Searching for the ideal car rental pick up in Dublin? Look no further. If you’re like most travellers, you might be torn between picking up a rental car at the airport or venturing into bustling Dublin City to explore before getting your rental car.
We get it, it can be a daunting decision. But with our guide to the best locations for car rental pick up in Dublin your decision just got easier. Renting a car in Dublin, be it at the airport or in the city, doesn’t need to be complicated.
By choosing the best option for you, you can kickstart your journey around the Emerald Isle in the smoothest way possible. You can decide to explore our beautiful capital and then hit the open road, or vice versa knowing your car rental pick up and drop off is as easy as it can be.
Best locations for car rental pick up in Dublin
When it comes to car rental in Dublin, there are two options for picking up your rental car, picking up your car rental at Dublin Airport, Ireland or picking up your car rental in Dublin City Centre. We’ll discuss them below and weigh up the benefits of each.
Where you choose to pick up your rental car very much depends on your itinerary.
Dublin Airport
Of all the Dublin car rental locations to pick up your car, Dublin Airport is the most convenient. It is the most natural pick up and drop off locations for car rental in Dublin, Ireland as most visitors to the Emerald Isle arrive in Dublin Airport.
Dublin Airport has two terminals and which one you arrive at depends on where you are coming from.
Most flights from the US arrive at Terminal 2 as do all Aer Lingus flights (the national airline of Ireland). Short-haul flights from Europe typically arrive at Terminal 1, such as Ryanair flights, as do non-Aer Lingus flights from Canada.
Both terminals at the airport have car hire desks, with those at Terminal 1 being located within the arrival’s hall (to the right), while those at Terminal 2 are located within the multi-storey car park building across the glass tunnel.
Watch our Youtube video to help you navigate your way at Terminal 2 to pick up your rental car from us by clicking here.
The best car rental in Dublin Airport is My Irish Cousin. With our all-inclusive package you can arrive in Dublin knowing everything is covered and there will be no nasty surprises at the car rental desk. Just pick up your keys and start exploring.
And, if you are planning to bypass Dublin altogether during your trip to Ireland, then Dublin Airport is the number 1 choice for car rental pick up in Dublin.
Advantages of choosing a car rental pick up at Dublin Airport:
- Can start exploring Ireland straight away.
- Ideal for those not wanting to spend time in the Irish capital.
- Immediate transport after stepping off the plane.
- Almost all car rental companies at Dublin Airport open early, with some starting at 5am and closing at 11pm or midnight.
- Can avoid city driving.
Disadvantage of choosing a car rental pick up at Dublin Airport:
- You may get caught for parking charges if you pick up in Dublin Airport before going to a city centre hotel for a few nights.
Tips for picking up your car rental at Dublin Airport
- Plan to pick up your car approximately 60 minutes after your flight is due to land, giving you time to clear customs and collect your luggage.
- Remember to have your driving license, International Driving License (where applicable), passport and credit card ready along with your reference number for your car rental reservation.
- Be prepared for the car rental age restrictions applicable at your chosen car rental company (learn more about rental car age restrictions in Ireland).
- Arrive having familiarised yourself with the important rules of the road in Ireland and the frequent Irish road markings you will encounter on your travels.
- If you are travelling south, inquire about a toll tag or learn how to pay the M50 toll online with our step-by-step guide to avoid penalty charges when passing under the barrierless toll system.
Dublin City Centre
If you are planning to explore the Irish capital before you discover the rest of the Emerald Isle, then we recommend you pick up your hire car from one of the many car rental locations in Dublin, Ireland after you have finished enjoying Dublin.
This gives you the freedom to explore the city without worrying about finding somewhere to park and then charges that will most likely come with that parking space.
You don’t need a car if you are exploring Dublin but once you leave the city, hiring a car is the best way to see Ireland. Dublin City Centre is compact and walkable, and the suburbs of Dublin are serviced by a great public transport network that includes buses, trains, and trams (known as the Luas).
When it comes to car rental pick up locations in Dublin, most companies have a choice of locations including both on the northside and southside of the city centre, and in some suburb areas.
My Irish Cousin has 7 offices for car rental pick up in Dublin aside from Dublin Airport in the following places:
- Dublin City Centre South (St Stephen’s Green)
- Dublin City Centre North (Russell Street)
- Swords (north County Dublin)
- Finglas (Dublin North)
- Kylemore (Dublin West)
- Tallaght (Dublin Southwest)
- Dun Laoghaire (Dublin South)
So, no matter where your hotel or accommodation is located in the city, you are never too far from a pick up location for car rental from My Irish Cousin.
This is the ideal choice for those who want to explore the city on foot before going on an Irish road trip.
Advantages of choosing to pick up your rental car in Dublin City Centre:
- You can avoid parking fees if you pick up from the city centre after you have finished exploring Dublin.
- Can enjoy the city first before setting off on the open road, or vice versa.
- Avoid the unnecessary cost of the extra few days car rental while the car is parked.
Cons of choosing to pick up your rental car in Dublin City Centre:
- Many city centre rental car companies in Dublin, Ireland do not open until 9am and close at 5 or 6pm Monday to Friday with shorter hours at the weekend.
- If you pick up in the city centre and need to park you may incur parking fees.
- You may have to navigate busy city traffic if you get caught in rush hour.
Tips for picking up your car rental in Dublin City Centre
When leaving the city in your rental car, avoid rush hour.
Prepare yourself for narrow lanes, and one-way streets if you are driving around the city.
Be prepared to share the road with bikes, trucks, taxis, and buses.
Never, ever cross a yellow box, especially at points where the tram tracks (Luas) cross the driving roads.
Take the R148 which runs along the southside quays towards Heuston Train Station and then out of the city, known as the Chapelizod Bypass, towards the M50 to leave the city via the easiest and most direct route.
What if I want to catch the train to another city in Ireland from Dublin and pick my car up there?
While, of course, you can do this with My Irish Cousin at no added fee (and for additional fees with other car rental companies), we do not recommend this option.
Practically and logistically, while this sounds like a good option, you should consider the following things:
If you catch the train, you can miss out on seeing certain things along the way like Clonmacnoise enroute to Galway, or the Rock of Cashel enroute to Cork.
Public transport can be unreliable compared to getting in a car where you are in control of the timetable. Trains and buses can be delayed or cancelled and if you are constrained by the office hours of your car rental company, you could miss your window for picking up your hire car and miss a day.
Public transport costs money and might not be a saving at all.
Collecting your car in Dublin is the quickest and surest way to get you exploring the beautiful island of Ireland.
Having your hire car from Dublin affords you far more flexibility.
For these reasons, we highly recommend you pick up a hire car in Dublin.
Final thoughts about the best place to pick up a rental car in Dublin
The best place for car rental pick up in Dublin depends on one big thing: whether you are planning to explore Dublin before discovering the rest of the Emerald Isle.
For those planning to sightsee their way around the Irish capital, picking your rental car up from one of our many offices across the city and suburbs after you have finished in the city is the best option.
But for those bypassing the capital and going straight out into the Irish countryside, picking up your hire car from Dublin Airport is the best choice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Renting a Car in Dublin
All rental cars can be picked up from Dublin Airport at either Terminal 1 or 2. In Terminal 1, the car rental desks are in the arrival’s hall, to the right.
In Terminal 2, the car hire desks are through the glass tunnel in the multi-storey car park building. In this case, your rental car will be parked in the car park in a designated parking bay.
The best car rental in Dublin company is My Irish Cousin. My Irish Cousin offers a complete, all-inclusive car rental package that comes with full insurance including Super Collison Damage Waiver, free second named driver, full tire and glass coverage, permission to drive to Northern Ireland, and more. My Irish Cousin has offices at Dublin Airport, 7 other desks in Dublin, all other airports in Ireland and over 20 other offices across the country.
In our opinion, the best way to get around Dublin is either on foot in the city centre or by using the excellent public transport network in the city which includes buses, trains, and trams.
Yes, all drivers from the US, Canada, Australia and other English-speaking countries can rent a car in Ireland on their current driver’s license without the need for an International Driver’s License.
Dublin Airport has two terminals. Terminal 1 is where most short-haul, European and non-Aer Lingus Canadian flights arrive, while Terminal 2 welcomes many of the long-haul flights to Ireland including those from the US.
You will pick up your rental car from whichever terminal you arrive. Those arriving at Terminal 2 will have their rental car waiting for them in the multi-storey car park, while those arriving at Terminal 1 will check in at the rental car desks in the arrivals hall before taking a shuttle to the car hire offices to pick up their vehicle.
No, you do not need a car in Dublin as a tourist. Dublin city centre is compact and walkable and even if you stay outside of the city centre, there is a good public transport network for getting in and out of the city, negating the need for a rental car in Dublin.
