Insurance for Rental Autos in Ireland

When you go to a new country for vacation, you will probably want to rent a car.  That does depend on where you are going.  If you're headed to a big city and don't plan on leaving that city, getting a rental car is only an option among many

There are some things that you should learn ahead of time before renting a car in Ireland.  Most people assume it works like in their own country and end up paying a lot more than they have to.  First of all, you should try to compare at least five different rental companies.  This will help you get a good idea of what the prices are like.  It tends to be cheapest when you order your car rental online.  You can also save money if you get the rental car some place other than the airport.  While getting it right off the plane can be very convenient, companies will usually charge you a fee for this, so it is more expensive this way.  You can also save money by choosing a car with manual transmission.  Unlike the United States, manual transmissions are the most common in Ireland.  If you want an automatic transmission in your car, you will likely be paying extra for it. 

There are certain kinds of car insurance that you may or may not what to get before you start driving in Ireland.  While some do cost extra, they save you hassle and money just in case something happens to the car.  One such insurance plans is the collision damage waiver.  This is optional and does cost money, but it covers you based on certain kinds of damage to the car.  It may be a good idea to get this even though it costs money.  Then there is the third party liability insurance.  This is mandatory for all rental car drivers no matter which car insurance company you choose.  The upside do this is that it is free.  You won't have to pay extra for this protection.  It covers you just in case you cause damage to people or property that is outside of the rental car. 

As you can see, there is quite a bit that you will need to know if you plan on renting a car in Ireland.  While there are certain things that you will need to pay for, there are others that are optional.  Be sure to weigh these options to know whether or not you should pay the extra cash.  Although you don't need them, it is often a better idea to spring for them.  Insurance is important because it protects you just in case something happens to go wrong while you are on your trip.  Even with insurance, you aren't covered if you luggage gets stolen from the car.  In this case, be sure to keep your bags in the trunk (or boot as it is called in Ireland.)