Thrifty Car Rental Ireland Logo Thrifty Car Rental Ireland Homepage: Dublin, Cork and Shannon

Car Hire Ireland: Understanding the Jargon

Tourist Information

Thrifty Site Search

When you are hiring a car in Ireland you may come across many terms and phrases that you are not familiar with. In this article we list some of the most commonly used terms and explain what they mean.

Blue Arrow

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW)

It is important to be familiar with this term. CDW covers you for any claim resulting from any damage to the rental vehicle. This should be included in your car rental quote. Note, however, that you may be liable to pay and excess.

   
Blue Arrow Excess

In the event of damage to your rental car, you will most likely have to pay an agreed amount towards repairs. It is normally possible to have excess reduced or waived (Damage Excess Waiver), but this will push up the cost of renting the car.

   
Blue Arrow

Airport surcharge

If you collect your rental car from an airport you will normally have to pay an extra fee known as an airport surcharge. This is charged because rental agencies must pay the airport to use its facilities.

   
Blue Arrow Additional Drivers

If you are travelling with a group or as a family you may want to share the driving with another adult. You will need to inform the rental company if people other than you are going to drive the car for insurance reasons.

   
Blue Arrow

Personal Accident Insurance (PAI)

PAI is usually offered as an extra feature when renting a car. It will protect you and passengers against death, disability and medical costs. If you already have good travel insurance and/or travel insurance you will probably not need this.

   
Blue Arrow

Theft insurance and contents insurance

These protect against the theft of the car and its contents respectively. Theft insurance will often be included in your quote, while you may not need contents insurance if you have a good travel insurance policy.