Northern Ireland car hire

You should hire a car in Northern Ireland as it allows you the flexibility and time to visit places of interest without having to wait for scheduled public transport or rely on a taxi service. For example, if you are staying in Belfast and you want to visit Glenarm on the Causeway Coast then you can reach it in 45min by car. However the same journey would take twice the amount of time by public transport. It would also cost a lot if you planned to do a return taxi trip to your destination.

Driving in Northern Ireland is the same as driving in the rest of the UK, so you won’t have to spend time getting acclimatised to the roads. For example, you’ll drive on the left side of the road and you will be familiar with the steering wheel on the right side of the car. The speed limits are also the same as in the rest of the United Kingdom, so you’ll know what your limits are. One thing you should note is that the speed limits might change slightly (and be in kilometres rather than miles) if you cross the border to Ireland. Check with each individual agency to see whether there is a border crossing fee before you head to Ireland, as some will charge you for doing so.

Ensure that you are the correct age to hire a vehicle in Northern Ireland and check the policy of each individual agency as they are likely to vary. In general you need to be 21 years of age to hire a car in the country, with many of the companies having a surcharge for drivers that are under a certain age, such as 25. These drivers will also have a smaller selection of cars to choose from as vehicles with more powerful engines are reserved for the more experienced drivers.

Economy (Vauxhall Corsa or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in Northern Ireland.

Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.