Car rental prices in Ireland are forcing tourists to reconsider their visit

High car rental prices in Ireland are forcing tourists to reconsider or cancel their visits to Ireland this year, industry experts have said.

“Analysis shows car rental costs have at least tripled since before the pandemic; in some places it has quintupled,” Drivetime told RTÉ Radio recently. reported.

“In Kerry the average price has gone from around €400 to around €1,200 per week to hire a car.”

A spokesperson for Hertz, one of the car rental companies at Dublin Airport, recently told Dublin Live: “The rise in costs is primarily due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the rise in Inflation has also seen many rental car fleets sell off due to an increase in fuel too.”

High car rental prices are having a ripple effect on Ireland’s tourism industry, which is also trying to recover from the worst of the pandemic.

“We are hearing stories of some people canceling their holidays,” Paul Kelly, CEO of Fáilte Ireland, the country’s tourism development authority, told RTÉ on Monday.

“We’ve had feedback from places like the bed and breakfast sector and others where they’ve had cancellations because people who came to visit them couldn’t get a car.

“And of course we’ve had issues where people say the prices are very high. It is a global phenomenon. »

While Kelly says it’s a ‘global phenomenon’, a report by Indecon for Fáilte Ireland found that the cost of renting a car for tourists in Ireland is high compared to the European average , RTE News reported.

Hopeful renters have taken to social media in hopes of finding a good price, as well as venting their frustrations over rising prices.

Among them was New York-based CNN correspondent Donie O’Sullivan, a native of County Kerry, who was quoted over €1,950 for a rental of less than a week:

Car shortage = crazy car rental costs in Ireland this summer. It’s for less than a week. pic.twitter.com/PL6DJuWTH5

— Donie O’Sullivan (@donie) May 19, 2022

One person replied to O’Sullivan saying he was quoted €3,000 for two days:

I was quoted 3000 euros for 2 days in a Ford Focus to Dublin next week via Irish Car Rentals A work colleague said guests at a wedding last week had all left Ireland instead of driving sightseeing (and spending $$$$) because of car rental costs! The government must intervene

—Jonathan Turner (@jonathanturner) May 19, 2022

Another replied that prices had more than doubled since December and that he would “stay put this summer”.

I just did a quick search on Expedia for a pick up from Dublin airport in mid August and a return 4 weeks later. The prices are more than double what I paid last December for the same duration. I think I will stay there this summer! pic.twitter.com/LAAbWvdbkT

— Paul O’Farrell 🇺🇸🇮🇪 (@OFARRL1960) May 19, 2022

In another case, a person said on Twitter that his US-based brother was quoted €10,000 for three weeks in July by a rental company at Dublin Airport:

Brother (living in the US) was quoted 10,000 euros for a rental car for 3 weeks in July from Dublin airport.

—Eoin Hayes (@Eoin_Hayes) May 18, 2022

Another person tweeted that it was listed at over €3,000 for two weeks in July:

July..Two weeks rental car in Dublin €3003.!!! Two weeks in Zurich, Switzerland cost €1596.!!! pic.twitter.com/24zNmvkFBL

— greenshame🏴‍☠️ (@greenshame) May 24, 2022

One person said it would be cheaper to buy a car instead of renting it, which some people would have resorted to doing.

What’s going on with car rental prices in Ireland. More than €2000 for economy class for 10 days in June. It’s cheaper to buy a car on a closed deal and leave it at the airport.

— Andrew McDonnell Aviation Photography (@EIAMDphotos) May 16, 2022

However, amid the frustration, a Dublin-based adviser suggested tourists should “take the bus”.

If tourists want to get their money’s worth when visiting Ireland, take the bus.

Seriously, car rental prices are so low on the list of things Fáilte Ireland should care about. https://t.co/YJ9m4Abrfl

— Clr Oisín O’Connor (@OConnorOisin) May 23, 2022

The warning signs of the car rental debacle appeared as early as December 2020 when Paul Redmond, chief executive of the Car Rental Council of Ireland, told the Irish Times that the country’s rental supply had shrunk.

“He’s gone so low now that the chances of flying again, if the recovery comes quickly, will be a big deal.

“Companies won’t have the financial resources and may not be able to rebuild their fleet without support,” he said.

More recently, Redmond said in a statement on May 17: “Rental companies have been forced to sell their stock of vehicles during the pandemic.

“In 2022, inventory levels were around 50% of what they would have been in pre-pandemic years. In rebuilding inventory levels, car rental companies are facing a lack of supply of new cars manufacturers in the wake of the pandemic.

“Global car production has slowed significantly during the pandemic and there is now a huge backlog of new vehicle orders. The problem is compounded by component supply issues for new car production.

“High demand and supply shortages have resulted in more expensive and fewer new cars being available on the Irish market.

“While current forecasts for the number of overseas visitors suggest that overall car rental demand can be met, the factors described above are likely to result in some shortage of rental cars during peak periods. it will take time for car rental companies to rebuild their car stocks back to pre-pandemic levels.

“In the meantime, tourists should book their cars early to get the best rates. I understand that similar issues exist in other European tourist destinations.”