Car rental in Shannon

Car Hire in Shannon: Home of the Duty-Free Store

Shannon is perhaps best known for its local airport, simply named and known as the Shannon Airport (SNN). The airport is an excellent location at which to book your rental car in Ireland. Though the Shannon Airport is no longer the British Isles’ primary hub for international flights, it will go down in history as the originator of the duty-free shop, and it continues to provide convenient access to western Ireland. Here is a brief guide to driving in Ireland and getting the best prices on your Shannon car hire.

Left-Hand Driving

• When you pick up your rental car in Shannon, remember that traffic drives on the left-hand side of the road.

Driver’s License Requirements to Hire a Car in Shannon

Drivers worldwide—and particularly from the European Union—are permitted to drive and rent a car in Ireland with their valid domestic driver’s license for a stay of up to one full year. It is prudent to also carry your passport with you at all times while driving.

Tips for Cheap Car Hire in Shannon

Car hire at the Shannon Airport (SNN) starts as low as €14 a day, and regardless of when you book, you can typically find economy car hire for under €20 a day, year-round. In order to get the best deals on your rental car in Shannon, it is recommended that you book your car between one and six months of your arrival.

The cheapest car hire companies in Shannon are typically CarHire and EasiRent.

Keep an eye out for discounts of at least 13% from EconomyBookings.com that make the price of auto hire in Shannon even cheaper.

If you are planning on visiting western Ireland during the popular tourist months of July, August, and January, it is prudent to book your rental car at least 3 months in advance, in order to ensure you have the full range of availability of economy car hire at the Shannon Airport.

The Shannon Airport is conveniently located 25 kilometres west of Limerick. Regardless of whether you ultimately plan to travel to Limerick or Galway or beyond, book your car hire from the Shannon Airport in order to avoid having to pay for and spend extra time on public transportation.

Key Things to Remember When You Rent a Car in Shannon

Speed limits in Shannon:

Changes to existing speed limits have been proposed over the past three years in Clare County, so even if you are familiar with the Shannon area, keep an eye out for changes to speed limits, which typically entail 10 km/h reductions on busy roads.

Otherwise, typical speed limits in Clare County are:

• 50 km/h in built-up areas
• 80 km/h on rural roads
• 100-120 km/h on highways and motorways

Parking in Shannon:

Shannon is quite a small town, which means that street parking is typically available and low-cost, if not free. Keep an eye out for signs that regulate for how long you are permitted to leave your car, however, if you plan on parking in Shannon for more than two hours at a time.

Long-term parking is also available at the Shannon Airport for between €9.50 and €11 a day, depending on the season.

While there are no toll roads in the direct vicinity of Shannon, you will have to pay a toll to drive through the nearby Limerick Tunnel and the M7/M8 from Limerick to Dublin. You can pay these tolls at toll booths with cash. Alternatively, ask your rental car company if your car hire has been electronically outfitted to pay these tolls via cash-free express lane.

Take a Road Trip to Some of the Best Sights in Western Ireland

Since you’ll already be in Western Ireland, you absolutely must take a tour via car hire. While you are likely to visit Limerick and even Galway (located about 80 km north of Shannon), here are some other sights not to be missed after you pick up your rental car in Shannon:

• Cliffs of Moher: this 14-kilometer-long cliff face is one of the most iconic in the world, and it is well worth visiting during your stay in Shannon. The Cliffs of Moher are located just 65 kilometres northwest of Shannon, making them an ideal day-trip destination.
• Connemara National Park and Killary Harbour: located north of Galway, both Connemara National Park and Killary Harbour are beautiful sights unique to western Ireland. Connemara is known for its blanket bog and heathland, while Killary Harbour is often called “the only fjord of Ireland.” Both destinations make an excellent day trip from Galway or an extended road trip from Shannon, as they are located just under 200 kilometres northwest of the Shannon Airport.