Galway car hire
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Cheap car rentals in Galway
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
- Economy rental cars in Galway are around 38% 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 the price of fuel in Galway?
The average price of fuel in Galway is AED 26.24 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a tank of fuel costs between AED 315 and AED 420, depending on the car size.
What is the most popular car hire in Galway?
Economy (Ford Fiesta or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in Galway.
How can I find car hires near me in Galway?
Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.
How much does an Economy car hire cost in Galway?
An Economy car hire in Galway costs AED 202 per day, on average.
How much does a Compact car hire cost in Galway?
A Compact car hire in Galway costs AED 217 per day, on average.
How much does a Luxury car hire cost in Galway?
A Luxury car hire in Galway costs AED 913 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 reviewCleanliness
10.0
Comfort
10.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
10.0
Value for money
10.0
One location in Galway
Locations in Galway
MOTOR PARK, 3rd EXIT OFF KIRWAN RB
+353 91 396 555
Filters
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Kyrstin, Dec 2022
Budget
9.4
Wonderful
Read 4 reviewsCleanliness
9.7
Comfort
9.7
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.8
Value for money
8.2
One location in Galway
Locations in Galway
12 Eyre Square
+353 91 566 376
Filters
Show reviews that mention
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Shannon, Oct 2022
10.0 Wonderful
Colleen, Aug 2022
6.0 Okay
Anonymous, Dec 2019
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
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
Locations in Galway
Ballybane Industrial Estate
+353 91 758 468
Kilrush Rd, V95Y074
+353 1 429 0200
Filters
No reviews available
Payless
6.2
Okay
Read 6 reviewsCleanliness
7.2
Comfort
7.0
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.8
Value for money
5.2
One location in Galway
Locations in Galway
12 Eyre Sq
+353 91 394 374
Filters
Reviews
8.0 Very Good
Anonymous, Dec 2023
Intermediate
2.0 Poor
David, Jul 2023
Mini
6.0 Okay
Anonymous, Jun 2023
Economy
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Jun 2023
Mini
8.0 Very Good
Anonymous, Aug 2022
8.0 Very Good
Karen, Jun 2022
keddy by Europcar
9.0
Wonderful
One location in Galway
Locations in Galway
Filters
No reviews available
CARHIRE.ie
5.1
Fair
One location in Galway
Locations in Galway
Filters
No reviews available
One location in Galway
Locations in Galway
Filters
Reviews
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Jul 2024
Premium SUV
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Aug 2022
6.0 Okay
Anonymous, Aug 2022
6.0 Okay
Anonymous, Jul 2022
8.0 Very Good
Anonymous, Jul 2022
6.0 Okay
Anonymous, Apr 2022
2 locations in Galway
Locations in Galway
Filters
No reviews available
Car hire locations in or near Galway
Good to know
Most popular car type | Economy |
|---|
When to book a car hire in Galway
Everything you need to know for your car rental in Galway
Car rental at airports serving Galway
Galway car hire information
| Pick-up location | Galway |
|---|---|
| Car types | |
| Hire locations | 8 |
| Airport locations | 0 |