Car rental in Dublin for a 21 year old

Hazier

Hi guys, new poster here.

I'm really struggling to find someone to rent me a car in dublin on the 13th of sept. I am a 21 year old male with 3 years driving experience (3 years no claims). I have tried all the major ones but they mainly are 23 +...

If anyone knows of ANY company which would suit my needs I would be indebted to you

I look forward to any response, and i mean any response would help me

Kind regards
A very frustrated Adam

Ponster

Being 21 is ok as long as you have a couple of years experience with some companies.


http://www.capital-car-hire.com/car_rental_terms.html

http://www.carrentalireland.com/rental_terms.html

http://www.irishcarhire.info/car_rental_ireland_terms.html

Hazier

Thank you for your quick response. Problem is I don;t own a credit card and it's too late now to order one. My dreams over I think

I am staying in a little village outside Tinahely, Co. Wicklow, does anyone know how good the bus / taxi / trains links are?

Sorry to be a pain and a nag, I'm just a first time traveller to Ireland

Adam

Ponster

Ahh, without a credit-card it doesn't matter what age you are really, but 21 paying in cash is prebably never going to happen I'm afraid unless someone has some local knowledge.



Take the shuttle bus from the airport to the city centre (approx. 30 mins, €6,-) and leave at the central bus station (Busarus). Walk to Connelly train station (only 4 minutes, but it is not indicated properly, so you might need to ask how to find it). From here trains leave for Arklow (direction Rosslare) about 6 times a day.
Duration of the trip to Arklow is 2h00, fare is about €10,-). Take a taxi from there to Tinahely.


http://www.irishrail.ie



Direct bus from Dublin to Tinahely on weekends (Th, Fr, Sat) leaving in the early eaving.
http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1202394514-132.pdf

Random

I don't know the area in Wicklow but would guess your chance of public transport nearby is zero.

Have you tried getting car hire off the company you booked your flights with? Sometimes they can sort you out?


++ edit - someone posted while I was posting. I take back some of what I said about public transport but would still guess it's less than adequete (even by our poor Irish standards) if you wanna get around !

Hazier

Thank you both for your replies, very grateful.

I dont understand why a credit card is necessary, when I have a debit card and / or cash? Would me turning up at the airport and explaining a situation be any different, i.ie leaving my passport behind the desk as deposit (?)

Thank you again for your replies, all you advice is greatly appreciated. I just hope the lack of car doesn't affect my holiday, as I have heard that there is nothing around Co. Wicklow in form of ammenities and transport

+edit - We are travelling with RyanAir and they work with Hertz, who only hire to 25+ apparently

Again, Thanks
Adam

Random

Worst case though I guess you pay a few bob on a taxi to get you to a transport link ! Just budget a little more for transport

Hazier

And a little less on Guinness :mad:

As I am a young driver anyway, we we're quoted at £300 + for a car for the week, so I doubt (!) travel would be that much more... have I jinxed it !!

Adam

Ponster

Don't bother with the Ryanair/Hertz thing, you'll often find cheaper than that if you look around.

You really need to make a list fo all companies and contact each to find ones that

a) accept drivers who are 21 and,
b) take debit cards (cash is almost certainly out of the question)

The problem with debit cards is that most companies use the card (credit/debit) to withdraw €500-€1500 at the time of hiring. With a credit card this money isn't actually taken from your account unless you wreck the car. With a debit card it's taken from your account and it may take up to 10 days for it to be returned after returning the car.

As I said, email the companies at Dublin airport and see what they suggest.

Bluetonic

Ponster wrote: »

As I said, email the companies at Dublin airport and see what they suggest.

Don't bother with an email, if your serious about it pick up the phone.

Hazier

Thank you both again for your responses!

Sadly, I have compiled a list already, with almost all needing a credit card. I might just go with the intention to take public transport but have a look when I get there and see what some companies say?

But I shall phone up the companies at Dublin airport (and Dublin centre)beforehand. I think I will all also see when I arrive if they say yeah alright! (very unlikely, but hey, when your backs up against the wall...)

Adam

Ponster

Call Atlas Car Rental Ireland (who accept debit cards) and ask them how much extra you'd have to pay in insurance for an under-23 driver.

Irishcarrentals accept Irish debit cards (and drivers who are 21) so worth a call also.

Ponster

Just spoke to my Dad who said that http://dan-dooley.ie accepts debit cards as long as you agree this with them before booking the car and also hire to Under-21.

Hazier

Ponster, thank you so much for your continual help.

Dan-Dooley said debit card is okay quoted at £337 for 7 days which is fine(!), but they needed £1000 in cash for the insurance and as a student I just cant afford that whether I get it back or not.

Atlas said 25+ only

IrishCarRentals are 25+ too, as per a previous email.

I thank you all for your help and I think im going to have to enjoy the countryside in the nearby area!!!

Adam

Ponster

I doesn't matter if you're a student or not. €1000 (not £1000 in case that makes a difference) is a lot of cash to hand over to someone.

You may be better off getting the train/bus and hiring a bike instead

Hazier

Yeah, it was E1000 but I dont have a euro key on my keyboard and still it is alotta cash!

Not having a car is not going to ruin my holiday, but it would make it so much easier.

Thank you for your help again Ponster, I will enjoy my bike ride

Adam

Ponster

Hazier wrote: »

Thank you for your help again Ponster, I will enjoy my bike ride

Adam

No worries. Oh, and Welcome to Boards.ie