Car Hire Belfast to Republic

Bushboy

Hi,

We're flying into Belfast ( George Best) soon and looking to hire a car.
Does anyone know if the hire companies charge extra or allow you to drive over into the republic?

Cheers
B.

DavidHayton

It is no problem to take a rental car from Northern Ireland into the Irish Republic, but you must let them know when you pick up the vehicle and be prepared for a fee of about £22.

I took a rental car from Belfast to Drogheda last year. I compared costs and shopped around, but a loading of about £22 kept appearing and in the end I decided that I would have to swallow it.

Best wishes
David

Bushboy

Aaah, ok, many thanks David.

Can I ask which hire firm you used?
I was going to try Budget but read of a story further up the forum which has put me off them!

maguim

DavidHayton wrote: »

It is no problem to take a rental car from Northern Ireland into the Irish Republic, but you must let them know when you pick up the vehicle and be prepared for a fee of about £22.

I took a rental car from Belfast to Drogheda last year. I compared costs and shopped around, but a loading of about £22 kept appearing and in the end I decided that I would have to swallow it.

No rental company should be charging for driving the vehicle in the South!!! It's those companies that do that give the local industry a really bad name.

Yes, you need to let them know in advance that you intend to take car over the "border" but they should only be charging an additional fee if you need to drop off the vehicle in the South.

Call 02890918250 or pm me if you need any assistance with booking. :money:

jammin_2

True, it's normally included at no cost. Same for ROI rentals driven to NI (or even to GB, in the case of Hertz). No extra cost.

EDIT:

Hertz vehicles may be driven into the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom, but not into other countries.

If driving into the Republic of Ireland no restrictions apply.

http://www.hertz.co.uk/rentacar/reservation/reviewmodifycancel/templates/rentalTerms.jsp?KEYWORD=DRIVINGRESTRICTIONS&EOAG=BHDT52

Bushboy

Thanks Jammin.
I was just looking at Hertz's T&C's on the Republic in another window then I saw your message!

DavidHayton

Bushboy wrote: »

Aaah, ok, many thanks David.

Can I ask which hire firm you used?
I was going to try Budget but read of a story further up the forum which has put me off them!

Hi, I booked through AutoEurope (http://www.auto-europe.co.uk/) who passed on the booking to SIXT (http://www.sixt.co.uk/). I wouldn't necessarially recommend them, but it was the cheapest deal that I could find at the time even including the £22 loading fee that I paid. From memory, there were other companies who didn't charge a premium, but they worked out more expensive.

If you intend to take the car out of the UK, you must tell them when you pick up the vehicle. I really don't see how and why this should allow the rental company to levy extra charges, but some do: especially those that come out cheapest on comparison sites. Make sure that you have actually read all the T&Cs when you tick that little box.

David