Car hire Dublin - 6 days

[kpc]

Some advice please. Will need to hire a car from / to Dublin city for 6 days next year to drive around the countryside

Currently, I'm a Europcar Privilige Elite member (from Velocity Platinum) which I believe lasts 2 years (Is that right?). This gives me a guaranteed 2 class car upgrade and a free additional driver. I can get a Compact VW Golf manual from Europcar for Euro ~ 120 for the 6 days with:

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• CDW Liability / excess: GBP 980.02 excluding tax

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• T(H)W Liability / excess: GBP 980.02 excluding tax

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• Mileage allowance: 250 miles per day

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The problems are :
1) +1 can't drive a manual and renting an automatic increases the price by 75% plus :evil:
2) I don't think we will be driving more than 250 miles (400kms) per day so that is not an issue, and my travel / credit card insurance should cover the excesses mentioned above

Any other suggestions / websites / companies I should be looking at, esp. to get an automatic at a reasonable price so +1 can do some of the driving?
Any one got a discount code for Europcar?

 

[OzEire]

DUB airport is a premium location for all of the major car hire companies. If you can collect and return elsewhere it might save 15% or more, but adds the hassle of doing that. If you are planning on your first day in Dublin city then perhaps collect from a non-airport depot and save a day of hire (and parking).

Remember to bring a sacrificial credit card for the holding deposit - unless you have a local Irish driving license (or perhaps an EU one) they take a massive deposit pre-auth which wont be available on your credit limit for several weeks after the car is returned. Similar for hotel stays but the car hire is astronomical.

I'll keep an eye out for other options here.

 

[kpc]

Will be picking / dropping off in city. Found a Europcar code that gives 10% off the rate above....but an automatic car is so expensive. May need to teach +1 how to drive a manual car!!

 

[AV8]

I hired my car thru BA website - great rates with lots of insurance extras included - manual car.

 

[kpc]

... manual car.

That's the problem...I've got a Compact VW Golf (with guaranteed 2 class upgrade apparently) manual for Euro 108 for 6 days for 2 drivers but the second I try and choose an automatic, the price almost doubles!

 

[justinn]

That's the problem...I've got a Compact VW Golf (with guaranteed 2 class upgrade apparently) manual for Euro 108 for 6 days for 2 drivers but the second I try and choose an automatic, the price almost doubles!

I'm from the US and went to Ireland with a pal who could not drive manual, we rented an automatic from Dan Dooley we did 5 days and it was only 200USD, they did hold about 3000USD on my card and the car was nothing special (Intermediate) . I just looked at their website now and something for 6 days next week was 215USD.

 

[get me outta here]

My experience of driving around the lower half of Ireland, is that the roads and villages are very tight so depending on where you plan to drive, get a quite small car.

 

[Duffa]

May need to teach +1 how to drive a manual car!!

Just have a read of the TripAdvisor Ireland hire car horror stories re manual cars!! Numerous Americans charged $2000 penalty for burnt out clutch with no insurance claim.
Automatic cars just don't exist in Ireland except in top-end market.
I just drove each day and let Mrs D navigate.

 

[get me outta here]

Also, it helps with parking.

My experience of driving around the lower half of Ireland, is that the roads and villages are very tight so depending on where you plan to drive, get a quite small car.

 

[kpc]

Some advice please. Will need to hire a car from / to Dublin city for 6 days next year to drive around the countryside

Currently, I'm a Europcar Privilige Elite member (from Velocity Platinum) which I believe lasts 2 years (Is that right?). This gives me a guaranteed 2 class car upgrade and a free additional driver. I can get a Compact VW Golf manual from Europcar for Euro ~ 120 for the 6 days with:

[TD="align: left"]

• CDW Liability / excess: GBP 980.02 excluding tax

[/TD]

[TD="align: left"]

• T(H)W Liability / excess: GBP 980.02 excluding tax

[/TD]

[TD="align: left"]

• Mileage allowance: 250 miles per day

[/TD]

The problems are :
1) +1 can't drive a manual and renting an automatic increases the price by 75% plus :evil:
2) I don't think we will be driving more than 250 miles (400kms) per day so that is not an issue, and my travel / credit card insurance should cover the excesses mentioned above

Any other suggestions / websites / companies I should be looking at, esp. to get an automatic at a reasonable price so +1 can do some of the driving?
Any one got a discount code for Europcar?

Will be picking / dropping off in city. Found a Europcar code that gives 10% off the rate above....but an automatic car is so expensive. May need to teach +1 how to drive a manual car!!

Excellent news...for only Euro 22 more than the above price for 6 days (Euro 130 for 6 days), I've managed to rebook a VW Polo automatic!! Now +1 can do some of the driving!![TABLE="align: center"]
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[FuzzyAUS]

When are you up there Kevin?

I am there for 3 weeks from Mid June and need to organise a car for about 17-18 days i think it is

 

[kpc]

When are you up there Kevin?

I am there for 3 weeks from Mid June and need to organise a car for about 17-18 days i think it is

April 21st for 2 weeks...

 

[AdMEL]

Excellent news...for only Euro 22 more than the above price for 6 days (Euro 130 for 6 days), I've managed to rebook a VW Polo automatic!! Now +1 can do some of the driving!![TABLE="align: center"]
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Great rate! From Europcar?

 

[kpc]

Great rate! From Europcar?

Yes... and will get free additional driver as Privilige Elite member (from matched Velocity Plat status to earnt QF Plat)

 

[alieninperth]

I got a Compact (initally a Mini One but changed to a Nissan Pulsar due to space requirements) from SIXT for about $560 for 22 days. I got SIXT status match to Plat from hotel loyalty. Booked and paid for on the AU site with no problems on pick up. Both cars were brand new (13km and 12km on the clock on pick-up). Was offered an A4 at pickup for and extra Euro10 per day but this added about $300 onto the rental which I wasn't happy to do.

 

[AdMEL]

Kpc, how did the car hire go?

 

[kpc]

Hi AdMel...timely Q. Overall it went well.We got an auto Skoda...quite a small car but suited the 2 of us. Some of the roads in Ireland were quite narrow as others previously pointed out. ..made parking very easy!! Limited boot space but just enough for our 2 carryon size bags and a small back pack...drove ~1500 kms in 6 days (€110 in fuel @~€1.40 per litre for unleaded!! ).

Great having 2 drivers as we swapped drivers every 2 hours so we were not too tired. Europcar Dublin city Centre were a pain in A$$...refused to give me an additional driver (Europcar Privilige Elite benefit) for free and charged me €8 per day! Paid as had no choice and we were keen to get going.

Emailed Europcar Ireland yesterday to complain...received immediate reply and have been given full refund, apology, upgrade for next rental in Ireland!!, and a promise to re educate staff re Elite benefits...excellent service recovery! ! €1600 block on my credit card was released after 10 days. ..Most importantly we had a blast as the Irish countryside is SPECTACULAR! !