Car rental: Can I rent in 1 city/ drop in another?
 

I'd like to rent a car starting in Galway and return it to Dublin. Can I do that? I have yet to call the rental places and wondered. Thanks.

You can do it but you should call the rental company and see if they have this option. Small companies normally do not have it.

What if I tell you that you can do that and then the COMPANY tells you different? Are you going to invoke my name??? :-? NOBODY on this forum can get a better answer than going online/calling and actually getting an answer from the actual venue.

The piece of info I would offer in trying to be helpful is that it would be very difficult to find a venue that will let you rent in Northern Ireland and dropp off in Ireland or viceversa.

Some companies charge fees for drop off at different location. Call the company even if you book online to check the charges.

viajero2, who is planning to rent in Northern Ireland?

@trav: Thanks. Hehe. Not me! :)
@Viajero: I promise not to quote you. Of course calling would be a sure thing but I'm just doing some preliminary exploring here!
@Nevesdeb: I'll check it out.
Thanks, all, for the quick responses.

Generally speaking, the answer is "YES". Smaller towns MAY impose drop-off fees and there is usually a Minimum Rental Period required (3-4 days)on un-penalized (i.e., No Drop Off Fee)one-way rentals.

One way to/from NI and the Republic nearly always entails a hefty drop off fee.

Bob

As I said TRYING TO offer some info that could be useful IF NEEDED.

Some do, some don't. Those that do, most charge a drop off fee of around E30. I believe Dan Dooley does not have this, but I'm not certain. Enterprise allows it, but you have to call them for it - you can't get a quote online for it.

I wanted to p/u in Dublin and return to Belfast. It was permitted -- but so expensive that I decided to drive the extra 2 hours to return the car in Dublin--and then fly out of Dublin (instead of Belfast).

However... later in the trip I'll be picking up at Bristol airport -- and returning to Manchester and the fee was quite reasonable.

FYI, I found the best rates at AutoEurope and EuropCar.

@Viajero: Thanks for the info. Never hurts to KNOW stuff!
@Itallian Chauffer, GreenDragon & Songdoc (great name btw): Thanks a lot. I intend to rent for about 8 or 9 days. I'll look into Dan Dooley, AutoEurope and EuropCar.
~DrToonz