Ireland: Watch Out — Well-Documented Surprises — typical deposit €1,500-3,000.
Want the full guide? Get a PDF with rental car tips for Ireland — free.
Watch Out — Well-Documented Surprises — typical deposit €1,500-3,000. Ireland has one of the highest excess/deposit reputations in Europe — the standard excess is often €1,500 or more unless you pay to reduce it, and narrow rural roads mean minor scrape and mirror damage claims are common.
Ireland: Watch Out — Well-Documented Surprises — typical deposit €1,500-3,000. Ireland has one of the highest excess/deposit reputations in Europe — the standard excess is often €1,500 or more unless you pay to reduce it, and narrow rural roads mean minor scrape and mirror damage claims are common.
Ireland has a well-documented pattern of surprise charges, aggressive upselling, or risky practices — read the note above carefully and read your rental contract in full.
Check what your own credit card or home auto insurance already covers before buying extra coverage — you may already be covered for some or all of it. But confirm any legally mandatory local coverage separately, since that's not optional regardless of what else you have.
Photograph and video the entire car from every angle, including a timestamp — this is your best protection in any damage dispute, especially in destinations with a documented pattern of post-return charge disputes.