Dan Dooley concerns?
 

I've rented cars in Northern Ireland a million times, but will be flying into Dublin the next time I visit. The price difference is incredible! It's at least $200 more expensive for 10 days (not including any extra insurance) to rent in the Republic of Ireland. <BR> <BR>Anyway, I did find a decent rate with Dan Dooley, so I reserved a car. Then I got a phone call at home from someone at Dan Dooley. First they tell me that I have to PREPAY the entire amount, and that I'll also be charged for gasoline, so I should return the car as close to empty as I can get. I was very leery after hearing this, so I told the guy I'd have to think about it, noting that I'd never heard of paying for gas. He got kind of snotty with me, and told me that's how all of the car rental places do it. I know that's simply not true. When I asked him how much I would be charged for gas, his reply was "How am I supposed to know that? Are you asking me how much gas is in Ireland?" I assured him that I knew exactly how much gas costs in Ireland, but that I wanted to know how much Dan Dooley charged. He never answered the question. He also tried to pressure me into prepaying for CDW, telling me that it would cost me three times as much if I waited to add CDW when I got to Ireland. <BR> <BR>I'm obviously inclined to simply cancel the reservation and never deal with these people again, but I've seen lots of good things about Dan Dooley on this site. <BR> <BR>Can anyone out there explain how this weird system at Dooley's works? Please don't tell me that's the way it works in Ireland, because I know it doesn't.

O.K., first take a deep breath.Dont be upset at the Dan Dooley guy, he is just doing his job, I'm sure he doesn't write policy.I just had a Dan Dooley rental 8 days last week, everything was fine.Car rental in the republic is very expensive, no one was trying to rip you off.If you found a decent rate I would go for it.When I got my rental I prepaid about a month in advance.Everyone does charge for the gasoline, I will check and let you know how much I paid.The only problem that I had was they said to bring it in empty, and I had about 3/4 of a tank left.They didnt give me ant credit, and they told me this would happen beforehand, but then when I returned it I was kind of pissed because they said then that if it had been full they would have given me credit for it, in which case I would have filled it up the rest of the way on my way to the airport.Almost everyone pays the CDW in Ireland.I paid $108 for mine ahead of time, and believe me it is worth it.Driving thru the burren I hit a rock in the road and got a flat.When I took it to be replaced in Bunratty they refunded the 70 pound charge.I'm just lucky thats all the damage that was done, it could have been much worse when my front left tire blew out.Dan Dooley was very nice, and I got a brand new Renault with only 10 miles on it.Why would you say that this is not the way it works in Ireland?In my experience it is exactlythe way it works and there was no problem with it. I'll get back to you later with how much I spent on gas I dont think it was really too bad.

We rented a car from Dan Dooley for nearly three weeks, from Dublin and back to Dublin. The gas thing is wierd, but we did what they said. Actually as we were getting back to Dublin we intended to get some gas as we thought we were going to run out, but soon we were looking for directions, then there were no more stations in the city on the way. I think we literally coasted into Dan Dooley's on fumes. That'll teach them. I remember a few years ago Hertz or Avis in the US was trying this same idea. Pay for the full tank up front and return it empty, but I don't think it ever got off the ground. We found Dan Dooley to be great -- and their rate was so much better than the other quotes we got we were happy to prepay to guaranteee the rate.

Patrick-thanks. I'm still a little leery, but I might go ahead. Still thinking, though, about just taking the train up north and getting something more reasonable. That's the last time I fly into Dublin. <BR> <BR>D.J., I say that's not how it works in Ireland because I've rented cars 16 different times in Ireland, and have NEVER encountered policies like Dan Dooley's. And I've also never encountered anyone with an attitude like this guy (he was American, though, so I guess that must be the reason!). I've rented with Hertz, Avis, National and a couple of local places and none of them ever charged for gas. Just told to bring it back with as much gas as I started out with. <BR> <BR>FYI for anyone coming to Ireland: It's much cheaper to fly into Northern Ireland and pick up your rental car there. Many more credit cards cover CDW in the UK than in Ireland. Plus, the basic rental charge is so much less. Besides, the North is more fun, anyway.

Although we did not encounter the same experience you did. We did rent a car with Dan Dooley in March 1999. The car was great, service was great and it was a decent price, I do remember we had to buy the insurance, as the week we left, our VISA card stopped automatically covering insurance to the Republic of Ireland. <BR>All in all I would rent with them again, I am sorry about the guys attitude, we found every person who worked for Dan Dooley to be pleasant and helpful above and beyond the call of duty.

Ann, I'm sorry I cant tell you how much the gas was because I didn't sign for it and now my wife cant find the reciepts.I will have to wait until my statement comes now.My guess was that it was around 45 pounds, then later we might have bought 20 pounds worth of gas.

Thyra-thanks. That's the type of info I'm looking for. I'm hoping I just got the bad one in the bunch. <BR> <BR>DJ-thanks for looking.

We rented 2 cars from Dan Dooley this summer-one was a van actually. The van was brand new and the other car practically was. They were great to deal with-but they do charge your credit card in advance-can't remember about the gas. <BR>Shadow