Galway car rentals
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Cheap car rentals in Galway
| Mini |
| Economy |
| Compact |
| Intermediate |
| Standard |
| Full-size |
| Luxury |
| Minivan |
| Passenger van |
| SUV |
| Commercial |
| Pickup truck |
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
- Compact rental cars in Galway are around -3% cheaper than other car types, on average
Galway car rental experiences: the best tips from KAYAK users
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 ₪27.97 per gallon over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between ₪336 and ₪447, depending on the car size.
What is the most popular rental car in Galway?
Compact (Toyota Auris 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 Compact car rental cost in Galway?
A Compact car rental in Galway costs ₪343 per day, on average.
How much does an Economy car rental cost in Galway?
An Economy car rental in Galway costs ₪254 per day, on average.
Galway car rental reviews and directory
Europcar
10.0
Wonderful
1 reviewCleanliness
10.0
Comfort
10.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
10.0
Value for money
10.0
One location in Galway
Budget
7.6
Good
19 reviewsCleanliness
8.6
Comfort
8.3
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.5
Value for money
7.0
One location in Galway
Filters
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Oct 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Aug 2022
6.0 Okay
Dec 2020
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.4.0 Mediocre
Oct 2019
Pros:
My experience at Budget in Galway last week was pretty abysmal. Adrian met me out front and asked if I had a reservation, which I did. He then started off by demanding who I stayed with the previous night and where they live (really not sure why they need this information). Next he asked about insurance at which point I provided my letter from Chase (PDF on my phone) outlining my eligibility for "worldwide coverage under the Auto Rental Collision Damage waiver benefit." I had called Chase before my trip specifically to confirm that Ireland was not excluded from their coverage (given past rules) and they assured me that Ireland was included in their worldwide coverage benefit, and sent me this letter as proof. Adrian insisted that the letter must specifically state Ireland and refused to rent me the car I had reserved until I was able to provide one. The other options he provided were to go elsewhere or to get coverage through Budget and quoted me $500. At this point I would have loved to walk away but really needed the car and to get on the road. I called Chase and the woman I spoke with kindly offered to speak to Adrian but he declined, stating it would do not good without a letter. I then asked for his name but he refused to give me his last name saying he was not required to do so (was not wearing a badge or any form of identification). I then asked to speak with someone else and he called his manager, who confirmed that "worldwide coverage" is sufficient, and told him to move forward with my reservation. He proceeded to go through the steps and never once apologized for his misunderstanding of the policy. I am not one to write reviews and generally give people the benefit of the doubt- but I do feel like feedback is warranted in this case in hopes that others can avoid this experience. Adrian and Galway Budget aside, the car I rented was great and I had no issues with the drop-off at Shannon Airport. Despite this I will be avoiding Budget in the future.Cons:
Better treatment of the customer and understanding of the policies. Wearing a name badge seems appropriate, and apologizing for the error would have also gone a long way.6.0 Okay
Sep 2019
Pros:
Dropoff difficult. Busy street. No instructions on how to park.. once I over came that, courteous and simple return. BUT see below.Cons:
I was given a credit on my credit card for the tank of gas that had been reserved. Two days later and the credit has not shown up on my account.4.8 Mediocre
Aug 2019
Pros:
The car did not break downCons:
Service was not great at galway. Car was a bit small. High price and new drop off fee. I am also being charged 119$ for no reason and it has not gone off my credit card yet. I would like a call from someone at budget to clear this charge because I refuse to pay it since we dropped it off with fuePayless
5.9
Fair
10 reviewsCleanliness
7.2
Comfort
6.5
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.3
Value for money
4.9
One location in Galway
Filters
Reviews
8.0 Very good
Dec 2023
3.2 Poor
Oct 2019
Pros:
Nothing.Cons:
I was quoted one price and then when I went to pick to pick the car up they made me pay 3.5x the price because I was booking on a Euro credit card not and American credit card. Then they have you walk 4 blocks and to the top of a parking garage to collect the car. God help you if you have bags or it’s raining. If it was cheap to rent I would t have minded walking. But at that outrageous cost you’d expect a little bit of service maybe bring the car to the rental shop?!2.0 Poor
Jul 2023
6.0 Okay
Jun 2023
10.0 Wonderful
Jun 2023
8.0 Very good
Aug 2022
keddy by Europcar
9.0
Wonderful
No reviews available
One location in Galway
CARHIRE.ie
6.2
Okay
No reviews available
One location in Galway
Easirent
No score available yet
One location in Galway
Filters
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Aug 2022
6.0 Okay
Aug 2022
6.0 Okay
Jul 2022
8.0 Very good
Jul 2022
6.0 Okay
Apr 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Apr 2022
Sunnycars
No score available yet
3 locations in Galway
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
No score available yet
One location in Galway
Filters
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Mar 2017
Pros:
I have rented from both companies in Galway...they are like night and day. Enterprise is very reliable, customer oriented and efficient. Cars have all been high quality, in stark contrast to their competitors at Budget. The prices advertised by Enterprise are often higher than Budget, but in my experience the quality far exceeds the price difference and the folks at the Galway Budget office will intimidate you and flat out lie to get you to buy extras that you don't need...entirely unprofessional, but they know you often don't have the option to walk out on the rental by the time you get to the desk. I have rented from Enterprise 7-8 times and have been thoroughly impressed with their professionalism, honesty and efficiency every time.8.8 Very good
Feb 2017
Pros:
It was clean and easy to useCons:
I was worried the car couldn't handle long distances.Car rental locations in or near Galway
Good to know
Most popular car type | Compact |
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