Car hire when you fly from Belfast
The headline price is rarely the price you pay. Three lines on the rental agreement decide the rest, and two of them are decided before you reach the desk.
The excess is the whole game
A hire car comes with damage cover that has a large excess attached — commonly somewhere between several hundred and two thousand euros. If the car is damaged, that amount is yours. Everything the desk tries to sell you is about removing it.
You have three options, and they differ by hundreds of pounds:
- Accept the excess. Cheapest up front, and the rental company will place a hold on your credit card for the full amount.
- Buy the desk’s excess waiver. Convenient, and routinely the most expensive way to do it. It is sold hard at the counter, when you are tired and there is a queue behind you.
- Buy standalone excess insurance before you travel. Typically a fraction of the desk price for the same trip, sometimes a fraction of the annual policy. You pay any damage first and reclaim it.
Fuel policies, ranked
| Policy | What happens | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Full to full | Collect full, return full, pay for what you used | The one to want |
| Same to same | As above, starting from whatever is in the tank | Fine. Photograph the gauge |
| Full to empty | Pay for a full tank up front at their price, return it as empty as you dare | Avoid. You are buying fuel at a markup and gifting back whatever you fail to burn |
Fuel policy is visible at the point of booking. It is one of the easiest ways to compare two quotes that look identical on price.
What you need at the desk
- A credit card in the main driver’s name. Not a debit card, not a partner’s card. This is the most common reason people are refused a car they have already paid for.
- Your driving licence. Photocard plus, in many countries, evidence of your record.
- Your passport. Routinely requested as second ID.
- The booking reference. On your phone is fine, but have it offline in case the terminal wifi fails you.
UK licence holders should check whether the country asks for a DVLA licence check code, which is generated online and expires after a short window, so it is generated shortly before travel rather than weeks ahead.
When a hire car is worth it
Yes, if:
- Your resort is more than half an hour from the airport and you intend to leave it.
- You are on an island where the interior is the point — Majorca, Crete, Tenerife.
- You are a family of four or more, where transfers and taxis add up fast.
No, if:
- You have booked a package with transfers included and plan to stay put.
- Your resort is walkable and on a train line. The Costa del Sol is the obvious case.
- Parking at your hotel is paid and scarce, which quietly adds to the daily rate.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to book the car before I fly?
Almost always. Walk-up rates at airport desks in peak season are punitive, and in August cars genuinely run out at smaller airports.
Can I use a debit card?
Some companies allow it with extra checks and a compulsory excess waiver purchase, which removes the saving. Assume you need a credit card unless the company says otherwise in writing.
Do I need an International Driving Permit?
Not for a UK licence in the EU for short visits, but rules differ outside the EU. Check for your specific destination rather than assuming.
What about additional drivers?
Usually a daily charge, occasionally free with certain rates. Add them at booking, and never let an unregistered driver take the wheel — it voids the cover entirely.