GoCar vs Traditional Car Rental in Ireland: Which Is Better?

Planning a road trip in Ireland? One of the first decisions you'll make is how to get a car. GoCar's flexible car sharing and traditional rental companies each have distinct advantages. This guide breaks down the costs, convenience, and best use cases for each option so you can make the right choice.

Quick Comparison

GoCar rates and terms can change — see GoCar.ie/rates for the latest.

Cost Comparison: Real Scenarios

Scenario 1: Day Trip from Dublin to Wicklow (~105km round trip)

Winner: Roughly similar, but GoCar wins on convenience — no desk, no queue, no refuelling needed. Factor in mileage charges for longer day trips.

Scenario 2: Weekend Getaway (Fri evening to Sun evening, ~200km)

Winner: Traditional rental is usually cheaper for weekends, especially when driving long distances. GoCar's mileage charges (€0.25/km after 50km free) add up quickly.

Scenario 3: One-Week Road Trip (~1,000km)

*Each booking includes 50km free (or 75km for GoExplore PLUS). Over a week, that's 350-525km free depending on vehicle type.

Winner: Traditional rental wins clearly for longer trips. GoCar's daily rates and mileage charges add up significantly over a week.

GoCar rates and mileage allowances can change — check GoCar.ie/rates for the latest pricing.

When GoCar Is the Better Choice

GoCar excels when you need flexible, hassle-free access to a car for shorter periods:

Day Trips from Cities

GoCar is perfect for exploring beyond the city for a day. Grab a car in the morning, explore, and return by evening. No rental desk queues, no paperwork.

Great day trips:

• Dublin Bay & Howth — stunning coastal loop
• Wicklow Mountains — dramatic mountain passes
• Cork Harbour & Kinsale — foodie paradise

When You Only Need a Car for Part of Your Trip

Staying in Dublin for a week but only want a car for two day trips? GoCar means you only pay for the days you drive — no car sitting unused in a car park.

Solo Travellers

If you're travelling alone and only need a car occasionally, GoCar's hourly rates are much more economical than multi-day rental minimums.

No Rental Desk Hassle

With GoCar, there's no:

• Waiting in queues at the rental desk
• Upselling for unnecessary insurance
• Pressure to buy premium fuel packages
• Time wasted on paperwork

See our how to use GoCar guide for the full process.

When Traditional Rental Is the Better Choice

Traditional car rental is better for extended road trips and rural exploration:

Multi-Day Road Trips

If you're planning the Ring of Kerry, Wild Atlantic Way, or any multi-day route, traditional rental is usually cheaper and offers unlimited mileage.

Starting from Rural Locations

GoCar vehicles are concentrated in cities. If you're flying into Shannon Airport or want to start from a rural town, traditional rental has locations at every airport and many towns.

One-Way Trips

Need to pick up in Dublin and drop off in Cork? Traditional rental companies offer one-way options (for a fee). GoCar requires you to return the car to the original location.

Specific Vehicle Requirements

If you need a particular car type (automatic transmission, 7-seater, estate car for bikes), traditional rental gives you a guaranteed booking. GoCar availability depends on what's parked near you.

For a full guide to traditional rental, see our car rental guide.

The Hybrid Approach: Best of Both Worlds

Many savvy travellers combine both:

1. Use GoCar for city-based day trips — grab a car from Dublin for a day in Wicklow
2. Rent traditionally for your main road trip — pick up from the airport for your multi-day adventure
3. Use GoCar for the last day — need to pop to the airport after returning your rental? GoCar is perfect

This approach keeps costs down while maximising flexibility.

Insurance Comparison

GoCar Insurance

• Third party, fire and theft cover included in every trip
• €2,000 excess applies — you're liable for the first €2,000 of damage to the GoCar vehicle
• After 3 incident-free trips, you can purchase Damage Excess Waiver (DEW) to reduce excess to €250 — costs €200/year or €2.40/hour (capped at €20/day)
• No paperwork or desk upselling
• Roadside assistance included
• See GoCar's DEW details for the latest terms

Traditional Rental Insurance

• Basic CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) usually included
• Excess can be high (€800-€2,000) — you pay this amount before insurance kicks in
• Rental desks aggressively upsell "super CDW" to reduce excess
• Consider third-party excess insurance (much cheaper than desk options)

Read our car insurance guide for detailed advice on rental insurance.

Booking Tips

For GoCar

• Register in advance — verification takes 24-48 hours
• Use promo code 31k65h for €25 off your first trip
• Book weekend cars early as they go fast
• Check the GoCar locations guide to plan ahead

For Traditional Rental

• Book 2-4 weeks ahead for best prices
• Compare on aggregators (Rentalcars.com, Kayak)
• Avoid airport premium by booking from a city location
• Decline desk insurance if you have third-party cover

Our Recommendation

Get Started

Ready to try GoCar? Register with promo code 31k65h for €25 off your first trip.

Prefer traditional rental? Read our comprehensive car rental guide to find the best deal.

Compare all your options on our car rental hub.