The rental desks are in the arrivals hall of Terminal 1 and, in Terminal 2, in a car rental area at the entrance to the multi-storey car park. The cars are not at the terminals: after the paperwork, a free shuttle bus takes you about 5 minutes to the Eastlands car hire facility, where returns also go. Many credit cards do not cover collision damage in Ireland, and brands that let you decline their cover can hold up to EUR 5,000 on your card.
Top rated
Enterprise 7.17.1
Desks in terminal
00 of 7
Lowest deposit
€250 (Enterprise)
Reviews analysed
1,6801,680
At a glance
Counterwise rates 7 car rental desks at Dublin Airport (DUB): 7 off-site, reached by shuttle.
The best-rated desk is Enterprise with a Counterwise Score of 7.1/10 (Mixed); the lowest-rated is Budget at 3.5/10 (Poor).
All 7 desks require a credit card in the main driver's name.
Typical deposits range from €250 (Enterprise) up to €5,000 (Hertz).
Based on 1,680 reviews analysed · Last updated · How scores work
Red flag: Around ten recent reviews report disputed post-rental charges: damage for wheel marks or tyre gouges the renter says they did not cause, fuel fees despite a full tank or despite being told no refill was needed, and toll bills. A recent online legal-advice thread also describes a dispute over damage charges with this brand in Dublin.
Red flag: Several recent reviews report large charges after return (about EUR 150 to EUR 2,000) for damage, a tyre or an accident, in some cases despite paid cover or assurances at the desk that nothing would be charged. One review says an erroneous charge was refunded after photo evidence was sent. A Tripadvisor review from January 2026 also reports a missing refund and hidden fees.
Red flag: About 20 recent reviews say extras, supplementary liability cover or other add-ons were added at the counter without a clear explanation, often doubling the booked price. Several travellers say they had declined cover or held their own insurance; web sources also describe an upsell at the counter and a daily supplementary fee when using own insurance.
Red flag: Many recent reviews report the booked car category was not available (smaller or different car supplied) or the booking was cancelled at very short notice, with five last-minute cancellations clustered in mid-to-late July 2026 and no alternative offered.
Red flag: Very long waits at the off-site pickup are reported repeatedly, commonly 1 to 3 hours after the shuttle, including in October. Understaffing, no cars ready and crowded queues are the usual reasons.
Red flag: Many recent reviews, especially from non-US and French/German-speaking renters, say the desk rejected debit cards or foreign credit cards for the hold, or demanded a large hold (often EUR 2,500-5,000), and then required the desk's own cover, sometimes with extra add-ons and fees (e.g. admin fee for declining cover).
Red flag: Many reviews describe pressure to buy the desk's own excess cover, often after being told that declining it means a very large card hold (roughly 2,000 to 5,000 euros) or that third-party or broker cover is not accepted. About 55 kept reviews, spread over the whole period and continuing in recent months.
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Car rental at Dublin Airport: questions and answers
Which is the best car rental desk at Dublin Airport?
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Enterprise is the best-rated car rental desk at Dublin Airport, with a Counterwise Score of 7.1/10 (Mixed). It is followed by Sixt (6.9) and Hertz (4.0). Scores are based on 1,680 traveller reviews analysed and were last updated on 12 November 2026.
Which car rental desks are inside the terminal at Dublin Airport?
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None of the 7 desks we rate at Dublin Airport is inside the terminal. Enterprise, Hertz, Europcar, Avis, Budget, Sixt and Easirent are off-site and reached by shuttle.
Can I rent a car at Dublin Airport without a credit card?
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Not at the desks we rate. All 7 car rental desks at Dublin Airport require a credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit.
Which car rental desk has the lowest deposit at Dublin Airport?
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Enterprise has the lowest starting deposit at Dublin Airport: €250. The highest is at Hertz, up to €5,000. Deposits are held on your card at pickup and released after the car is returned.
How long is the shuttle to the off-site car rental desks at Dublin Airport?
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The shuttle ride to the off-site desks at Dublin Airport takes about 5 minutes, plus waiting time: Enterprise about 5 min, Hertz about 5 min, Europcar about 5 min, Avis about 5 min and Budget about 5 min. Ride time not confirmed yet for Sixt and Easirent.
What are the opening hours of the car rental desks at Dublin Airport?
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Opening hours at Dublin Airport: Enterprise, Daily 05:00–23:00; after-hours returns via drop boxes by the rental desks; Sixt, Daily 05:00–01:00; Hertz, Daily 05:00–01:00; Easirent, Daily 06:00–22:00; Europcar, Daily 05:00–23:45; Avis, Daily 04:30–01:30; 24h key drop for returns; Budget, Daily 04:30–01:30. If your flight lands late, check the hours before you book.
Which fuel policy do car rental desks at Dublin Airport use?
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Most desks at Dublin Airport use full to full (pick up full, return full). Exceptions: Enterprise (same to same) and Easirent (same to same).
Which car rental desk has the lowest rating at Dublin Airport?
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Budget has the lowest Counterwise Score at Dublin Airport: 3.5/10 (Poor). Main red flag from travellers: Many reviews describe pressure to buy the desk's own excess cover, often after being told that declining it means a very large card hold (roughly 2,000 to 5,000 euros) or that third-party or broker cover is not accepted. About 55 kept reviews, spread over the whole period and continuing in recent months..
The Counterwise Score (0 to 10) blends two things. 70% is an AI analysis of recent traveller reviews of that specific desk and of web reports, scored on five weighted sub-scores: deposit & damage disputes (30%), counter upselling (20%), booking honoured (20%), queue time (15%) and car condition (15%). 30% is the desk's star ratings on review platforms, rescaled against all desks we rate. Recent reviews count more than old ones, and desks with few reviews are pulled toward the average of their airport or station. Rankings are independent: affiliate commissions never change a score or a position.