Shannon car hire
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Cheap car rentals in Shannon
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KAYAK’s top tips for renting a car in Shannon
- A hire car is by far the best and most comfortable way to explore not only Shannon, but also other big destinations in western Ireland. Public transportation often doesn’t take you to some of the region’s best landscapes and tours can be pricey. Galway makes for a great road trip if you’re based in Shannon, as it’s about 55 miles from the city. The majestic Cliffs of Moher, also on the west coast, are about an hour’s drive from Shannon.
- All the big car hire agencies, including Avis, Budget, and Hertz, can be found at Shannon Airport (SNN), which is less than four miles away from the city center. The car hire desks can be found at the Arrivals Hall of the airport’s main terminal, and the hire cars will be located just outside the building. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is not required when renting a vehicle in Ireland.
- When driving in Ireland, remember that traffic drives on the left side, and the steering wheel is located on the right side of the car. Although regional roads are usually somewhat narrow, they are well-maintained -- as are the motorways. The roads around Shannon Airport are some of the best for people driving on the left-hand side of the road for the first time; just be extra alert when entering and exiting roundabouts.
- Although traffic in Shannon itself is very manageable, there is some congestion around the airport, particularly during rush hour. Avoid driving between 6:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., and then again between 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. so you don’t add unnecessary extra time to your journeys. If you have to be at the airport within those time frames, plan your trip accordingly. If you’re heading to Galway, remember there are lots more people on the roads on the weekend.
- Book your rental car in Shannon at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
Shannon car rental experiences: the best tips from KAYAK users
Insights shared by verified travelers who rented a car in Shannon
FAQs about renting a car in Shannon
What type of car is recommended for driving in Shannon?
For travelers who don't require much space, a small, compact car is ideal for driving and parking around Shannon. But if you're planning on a road trip to the countryside or to the coast, a sedan or a minivan might be a better option — especially if you're traveling with family or friends, as it offers space for everyone.
What’s the speed limit in Shannon?
The speed limit in urban areas across Clare County is typically 50 km/h (31 mph), but it may be lower on some busy roads, in which case speed limit signs will be posted. The speed limit on rural roads is 50 mph, while highways and motorways have speed limits ranging between 100-120 km/h (62-75 mph).
Where are the best places to park in Shannon?
Because Shannon is a rather small town, street parking is usually plentiful and, if not free, quite low-cost. However, some street parking meters are time-restricted, so make sure you check the signs if you plan on parking for longer than two hours. Shannon Airport also offers long-term parking, with rates ranging between $9.50 and $11.00 per day.
How much is the price of fuel in Shannon?
The average price of fuel in Shannon is RM 33.95 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a tank of fuel costs between RM 407 and RM 543, depending on the car size.
How can I find car hires near me in Shannon?
Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.
How much does a Mini car hire cost in Shannon?
A Mini car hire in Shannon costs RM 329 per day, on average.
How much does an Economy car rental cost in Shannon?
An Economy car rental in Shannon costs RM 118 per day, on average.
How much does a Compact car rental cost in Shannon?
A Compact car rental in Shannon costs RM 70 per day, on average.
Shannon car rental reviews and directory
Avis
7.3
Good
31 reviewsCleanliness
7.3
Comfort
7.3
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.3
Value for money
7.3
One location in Shannon
Locations in Shannon
Filters
Reviews
8.0 Very Good
Sep 2018
Pros:
Very nice shuttle driver. Easy drop off. In and out!Cons:
When you use the GPS address in Google...it takes you to an industrial part of the airport. Get that fixed because it was frustrating.3.2 Poor
Jul 2018
Pros:
Car itself was fine but given a lesser car than originally booked and for more money.Cons:
Beware! Counter staff at Avis Ireland seem to work on commission. Our person would not look up our reservation by the reservation #, we were then told the only automoatic available was a lesser car than we had reserved, for more money! Talked to a 2nd person and told it was high season and that was the rate + lots of add ons. If you want to use the insurance provided by your credit card (we have amex platinum - great coverage) they would put a hold on our account for $5000 euros OR we could pay 48 euros per day for their insurance!!!! Complete scam. Opted to have the hold put on our credit card. Other car companies may do this as well in Ireland. Added a huge amount of stress to an otherwise wonderful trip. Advice: do your homework ahead of time with lots of research on car company policies there.9.2 Wonderful
Apr 2018
Pros:
The staff at Shannon Airport was super polite and informative. They even threw in a free GPS because they didn’t have the automatic transmission we reserved as we arrived early.Cons:
The insurance is very pricey - although it’s a must have because the roads in Ireland are pretty treacherous to say the least.10.0 Wonderful
Oct 2017
Pros:
All good. Efficient & friendly personnel at Shannon Airport. Car was ready when we arrived and was perfect for our needs.4.4 Mediocre
Sep 2017
Cons:
The final price was double the price quoted on my confirmation. Complete rip-off. I rented cars around the world for over 40 years and never had such an experience. Shame on Avis.4.4 Mediocre
Sep 2017
Pros:
The car got good gas milage.Cons:
The headlights did not work and caused us to almost get in an accident while driving. It was very scary driving on the winding roads of Ireland with no headlights! The car was also way too expensive for the type of car I rented. Disappointed. Also when we returned the car, it took 20 minutes for the counter to close out my account. The guy next to us was able to close out 4 other customers in the time it took the guy helping me to close me out. Frustrating.keddy by Europcar
10.0
Wonderful
1 reviewBest rated
Cleanliness
10.0
Comfort
10.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
10.0
Value for money
10.0
One location in Shannon
Locations in Shannon
Main Terminal Shannon Airport
+353 6120 6040
Filters
No reviews available
Europcar
8.7
Very Good
21 reviewsCleanliness
9.1
Comfort
9.5
Pick-up/Drop-off
9.0
Value for money
7.5
One location in Shannon
Locations in Shannon
Main Terminal, Shannon Airport
+353 61 206 040
Filters
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Feb 2024
10.0 Wonderful
Dec 2023
10.0 Wonderful
Jun 2020
Pros:
Pick up and drop off are easy and the staff are helpful.Cons:
Nothing4.4 Mediocre
Jul 2019
Pros:
Car was as generally clean as expected. Otherwise, my experience was bad.Cons:
Did not have the 5 dr hatchback I reserved or "similar" and charged upgrade for a larger hatchback to avoid downgrade. I was essentially ignored at pick-up and had to call-out to get attention. Attendant then pointed out my car and said "keys are in it". GPS did not work.7.2 Good
Jul 2018
Pros:
The agent in Dublin was excellent, Ivan, I think.Cons:
we rented the car through carrentals.com. it was supposed to be large 7 passenger with 4 suitcases. unfortunately we had to fly into Dublin instead of Shannon. We could not get a clear understanding from Europcar whether you rented this size car in Ireland. 2 agents said no, one agent said yes. The two that said no, indicated the broker was mistaken and should not have offered the size we booked. This seems strange since Im sure we are not the first to rent a large Europcar in Ireland through your representative, carentals.com2.0 Poor
Jul 2018
Cons:
I'm 77. Europcar (Ireland) won't rent a car without a letter from a doc if you're over 75. Fine (maybe). But there was NO warning about that -- so they turned me down and I got no car for my vacation. This is just horrible!Payless
8.5
Very Good
12 reviewsCleanliness
9.2
Comfort
8.5
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.5
Value for money
8.5
One location in Shannon
Locations in Shannon
Shannon Airport
+353 61 650 002
Filters
Reviews
8.0 Very Good
Oct 2019
Pros:
Our flight was scheduled to arrive at 10:30 pm but delayed over an hour. We called to notify Payless and asked about picking it up the next morning and we were told the car wouldn't be available and we'd have to rebook. We were told that the counter would be open until midnight and there was nothing else they could do.at that time. We did arrive around 11:45 p.m. and the agent was there and pleasant but informed us that no one notified her and she was only there because she was notified that another customer would be late.-otherwise she would have left early The counter agent was very pleasant and helpful. The first person I spoke to with Payless was rude and unwilling to help or offer alternatives-he was unprofessional and had a terrible attitude. He seemed like he didn't care about our concerns and he wasn't going to even attempt to work with us. I was willing to pay the full amount, even if we picked up a day later but the only option he offered was to cancel and rebook . His supervisor was a little better but said we could go online to modify it or to call back in 3 hrs-which would put us in flight and after the customer service number was available. The customer service representative also failed to notify the rental center of our delay even though we provided the information. Luckily it worked out but it is unlikely that I will ever book through Payless again. The car and value were great but not worth the stress of worrying that we'd arrive and not have a car.Cons:
The customer service representatives who answer the phone need to be trained to be more professional and to treat customers with respect rather than treat us like we were a nuisance that he couldn't bother with. I wish I had his name to file an specific complaint.10.0 Wonderful
Mar 2018
Pros:
Quick and painless.Cons:
Not their fault, but there should be a gas station closer to the airport or more clearly visible.2.0 Poor
Jul 2017
Cons:
what a rip off,,$99 rental turned into $1,000,, buyer beware budget and payless are bait and switch..don't do it go somewhere else.4.4 Mediocre
Oct 2016
Pros:
it was one guy working and he refunded our gas and then took us to the airportCons:
we had to wait for the van guy to come back from the airport since he was the only one working but it wasn't long10.0 Wonderful
Sep 2023
10.0 Wonderful
May 2023
Hertz
8.0
Very Good
17 reviewsCleanliness
10.0
Comfort
8.5
Pick-up/Drop-off
10.0
Value for money
8.0
One location in Shannon
Locations in Shannon
Shannon Airport
+353 61 471 369
Filters
Reviews
5.6 Fair
Sep 2017
Cons:
Drop-off was incredibly confusing: the drop off section was closed and directions to the after hours drop off were not well written and could have been more detailed. It ended up taking a half hour to return the vehicle.2.0 Poor
Sep 2017
Cons:
I brushed a stone wall in Ireland to avoid a head on collision and was horrified to learn that the two insurance coverages I thought did not, in fact, cover Ireland. It seems that it would have been a courtesy for the rental agent to mention that, but I must take responsibility for my ignorance. The manager at the airport was rude, unhelpful, and sent me away in an uninsured car because he did not want to deal with the problem at 8:30 pm. I was told to come back in the morning. I drove long distances to get back and forth, wasted a day, and was horrified to learn Hertz has charged me $13,000 to fix cosmetic damage that can be filled and buffed. 20% of the value of a car to repair cosmetic damage?! There will be no opportunity to receive fair estimates, and no proof that the work is ever done. Do your insurance homework before you rent, and above all never use Hertz! I will be living with their nightmare for years to come.3.6 Poor
Aug 2017
Pros:
car mechanically was OKCons:
Had to wait around half an hour to get the car when I had booked in advance, I would have expected them to know I was coming and therefore had a car ready. They didn't even have the one I booked (a Qashqai) so was given a Dacia Duster instead which was smaller than I was expecting. When I got it it was still muddy on the outside, probably because they had rushed to clean it.4.4 Mediocre
Jun 2017
Pros:
The location is very convenientCons:
This is as close to an extortion racket that I have ever experienced. The staff at the Hertz near Shannon Airport will charge you exorbitant amounts for any tiny scratch. We were assessed over $700 for three very short (the largest was less than 2 cm) thin (a couple of millimeters thick maybe) on the front bumper. These were not dents at all, just superficial scratches on a plastic bumper. In case you are thinking that this was just one person's bad experience be advised that 3 other people dropped off cars here while we were waiting for the "damage" report to be completed. All three of them were also being assessed for scratch damages. I do not know if those assessments were valid or not but they do illustrate a pattern. OK... you have been warned.9.2 Wonderful
May 2017
Pros:
I had hit a Pothole and had damage to the rim, the woman was still able to process my return quickly and will be e-mailing me the report to submit to insurance.4.0 Mediocre
Mar 2017
Pros:
Car was the promised size.Cons:
Extra fees changed despite information from Kayak. No assistance for a damaged tire. The agency tried to insist on purchase of insurance despite me providing proofs of insurance.Easirent
7.6
Good
6 reviewsCleanliness
8.0
Comfort
8.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.6
Value for money
8.0
One location in Shannon
Locations in Shannon
Filters
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Aug 2022
6.0 Okay
Aug 2022
6.0 Okay
Jul 2022
8.0 Very Good
Jul 2022
6.0 Okay
Apr 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Apr 2022
Sixt
6.9
Okay
21 reviewsCleanliness
8.6
Comfort
7.9
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.2
Value for money
5.5
One location in Shannon
Locations in Shannon
Shannon Airport
+353 1 235 2030
Filters
Reviews
4.0 Mediocre
Nov 2022
6.0 Okay
Oct 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Oct 2022
2.0 Poor
Oct 2022
2.0 Poor
Sep 2022
8.0 Very Good
Sep 2022
Thrifty
6.0
Okay
2 reviewsCleanliness
8.0
Comfort
6.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.0
Value for money
6.0
One location in Shannon
Locations in Shannon
Shannon Ap
+353 61 471 369
Filters
Reviews
8.4 Very Good
Mar 2017
Pros:
Eventually was given an Nissan Qashqai which was a good car and served me well.Cons:
I pre-booked a Hyundai Tucson SUV or similar and was offer a Dacia Duster. That is like saying a skateboard and a car are similar as they both have wheels. Was not happy to take this and the Thrifty agent conceded that I was not going to budge on this.Dollar
5.5
Fair
11 reviewsCleanliness
7.5
Comfort
6.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.5
Value for money
6.0
One location in Shannon
Locations in Shannon
Shannon Ap
+353 61 471 369
Filters
Reviews
4.0 Mediocre
Feb 2024
10.0 Wonderful
Sep 2023
2.0 Poor
Jun 2018
Cons:
The absolute worst customer service. I would spent the money renting with another rental car company. They were cheaper at the beginning, but at the end they charged me €165 for a 1” “scratch” on the wheel. I was not the only one. At the time of return 3 other customers were complaining about getting charged for bogus “Damage” that comes from normal wear and tear of driving through Ireland roads. Some were getting charged up to €350. When asked to speak with a manager about the issue, I was denied and told that the “customer service representative” could help me. Obviously they did nothing. This place will try to scam you out of every last dollar! Since they are part of the Hertz name and all employees at Shannon airport worked under Hertz, do yourself a favor and stay away from Hertz and their underling names of Thrifty and Dollar.8.8 Very Good
Mar 2017
Pros:
Was handy to be able to get out luggage, rent out car, and be driving through the countryside within a 10 min period. Will definitely use this company again.Cons:
The insurance seems quite expensive (understandably).7.6 Good
Nov 2016
Pros:
I liked the Jetta for size, handling, comfort as I drive VW/Audi cars at home. The drop off and pickup was at Shannon Airport which was very easy and quick. Sales agent was friendly and expeditious.Cons:
The Dollar/Thrifty rental was connected with Hertz - which I did not know at the time and will not rent from Hertz due to a bad experience previously. Once at the counter, I found some "hidden" costs and an"upgrade" charge for an automatic that cost significantly more than a base rental for a standard and that were not listed on the rental information I had secured in advance - more than doubling the price. Buyer needs to beware about what the exact costs you are paying for since a good price that I found in advance became costly once at the rental counter and should have meant that I looked elsewhere. Since it was so early and after a long flight, I did not pursue other options in the airport.2.0 Poor
Jul 2023
Budget
5.2
Fair
12 reviewsCleanliness
7.6
Comfort
7.6
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.2
Value for money
4.0
One location in Shannon
Locations in Shannon
Arrivals Hall
+353 61 471 361
Filters
Reviews
4.0 Mediocre
Sep 2022
4.8 Mediocre
Sep 2019
Pros:
Good gas mileage, easy to park and maneuver due to size.Cons:
Being up front regarding the cost of insurance, which adds, at minimum, an additional $1000. Also, being scolded for arriving late to pick up was unacceptable.10.0 Wonderful
Mar 2019
Pros:
Friendly helpful staff Very organised and effortless Very efficientCons:
Meet and greet with the car9.6 Wonderful
Oct 2018
Pros:
Great crew at the car lot.Cons:
Billing was confusing, and higher that quoted in the reservation.4.4 Mediocre
Jul 2018
Pros:
It was cleanCons:
We were told by kayak the rental would be 114 euro, but the rental actually cost us a little over 1000.00. This is a rediculous price for a standard / stick rental. We were hot over the head with extra costs at the counter... and had no choice but to pay. I amputating in a dispute with our credit.3.2 Poor
Aug 2017
Pros:
Car was comfortableCons:
Final price came in nearly double what we were originally quoted due to additional services (roadside assistance, personal insurance, etc.) being added by the agent at pickup. We specifically stated that we required no insurance (we have our own) & were not asked or informed about any of the other services/charges that were added. When we inquired about these charges at drop-off we were told it was too late to protest or receive a refund. Absolute rip-off.FLIZZR
8.0
Very Good
No reviews available
One location in Shannon
Locations in Shannon
Unit 3 Lismaclane
+353 1235 2030
Filters
No reviews available
CARHIRE.ie
5.7
Fair
No reviews available
One location in Shannon
Locations in Shannon
Serviced By Europcar
1844 1944
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Shannon
Locations in Shannon
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Shannon
Locations in Shannon
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Shannon
Locations in Shannon
SERVICED BY EUROPCAR
12345
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Shannon
Locations in Shannon
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Shannon
Locations in Shannon
Ground Floor
+353 61 704 914
Filters
Reviews
2.0 Poor
Oct 2018
Pros:
Nice representativeCons:
Enterprise provided 6 passenger van as "similar" to 9 passenger. Charged me a day for reservation5.2 Fair
Sep 2018
Pros:
NothingCons:
We returned the car in perfect condition but the guy who checked us out went out to the car and promptly removed the side mirror cover, then proceeded to tell us that he had to charge €1000 to my credit card because he said the cover was loose and would not go back on. Then he offered for me to come with him to try to put it on but he would not allow me to put it on and said we had damaged it. It was in perfect condition when I pulled into the parking lot and there was not a scratch on it but he said he has to charge me for the so called “damage” and that I might be able to get some of it refunded. He was obviously trying to generate more revenue for the car rental.One location in Shannon
Locations in Shannon
Main Terminal, Shannon Airport
+86 10 6064 1387
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Shannon
Locations in Shannon
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Shannon
Locations in Shannon
Filters
No reviews available
134 travellers who rented a car in Shannon gave the car agency they used an average rating of 4.4
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