Traveling in Ireland

Traveling in Ireland


Car Rental Insurance in Ireland Demystified

September 26, 2025

Car rental insurance can feel overwhelming, and I know it’s not the most exciting topic. But stick with me — I’m going to make this as simple and painless as possible, so by the end you’ll know exactly what coverage you need, what you can skip, and how to avoid those costly surprises at the rental desk.”

follow article on CDW but share slowly and individualy

1) SCDW

PROS & CONS

2) Credit card

PROS & CONS

Share example of insurance coverage taking months to pay out – it's usually not your insurance company, it's the delay on the car rental company (loss of use adds a lot of fees)

3) Insurance or 3rd party

PROS & CONS

“Sometimes you’ll see insurance offered when you book through third-party sites like Discover Cars. These policies aren't usually what they look like. Those are reimbursement policies — if something happens, you pay the rental company first and then try to get your money back from the insurer. Because of that, most rental desks in Ireland won’t accept them as adequate coverage. Don’t be surprised if you’re asked to buy the company’s own insurance at pickup, even if you thought you were already covered.”

With booking sites like Expedia and Travelocity this can get a bit more complicated as the coverages offered, vary by rental company and by state – show and highlight things to notice.

Pros – less expensive
Cons – can be declined, payment may be required by credit card and you are reimbursed by the insurance company.

“Once you’ve got insurance sorted, the next step is making sure you compare quotes fairly. In the next episode, I’ll show you how to read them apples to apples — and what to look for when the quotes aren’t identical, so you can still make a fair comparison.”

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