Beyond the obvious issue of the Irish insisting on driving on the wrong side of the road, the process of renting (aka “hiring”) a car in Ireland poses some extra challenges. For one, the majority of vehicles on offer are equipped with manual transmissions, especially those that are affordable. Even for those who are accustomed to using a manual transmission, the experience of using one’s left hand to shift is just a little unsettling. The pedals are all in the right spot, but that stick on the left … well, it is just wrong. Just wrong I say. Indeed, for our
first experience in Ireland ten years ago we occasionally had to rely on a team approach. In those tense times with traffic bustling about and decisions to be made, my trusty ‘navigator’ was on more than one occasion pressed into duty as the shifter: “Clutch in – Ready to shift 2 to 3 – Shift now – Clutch out!” was a common refrain . However, do not fear – given a couple of hours of experience, preferably on a quiet stretch of road, shifting with ‘sinister’ hand can be mastered. And it is like riding a bike, for the most recent 2016 trip the Pangeans were a bit more prepared and were shifting like a pro right from the start.
The other major difference in renting a car in Ireland, even compared to other countries within the EU, are the insurance considerations. When making online bookings, either on the aggregators like AutoEurope.com or IrishCarRentals.com or directly on the websites for EuropCar, Hertz, Sixt, etc., the low prices quoted don’t include ‘optional’ insurance coverages. This is common to both North American and European rentals. Many North American travelers renting in Europe will be relying upon a combination of their domestic car insurance policy and insurance attached to travel gold or platinum credit cards. For most of Europe this is sufficient and you are not required to prove the applicability of your coverage. While European rental outlets will often require a deposit or credit card hold for a specific amount (recently a seemingly arbitrary amount from 200 to 800 Euros), they will honour your decision regarding optional insurance coverage. It is enough that you are aware of your coverage when you waive the optional insurance suggested at the car rental counter.
However, in our experience Ireland is different. The representative at the Sixt counter in Dublin airport explained it on the basis that whereas rental locations elsewhere were corporately owned, the Irish outlets were all family-owned small businesses. True or not, in Ireland you are required to either pay for the insurance or provide a deposit or hold on your credit card for an amount up to and including the full cost of the vehicle. Even if you pay for the insurance, the rental agency will likely still require a deposit for the full amount of the deductible you select. In the case of our recent rental we ended up paying an additional 200 Euros for CDW coverage with a 1500 Euro deductible (lower deductibles were available, but would have cost even more). This requirement was not apparent when making the initial booking on AutoEurope.com. The IrishCarRentals.com website was a bit clearer and has the following pop up when opting out of ‘optional’ CDW insurance: “The main driver must be the holder of an eligible US issued World MasterCard or Canadian issued Gold/Platinum Visa/MasterCard which allows you to waive CDW and Theft Protection in Ireland. It is advisable to bring a letter from your credit card company confirming you have the relevant coverage. Please note, you will be required to leave an excess of 5,000Euro.”
Accordingly, when renting in Ireland you should confirm your credit card or other insurance coverage details in writing before heading out (which would have saved us the cost of the additional, unnecessary insurance. Also be prepared with room on your credit card to provide a sizeable deposit or hold.
One final consideration for those venturing out onto the Irish roads: you need to understand that the Irish have a death wish. For the visitor this death wish is manifested in a variety of ways. Most obvious is the speed they travel along the narrow country lanes – lanes barely wide enough for you and a couple of sheep; lanes that are constricted by stone walls or hedges of thorn. While the same drivers might dawdle down the M7 or M9, they seem to take pleasure at racing along narrow lanes with blind corners and the ever-present threat of tractors pulling out.
The other manifestation of the Irish death wish is the tendency of pedestrians to cross roads without due care and attention. Alone or in groups, young and old, agile and frail, in small towns and villages, and especially in central Dublin, the Irish pedestrian will sortie across the roads armed with nothing more than an aura of impunity. I haven’t researched the death and accident rates for the Irish compared to other nations, but either they die in greater numbers or they are truly charmed. In any event, be aware and drive safe out there!
P.