Appendix - Ireland 2014 - page 709

involve a foreign tourist. But careful drivers—with the patient support of an alert navigat-
or—usually get the hang of it by the end of the first day.
If you're renting a car in Ireland, bring your driver's license. It's recommended, but
not required, that you also have an International Driving Permit if your driver's license
has been renewed within the last year (sold at your local AAA office for $15 plus the
costoftwopassport-type photos, www.aaa.com );I'vefrequently rented carsinIreland and
traveled problem-free with just my US license.
Rental companies generally require you to be at least 21 years old and to have held
your license for two years. Drivers under 25 may incur a young-driver surcharge (if
that describes you, try STA Travel, which seeks young renters; www.statravel.com , tel.
800-781-4040). In the Republic of Ireland, you generally can't rent a car if you're 75 or
older,andyou'llpayextraifyou're70-74.SomecompaniesinNorthernIrelandwon'trent
to anyone over 69. (Note that you can't lease a car in Ireland; you can only rent.)
Researchcarrentalsbeforeyougo.It'scheapertoarrangemostcarrentalsfromtheUS.
Call several companies and look online to compare rates, or arrange a rental through your
hometown travel agent. Most of the major US rental agencies (including Avis, Budget, En-
terprise, Hertz, and Thrifty) have offices throughout Europe. Also consider the two major
Europe-based agencies, Europcar and Sixt. It can be cheaper to use a consolidator, such as
Auto Europe ( www.autoeurope.com ) or Europe by Car ( www.ebctravel.com ) , which com-
pares rates at several companies to get you the best deal. However, my readers have re-
ported problems with consolidators, ranging from misinformation to unexpected fees; be-
cause you're going through a middleman, it can be more challenging to resolve disputes
that arise with the rental agency.
Regardless of the car-rental company you choose, always read the fine print carefully
for add-on charges—such as one-way dropoff fees, airport surcharges, or mandatory in-
surance policies—that aren't included in the “total price.” You may need to query rental
agents pointedly to find out your actual cost.
For the best deal, rent by the week with unlimited mileage. To save money on fuel, ask
for a diesel car. In mid-summer expect to pay at least $300 per week ($500 for an auto-
matic), including fuel and minimum insurance, for a basic compact-size car (like a Ford
Escort 1.3-liter). With full insurance, the price of the same car goes up to about $480 per
week ($575 for an automatic). Smaller economy-size cars cost about $75 less per week,
but they don't feel as smooth on the motorways or as safe on small roads. Minibuses are a
great, budget way to go for larger groups (five to nine people). But don't forget to factor
in the space for everyone's luggage.
Almost all rentals are manual by default, so if you need an automatic, you must request
one in advance. Beware that an automatic transmission costs more and is usually more