Galway car rentals

Driver's age: 26-65

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Cheap car rentals in Galway

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Economy car
Economy
M
Compact car
Compact
M
Intermediate car
Intermediate
M
Standard car
Standard
M
Full-size car
Full-size
M
Luxury car
Luxury
M
Minivan car
Minivan
M
Passenger van car
Passenger van
M
Commercial car
Commercial
M
Pickup truck car
Pickup truck
M

KAYAK’s top tips for renting a car in Galway

  • Car hire in Galway is a good idea, not only to get around the town but to enable you to see the countryside and venture further afield. There are some beautiful, scenic drives in the Galway region, including the Inagh Valley route to Killary Harbor, the drive to the seaside village of Clifden and its Sky Road and the route via Oughterard and Maam Cross to Cong, where the film ‘The Quiet Man’ was set.
  • Car hire in Galway can be done in town, but if you are flying in, you fly into either Ireland West Airport (NOC) or Shannon Airport (SNN). Both are about an hour’s drive from Galway. Ireland West Airport has various car hire kiosks, which are all located in the terminal, to the left as you enter the arrivals hall. At Shannon Airport, the kiosks that are in the arrivals hall are operated by Thrifty, Budget, Europcar, Avis, Hertz and Enterprise. Other companies offer a transfer to their depot from the airport.
  • Galway is a small, medieval city with many one-way streets and narrow roads; but car hire in Galway does not need to be daunting. The roads have different coding: M stands for motorway toll roads, N for national roads and R for regional roads. L roads refer to local roads and are often tiny roads that are more like lanes. There are also some roundabouts. The general rule is to yield to cars already in the roundabout, but keep an eye on cars coming from your right, as they often think they have the right of way.
  • Galway has quite a bit of traffic, so where possible, drive at off-peak hours of the day. When you use a satellite navigation system, it doesn’t always pick up on the L roads, so it’s a good idea to invest in a paper map to complement your GPS to avoid ending up on a tiny lane behind a tractor. The very centre of the city is walkable and has a great atmosphere, so it’s a good idea to park nearby and continue on foot.
  • Book your rental car in Galway at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
  • Mini rental cars in Galway are around 27% cheaper than other car types, on average

FAQs about renting a car in Galway

  • What type of car is recommended for driving in Galway?

    Get the smallest possible car you can that will fit your luggage and yourselves. Ireland and Galway are notorious for their tiny little roads, and the smaller the car, the easier it is to navigate. Most cars from Galway car hire companies are manual; if you can only drive an automatic, be sure to book well in advance. A smaller car will also be more fuel efficient.

  • What’s the speed limit in Galway?

    The speed limit on motorways in Ireland is 120 km/h. On national roads, it is 100 km/h; it's 80 km/h on regional roads; in urban areas, it is 50 km/h; and in certain zones, such as school zones, it is 30 km/h. The speed signs always override the general rules, so be sure to pay attention to these. It’s likely you will be driving slower than the speed limit on the windy regional roads as well as through the centre of Galway due to traffic.

  • Where are the best places to park in Galway?

    On-street parking is available throughout Galway, and they operate a pay-and-display system Monday-Saturday from 08:30 to 18:30. Outside of these times, the parking is free. Be sure to check the signs when parking to ensure you understand the rules and fees. There are also numerous covered car parks, which start at about £ 2.30 (A$ 4.25) per hour. It’s best to book these online ahead of time to get discounted rates.

  • How much is gas price in Galway?

    The average gas price in Galway is ₪25.93 per gallon over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between ₪311 and ₪415, depending on the car size.

  • What is the most popular rental car in Galway?

    Mini (Toyota Aygo or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Galway.

  • How can I find car rentals near me in Galway?

    Take a look at our extensive car rental location map to find the best rental cars near you.

  • How much does a Mini car rental cost in Galway?

    A Mini car rental in Galway costs ₪216 per day, on average.

  • How much does a Standard car rental cost in Galway?

    A Standard car rental in Galway costs ₪466 per day, on average.

  • How much does a Compact car rental cost in Galway?

    A Compact car rental in Galway costs ₪495 per day, on average.

Galway car rental reviews and directory 
All ratings and reviews are collected from KAYAK users with a verified car rental booking. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.

Europcar

10.0

Wonderful

Read 1 review
Best rated

Cleanliness

10.0

Comfort

10.0

Pick-up/Drop-off

10.0

Value for money

10.0

One location in Galway

Show locations

Locations in Galway

MOTOR PARK, 3rd EXIT OFF KIRWAN RB

+353 91 396 555

Opening times not available

Filters

Reviews

10.0 Wonderful

Kyrstin, Dec 2022

KAYAK
Our sales associated (gentleman from the UK) made our experience!

1 out of 1

Budget

9.4

Cleanliness

9.7

Comfort

9.7

Pick-up/Drop-off

8.8

Value for money

8.2

One location in Galway

Show locations

Locations in Galway

12 Eyre Square

+353 91 566 376

Monday09:00 - 18:00
Tuesday09:00 - 18:00
Wednesday09:00 - 18:00
Thursday09:00 - 18:00
Friday09:00 - 18:00
Saturday09:00 - 18:00
Sunday09:00 - 18:00

Filters

Show reviews that mention

Reviews

10.0 Wonderful

Shannon, Oct 2022

KAYAK
The man at the counter was incredibly helpful and very kind. He gave me the information I needed, and was professional throughout. Would absolutely rent there again. Cars are a short walk from the rental place, and easy to get in and out of the parking structure.

10.0 Wonderful

Colleen, Aug 2022

KAYAK
We were reluctant to rent a car outside the US, but our concerns were unfounded. The process was easy, the car was clean and comfortable.

6.0 Okay

Anonymous, Dec 2019

KAYAK

Pros:

Staff at counter was personable and professional.

Cons:

Two block walk to pick-up location, agent did not disclose specific location, vehicle was on the fourth floor. Instructions for drop off equally uncertain.

10.0 Wonderful

Anonymous, May 2023

Mini

KAYAK
Nothing. A great group of people

1 out of 2

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

8.0

Very good

Cleanliness

8.5

Comfort

8.0

Pick-up/Drop-off

8.0

Value for money

7.5

2 locations in Galway

Show locations

Locations in Galway

Ballybane Industrial Estate

+353 91 758 468

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 18:00
Sunday11:00 - 14:00

Kilrush Rd, V95Y074

+353 1 429 0200

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

Payless

Cleanliness

7.2

Comfort

7.0

Pick-up/Drop-off

6.8

Value for money

5.2

One location in Galway

Show locations

Locations in Galway

12 Eyre Sq

+353 91 394 374

Monday09:00 - 18:00
Tuesday09:00 - 18:00
Wednesday09:00 - 18:00
Thursday09:00 - 18:00
Friday09:00 - 18:00
Saturday09:00 - 18:00
Sunday09:00 - 18:00

Filters

Reviews

8.0 Very good

Anonymous, Dec 2023

Intermediate

KAYAK
Overall, the car was great. We did have a problem as we were renting it, though. I reserved an automatic transmission car, and, fortunately, I printed the reservation as soon as it was completed. When I went to pick the car up, they had changed the reservation to manual transmission.. As we were sitting there waiting for our car, a customer came in with the same exact issue. She went to get in her car and start driving and it was a manual transmission even though she had reserved an automatic transmission. This is a major problem for people who don’t know how to drive manual. it makes me wonder why this company doesn’t just keep more automatic transmission cars in stock if that’s what tourists need.

2.0 Poor

David, Jul 2023

Mini

KAYAK
I was charged $69 online. I have collision damage coverage through Chase credit card. But when picking up the car the man that checked me in basically refused to honor and ended up charging me their insurance. I did do an upgrade but before I left the charge was $572.

6.0 Okay

Anonymous, Jun 2023

Economy

KAYAK
It felt a little deceptive. The rental was purchased for a day at $66. When I went in to pick up the vehicle, there was an additional $115 in fees added to the rental (insurance and other costs). The gentlemen were kind enough but condescending when asked for a clarification of the charges. The pick up experience left a bitter taste in my mouth. Other than that, the car drove nicely and the drop-off was smooth. I was just caught off guard by the overall cost as I booked online.

10.0 Wonderful

Anonymous, Jun 2023

Mini

KAYAK
We had an overall smooth experience with our car rental: booking, picking up and returning. The car was comfortable & clean.

8.0 Very good

Anonymous, Aug 2022

KAYAK
It was extremely expensive and severs ad-ons when we picked it up, but we were happy with the car.

8.0 Very good

Karen, Jun 2022

KAYAK
The car park where all the rentals are isn’t the easiest to find, and our attendant didn’t give the best directions, which made an unpleasant walk in the wind and rain longer than necessary.

1 out of 2

keddy by Europcar

9.0

Wonderful

One location in Galway

Show locations

Locations in Galway

Motor Park, 3Rd Exit Off Kirwan Rb

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

CARHIRE.ie

5.1

Fair

One location in Galway

Show locations

Locations in Galway

Motor Park

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

Sunnycars

No score available yet

2 locations in Galway

Locations in Galway

12 Eyre Square

Opening times not available

Tuam Road

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

Easirent

No score available yet

One location in Galway

Locations in Galway

Shannon Springs Hotel, Ballycasey

Opening times not available

Filters

Reviews

2.0 Poor

Anonymous, Jul 2024

Premium SUV

KAYAK
We had booked a 7 seater for a certain price and when we arrived they added on 150% in cost on all kinds of fees. We also booked a 7 seater and they only had a 5 seater which made the week very uncomfortable with bags on laps and they didn't offer any help.

10.0 Wonderful

Anonymous, Aug 2022

KAYAK
Even though they were not located at the airport, there was a shuttle that picked me up within minutes, supplied me with an upgrade at a cost much lower than other companies. The return process was also seamless, no lines, quick processing and dropped off at the airport within minutes.

6.0 Okay

Anonymous, Aug 2022

KAYAK
We were told at pick up that cars could be left at the hotel at the airport. But when I spoke to the team the day before drop off they said this was not possible and that we would need to bring the car to the rental office location. They also said they would be open at 6. However on the day the first employee showed up at 610. To be fair to him he brought us straight to the airport in the vehicle so we did not have to transfer luggage across and he was very pleasant and helpful when he arrived.

6.0 Okay

Anonymous, Jul 2022

KAYAK
Our rental car started having issues so we called and were told they would meet us with a new rental at 1:30. They didn’t come until 3 so we ended up waiting three hours.

8.0 Very good

Anonymous, Jul 2022

KAYAK
Flight was cancelled by United and car cannot be held or paid for over the phone. Car rental said contact Kayak and Kayak said contact car rental. Easirent finally fixed it so we had a car for our month long visit. Would’ve been disastrous otherwise. Thanks Paddy and James!!

6.0 Okay

Anonymous, Apr 2022

KAYAK
My reservation (through Kayak) did not have the vender phone number printed so upon arrival to Shannon airport I couldn’t contact them for pickup, wasted a taxi fee to get to off site location. Is that Kayak or Easirent? The car was great, with navigation system, which was of value throughout trip. Return of car & shuttle to airport was trouble free.
35 travelers who rented a car in Galway gave the car agency they used an average rating of 7.2

Car rental locations in or near Galway

Good to know

Most popular car type

Mini

When to book a rental car in Galway

Average daily price per month
Rental car prices as pick-up date approaches

Galway car rental information

Pick-up locationGalway
Car types
Rental locations8
Airport locations0

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