. Buses and trains between major cities and sites are generally very reliable, but the smaller, local buses are prone to delays and are often canceled or just don’t show up. 

For example, the private coaches like Aircoach will very reliably take you from Dublin to Cork. However, the local bus from Cork City to Blarney Castle is much less reliable, especially late at night or on weekends. That’s not to say that I wouldn’t take it, I would simply plan for some extra padding in my day for the bus and absolutely avoid relying on the last bus of the night. 

Ireland is Great for Road Trips

One of the top reasons to rent a car when visiting Ireland is so that you can go for a road trip. My favorite way to see new parts of Ireland is by driving, both because the scenery is wonderful and it gives me the freedom to explore little stops along the way. While road tripping from Dublin to Galway, for example, you can make a quick stop at the intriguing Clonmacnoise Monastery that dates back to the 6th century. 

The much more famous Ring of Kerry is one of the most popular places to visit in Ireland. This 111 mile (179 km) driving route takes you around County Kerry, including incredible stops at places like Killarney National Park and views of Moll’s Gap and the Gap of Dunloe. 

Much of Ireland is Rural

There’s a reason you probably picture rolling green hills and farmland when you picture Ireland. The country is very rural by European standards, with about 99% of its land used for rural and “intermediate” purposes. Another source, Demographia, puts the figure closer to 96%. 

Still, no matter how you slice it, the country is very rural. 

Because it’s so rural and spread out, it can be hard to get to places even a 30 minute drive from urban centers without a car. Even if a given area is accessible by public transit, the buses tend to be infrequent and take winding routes that can really eat into your vacation itinerary. 

You Need a Car for Outdoor Activities

I love to spend time outside when I travel, and Ireland is full of outdoorsy activities. From adventurous outings like the Dingle Sea Safari to hiking in the Wicklow Mountains, you may want to log some serious hours outside. 

I previously shared a list of day trips from Cork, with notes about which could be completed without a car. Places like the Burren, the Dingle Peninsula, and Gougane Barra are all almost impossible to get to from Cork without a car or a pre-arranged tour. Beaches anywhere in Ireland are also generally tough to access without a car. 

It’s More Convenient 

It’s hard to beat the convenience of a rental car, especially in a destination where parking is plentiful outside of the major cities. From having a place to keep your stuff while you’re out exploring to a cover from the rain, there’s a lot to appreciate about having a rental car while traveling around Ireland. 

Plus, you won’t need to stand outside hoping that you don’t soak through your raincoat at a bus stop on a particularly wet day. 

The only itinerary where I’d say a car is less convenient is any trip where you’re only visiting large Irish cities. Urban parking can be challenging or expensive, and you’ll find that it’s usually impractical to drive from one part of Dublin to another, as an example. 

Alternatives to Renting a Car in Ireland

Although you’re better off renting a car in Ireland, I recognize that this isn’t an option for all travelers. Rental cars can be extremely expensive, especially during the peak months of June through August. You also need to be able to drive on the left side of the street and navigate the small Irish roads.

Stick to Dublin, Galway, and Cork

Ireland’s major cities – namely Dublin, Galway, and Cork – are all connected by a functioning public transit system. You can take trains or buses to get between these destinations with relative ease. 

If taking buses, I recommend using a private company like Aircoach instead of the public buses because they are faster and take more direct routes. In my view, the shorter journey and more comfortable buses are absolutely worth the slightly higher fares. 

Take a Guided Tour

In order to see some of the sights around Ireland without having to rent a car, another great option is to take a guided tour. You’ll be spoiled for choice when taking a guided tour of Ireland, as many companies run these tours. 

Rick Steves runs 7-day and 14-day tours, and the guides are sure to be professionals who plan curated itineraries. However, you can expect a commensurately steep price tag. 

As an alternative, you can also book a shorter, cheaper tour like the 5-day tour of Southwest Ireland or 3-day tour of Eastern Ireland with Rabbie’s Small Group Tours. Another option is Railtours Ireland, who offer a 3-day tour including Cork, the Ring of Kerry, and the Cliffs of Moher. 

Should you decide to book a tour, be sure that you read reviews, understand the itinerary, and are clear on what is included in your package. I would also recommend that you purchase travel insurance, though most reputable tour companies require it. 

Public Transit

Ireland does have public transit, and the regional lines are much more reliable than the local bus routes. As I mentioned earlier, you could very easily travel within and between Dublin, Galway, and Cork because they’re all serviced by decent public transit lines. Still, you could plan a trip to areas beyond these cities if you’re willing to be patient and flexible. 

Rural areas are the hardest to access by public transit. I would recommend that you avoid ever being in a situation where you’re relying on the last bus or train of the day to get back to your hotel. 

Taxis

For local transit within cities or towns, you can absolutely take taxis to get around. FreeNow is the most common taxi app, but there are other taxi companies operating in Ireland and they sometimes have better prices. When living in Cork, for instance, I always used Satellite Taxis and I appreciated that they saved my number and remembered my home address for easier pickup/drop off. `

I’ve had friends take taxis longer distances, say from Cork to the Shannon Airport, but those rides usually come with €100+ price tags. Anytime you know you know in advance you’ll be taking a taxi, I recommend booking it in advance (and this is doubly true, bordering on essential, for airport rides). Taxis can be in short supply, and it’s good to get on the calendar if you can. 

Private Drivers

I’ve often had friends and spoken with travelers who are intimidated by driving in Ireland. Sometimes they will instead opt to hire a private driver, someone who can spend a few days or a week driving them around Ireland. 

Full disclosure: I’ve never used this service, and I don’t have anyone that I can personally recommend. However, my friend and fellow blogger Kelie from Vacations Planned, has used and said great things about Maurice Kenneally of Cork Private Tours. 

Here’s a list of other private drivers to consider, as well. I don’t have any personal experience with these companies, so I’m listing them here in no particular order: 

Amble On Tours
Emerald Irish Tours
Wee Buses Belfast
Go Irish Tours
Glenbeg Tours Ireland

Tips for Renting a Car in Ireland

I rented cars for about four weeks at a time continuously over the course of about a year when I first moved to Ireland. So, I have quite a lot of experience with rental cars in Ireland! Here are a few tips to help the process go a bit smoother. 

✅ Check Around for the Best Prices

Irish car rental prices are very seasonal, with surges during the months of June through August. In order to find the price, I usually start by using an aggregator like Discover Cars, Kayak, or Expedia (or all three) to look for the best prices. Then, when I have a sense of the companies offering the best prices, I’ll go directly to their websites to verify the prices. 

I’ve personally had good experiences with Sixt, Alamo, and Enterprise in Ireland. I would avoid Hertz, as they tend to add a sizable fee to the quoted price at pickup, and they’re unwilling to remove it. 

If you’re seeing absolutely wild prices, consider renting a car from GoCar, an Irish ridesharing company. The nice thing about renting from GoCar is that the price includes fuel (subject to a mileage surcharge), insurance, and taxes. Be sure to carefully read up on how GoCar works, because you’ll need to be pre-approved and it works differently than a conventional car rental company. 

✅ Get a Collision Damage Waiver from Your Credit Card Company

If you’re from the US and planning to use your credit card’s insurance when renting a car, you’ll need a collision damage waiver. Essentially, Ireland is one of a few global destinations that is routinely excluded from credit cards’ insurance policies (along with Northern Ireland, Israel, and Jamaica). 

Be sure that the letter explicitly states your name, that your policy includes the Republic of Ireland and/or Northern Ireland, and your credit card number. If you have to replace a credit card for any reason, you’ll need a new copy of this letter.

I would strongly recommend that you get a copy of this letter before you go abroad. I have, on at least one occasion, spent hours waiting for the coverage letter to come through while sitting at the Dublin Airport. Trust me, it’s really not as fun as it sounds. 

✅ Take a Video of the Car Before You Drive Off the Lot

It’s always a good idea to carefully document the state of your rental car before you leave the parking lot. This way, if there’s some sort of damage to the car, you’ll have a way to prove its original condition. 

I used to take a number of photos of my rental car, but after a while I switched to a longer video and it’s much easier. Just take a video of the exterior of the car before you get in to drive away, including the fuel level (if you think of it). 

How to Get from the Dublin Airport to City Center

If you won’t be renting a car at the Dublin Airport and need to get to the city center after you land, I recommend taking the Dublin Express bus. The buses are located just outside the airport doors and will drop you off directly in Temple Bar. They have ample room for luggage under the bus and the coach seats are pretty comfortable. 

Whenever possible, I recommend pre-booking the airport bus because it tends to fill up. When choosing between a time that would be a little tight and one an hour later, I’d buy the later of the two and just ask the earlier bus if they can fit you. So long as the bus isn’t completely full, they’re usually happy enough to accommodate early passengers. 

Advice for Those Moving to Ireland

If you’re reading this post because you’re planning to move to Ireland – not just visit – I wanted to provide some additional thoughts. I never owned a car while living in Ireland, but I did continuously rent them the entire time I was living in County Wicklow. Because the county was so rural, a car was essential for getting around. 

When living in Cork City, I mostly walked and cycled to get around the city because my home was pretty centrally located. When I wanted to go to Dublin, I relied on the regional buses – which work great. I rented a car anytime I wanted to travel outside of the city, like to go on a day trip or to Dingle or really anywhere outside of the major centers. 

If you’re moving anywhere but central Dublin, I would strongly recommend that you budget for a car during the planning process. Having a way to get around can help Ireland to feel a bit less isolating, and it can help to expand your housing search considerably. Should it turn out you don’t need a car, you’ll just be able to reallocate or save that money. 

FAQs: Do You Need a Car in Ireland?

Planning your Irish adventure and still have questions about local transportation? Here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions by travelers. 

Can I get around Ireland without a car?

Technically yes, you can get around Ireland without a car. However, you will be extremely limited, as most rural areas are poorly served by public transit. Some activities, like hiking around Glendalough or exploring the Saltee Islands, require a car because they’re not serviced by public transit. Ireland is a great road trip destination, so it’s easiest to explore by driving. 

Is it worth it to rent a car in Ireland?

Unless you’re planning to join a pre-arranged tour or spend all of your time in Dublin, I would strongly encourage you to rent a car in Ireland. Although the public transit infrastructure is improving, it’s still very challenging to get around if you have to rely on buses and trains. You’ll have significantly more freedom and flexibility if you drive yourself around Ireland. 

Is Ireland an easy country to drive in?

Unfortunately, I wouldn’t consider Ireland to be a particularly easy country to drive in. Cars drive on the left hand side of the road, which is new for many visitors, and there are a number of roundabouts. Further, the roads tend to be small and winding, often requiring some collaboration with other cars. Still, driving is the best way to get around Ireland because it is so rural. 

Is Dublin a walkable city?

Yes, Dublin is a walkable city. You can easily spend a day or two just walking the sidewalks in central Dublin, checking out the street art, lively pubs, and restaurants that line Temple Bar. As a general rule, you’ll want a car to get around Ireland, but the country’s major cities are all best explored on foot. 

How to get to Center City Dublin from the airport?

The best way to get from the Dublin Airport to the city center is by bus. The Dublin Express bus takes about 45 minutes and picks up from the arrivals area of Dublin Airport. Local buses also travel between the airport and city center, but they’re less convenient and take quite a bit longer. For that reason, you’ll see locals and tourists alike on the Dublin Express. 

Conclusion: Do You Need a Car in Ireland?

For most travelers to Ireland, I would strongly recommend that you consider renting a car and traveling the country via road trip. Really, I believe it’s the best way to see Ireland because it will inevitably take you out of the cities and into the countryside. 

You can drive the infamous Ring of Kerry or show yourself around the Dingle Peninsula. Or, you can drive to the southern edge of the Cliffs of Moher and hike north, capturing more views than most visitors ever experience. Hikes, beaches, and small towns off the beaten path are all open to you if you’re able to drive. 

Still, if you’re too nervous to drive, can’t rent a car, or would rather someone else do the driving, you’ll have alternatives in Ireland. Just don’t wait around until the last bus when it’s time to return to your room for the night.