Ireland Car Rental Insurance Coverage

Many people travel to Ireland each year without fully understanding the nuances of Ireland car rental insurance coverage, and the options available to them. At Auto Europe we specialize in European car rentals, and have been helping our clients save money on the best rental car insurance option in Ireland for over 60 years.

In Ireland, unlimited third party liability insurance is a legal requirement, and to make our pricing transparent, we include this coverage in the daily rate of any Ireland car rental you book online with Auto Europe. This third-party liability coverage protects you from any liability you might otherwise incur from property damage, injury or death caused to anyone or anything outside of your rental car. We also include fire insurance coverage in our rates in Ireland, which protects you from rental car damage charges resulting from fire.

Why Add More Ireland Rental Car Insurance?

While the included third-party liability coverage protects you from damaging another vehicle, structure, or person, most travelers book supplemental car rental insurance in Ireland so that they aren’t liable for damage or theft to their rental car. The most popular supplemental coverage options include CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) and TP (Theft Protection). These supplemental coverage options will reduce your liability from damage to your rental car resulting from a collision or vehicle theft. The cost of these coverage options will vary depending upon the local car rental company you book with, so it’s a good idea to comparison shop in Auto Europe’s booking engine, or to call one of our specialists who can help you find the best coverage at the lowest rate.

What is almost always true about purchasing supplemental rental car insurance in Ireland is that pre-paying when you book your rental car with Auto Europe is usually cheaper than paying at the counter in Ireland. In addition, Auto Europe’s premium zero-excess option can reduce the deductible (out of pocket cost) you owe in the event of a collision to zero. This provides peace-of-mind while driving Ireland, so you can relax and enjoy your trip. Here’s a helpful chart which compares the per-day cost and deductible cost when purchasing supplemental Ireland rental car coverage with Auto Europe in advance, vs. at the counter in Ireland. You’ll be amazed by how much you can save:

Auto Europe averages are based on CDW+TP insurance costs for a 3-day rental of an economy, compact, mid-size or full-size car class. The Ireland car rental insurance rates listed here are estimates and are subject to change without notice. For the most up-to-date pricing information we encourage you to request a free online quote via our booking engine.

In addition to the significant per-day savings you can receive when adding supplemental rental car insurance coverage to your Ireland booking with Auto Europe, the deductible cost when buying coverage locally in Ireland is very high … so high that it can break the vacation budget of many travelers. This is why our zero-excess option is so popular, but it’s not the only choice Auto Europe offers.

Best Options for Supplemental Car Rental Insurance in Ireland

When Auto Europe clients book their rental, they’ll typically be offered two different options to upgrade their rental car insurance coverage. First, you can choose our Zero-Excess/Deductible coverage, which reduces the out-of-pocket deductible you’ll owe in the event of an accident or vehicle theft to zero dollars. This is our most expensive option, but it’s still quite reasonable relative to what you would pay for a lower-quality coverage locally when picking up your rental car in Ireland. It’s also the best available option should the worst happen while driving in Ireland, as it reduces your out-of-pocket liability to zero.

Second, you may choose to upgrade to our Refundable Deductible car rental insurance option. If offered, this Ireland rental car coverage option entitles you to a full refund of any deductible you pay following an accident. The only caveat is that Auto Europe requires full documentation of the accident, including a copy of the police report, your rental agreement, etc. Once that is received, your credit card will be issued a refund of the deductible you paid following your accident in Ireland. This is a popular choice because it’s less expensive than our zero-excess coverage, and after you receive your refund, you’ll typically be clear of any deductible costs. But if money is tight, consider zero-excess, because with refundable deductible coverage you’ll still be responsible for paying the deductible out-of-pocket, and it can take time to receive your refund depending upon how quickly you can send us the documentation. Additionally, many clients do choose to add Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) at the rental counter in Ireland. This is typically cheap (a few dollars a day), and will cover the cost of medical expenses should you or other passengers be injured while driving in Ireland.

Why Decline Supplemental Coverage when Driving in Ireland?

Despite the low cost of purchasing supplemental Ireland car rental insurance coverage with Auto Europe, some drivers choose to book their rental car at the base rate, declining supplemental coverage. The reasons for this vary, but it’s often a choice made by drivers who believe they are covered via their personal auto insurance policy or by their credit card car rental insurance policy.

Auto Europe cautions travelers to do their due-diligence. Depending upon the duration of your rental, or the value of the car you’re renting, you may not be covered by your policy. Be sure to call your credit card or auto insurer in advance to verify coverage. We have specialized in the Ireland car rental market for over 60 years and our specialists can explain your coverage options in detail, and help you choose the best option at the lowest available rate so you can enjoy peace of mind while traveling in Ireland.