Quotes can look wildly different at first glance; one bundles taxes and roadside, another separates fees until checkout. This guide walks through how I compare quotes fairly so you can see the real total before you book.

Comparing Car Rental Quotes in Ireland What I compared

• Five quotes from Irish Car Rentals, Enterprise.ie, Sixt.ie, New Way, and My Irish Cousin.
• Same dates and pickup/drop at Dublin Airport.
• Same class of vehicle (similar to a Hyundai Tucson, automatic).
• Tip from experience: for international brands, use the .ie site to see Irish coverage options during booking.

Where prices really diverge

• Excess coverage and roadside assistance: sometimes bundled, sometimes add-ons.
• Additional driver and cross-border fee: often shown late in the process; I had to hunt these down on a few sites.
• Taxes and surcharges: included in some quotes, added later in others.
• Deductible differences: one example had a €250 deductible even with excess.
• Tires and windscreen: included in some quotes with excess coverage, on others it appeared under roadside.
• Mileage: most quotes showed unlimited mileage; still worth confirming in the terms.

Finding the missing pieces

If you can’t add a fee during booking, check the terms.

• Example: Irish Car Rentals lists the Northern Ireland fee in the terms (per rental).
• Terms also clarify rules like not taking the car off the island, what counts as a covered tire issue, and payment methods accepted.

Inclusive providers vs build-your-own

• New Way and My Irish Cousin include excess coverage and other extras in a single price for a ‘no hassle' experience
• Others let you toggle items on screen; a few require you to read terms to find the fee.

The takeaway from my sample

• In my spreadsheet, Irish Car Rentals came out least expensive once everything I needed was added.
• New Way landed next; My Irish Cousin and Enterprise were close together; Sixt was highest in this run.
• Quotes change – sometimes by the hour. I lock in when my dates are set; booking earlier usually wins.

How to compare fairly when quotes aren’t identical

• Match basics first: same dates, pickup/drop, vehicle class, transmission.
• Add what you actually need: excess coverage, an additional driver, cross-border if applicable, roadside.
• Look for what isn’t shown: taxes, surcharges, out-of-hours fees, and any deductible left on excess.
• Confirm small but important items: tires and windscreen coverage; mileage; where cross-border is permitted and priced.
• Total everything; then decide which full quote fits your trip, not just which looks cheapest at first glance.

Choosing the Quote That Fits Your Trip

Pick the offer that covers what you need, shows a clear total, and doesn’t hide essentials in the fine print. Once you know your dates, get a number you’re happy with and book; you’ll avoid the last-minute scramble and the price creep that follows it.

Traveling in Ireland podcast episode 300

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