Best Ireland Car Rentals for Families & Groups

Renting a car in Ireland can be confusing at the best of times, and when you add in considerations for a family or group, the complexity can increase – especially when you are traveling with 5 or more people!

In Everything You Need to Know About Car Rental in Ireland I outline the 8 steps you need to take when renting a car in Ireland. For families and groups step 4 – Choose Your Car – may be the most important.

rental car and too much luggage — The face you make when the luggage doesn't fit in your rental car

Ireland Car Rental for Families

When choosing a car in Ireland the rule of thumb is to choose the smallest car that you can be comfortable in. What many people forget about is luggage.

The boot (trunk) in Irish cars is smaller than the space in a similar American car, so you need to research not only how many people a vehicle will seat, but also how much luggage it will hold.

To begin your search use my preferred rental company (Irish Car Rentals- save 10% with my exclusive link) to research the types of cars you can expect to see in Ireland.

As you search the car types be realistic about the size of people you are traveling with and the amount of luggage you will have. Some car rental sites will advise you on how many bags can fit in the vehicle. It is important to note that bag size is not specified and I have found this to be an average size checked bag, no larger than 30″ in height.

For instance, a Nissan Qashqai 5 + 2 can hold up to seven people. However, the + 2 people will be in the rear of the vehicle, which reduces the already limited luggage space. It's also not a very roomy option, so those people would need to be small.

Having driven a Nissan Qashqai I would not recommend it for more than 4 adult people, and only if traveling light. I would only recommend it for a family of 5 if at least two children are small.

For more room for a family look to an Estate car or People Mover (minivan). These vehicles have more room in the rear for luggage and can fit 5 passengers fairly easily.

Minivans will often state that they can fit up to 7 people but I have found that 5 is usually the maximum, especially if everyone has one suitcase.

If you are lucky enough to find a 9-seat vehicle, be sure to take note of the bag space. For example, the Ford Tourneo Custom states that it will fit 5 bags.

Once you have found a vehicle that you think will work, I would recommend looking online to see if there is a video tour of the vehicle. I would also see if the vehicle is marketed under a different name where you live. For example, the Nissan Qashqai is similar to the Nissan Rogue Sport in the US.

Ireland Car & Booster Seat Laws

Another thing for families to keep in mind are car seats – and how much space they take. Often, if you have 2 children in car seats, it is difficult to fit a 3rd person into the same row of seats.

By law, a child must use a child seat or booster seat for their height and weight if they are under 150cm height (4 foot 11 inches) or weigh less than 36kg (79 lbs). This means that many children, up to age 12, need to be in a child seat of some sort.

Many car rental companies can add car seats to your rental if you request them in advance, though car seat experts do not recommend this. If you opt to bring your own car seat, be sure it has the correct label showing that it meets EU safety standards.

Most US car seats are certified FMVSS and can not legally be used in Europe (and EU car seats do not meet US requirements). SafeRide4Kids has good information to consider when traveling with your car seat.

More information on child seats in Ireland can be sound on the RSA.ie website.

Car Rental in Ireland for Groups of 5 or More

If you have a group of 5, and half of them are small, look for an Estate Car or 7 passenger people mover.

For a group of 6-7 you would want a 9-person vehicle or rent two smaller vehicles.

For groups of 8 or more you will need multiple vehicles. You might also consider hiring a driver guide. Not only will everyone be able to ride in the same vehicle, but you will have a terrific guide to share Ireland history, stories, and probably a bit of blarney, as you tour the country.

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