Car Rental at Shannon Airport — We Meet You When You Land
Most people landing at Shannon have just come off an overnight flight from the US or Canada, and are about to drive on the left for the first time. The standard car hire experience — a queue at a desk, then a shuttle bus to an off-site compound — is the last thing you want at six in the morning.
We build the collection around that. Give us your flight number and a member of our team meets you in the arrivals hall with your name on a board — just like a private transfer. The handover happens in the terminal, and you’re on the road within minutes of clearing customs.
Every Vehicle Is Automatic
If you’re visiting from the US, Canada or Australia, this matters more than anything else on this page. Most rental fleets in Ireland are manual, with automatics offered as a limited, more expensive add-on that sells out in summer.
Our entire fleet is automatic and right-hand drive. You’re not paying a premium for it, and you’re not hoping one is still available when you land. If you’ve never driven on the left, taking the gear change out of the equation removes one of the two things people find hardest. The other is roundabouts, and there’s no trick to those beyond going slowly and remembering to look right.
Why Shannon Is the Easiest Place in Ireland to Start Driving
If this is your first time driving on the left, Shannon is a kinder introduction than Dublin. The airport is small, the roads out of it are wide and quiet, and you’re on the N19 and then the M18 within minutes of leaving the car park. No city traffic, no tunnels, no motorway merge while you’re still working out where the indicator is.
It’s also the natural start of a Wild Atlantic Way trip. The Cliffs of Moher are under an hour north. The Burren, Doolin and Lahinch are all within the same drive. Head south and you’re in Kerry in about two hours.
How Our Meet & Greet Service Works at Shannon
You send us your flight number when you book. We track the arrival, so a delayed or early landing is already handled before you walk through the doors. Shannon has a single arrivals area, so there’s nothing to find — our representative is waiting with a name board.
We do the licence check and handover there, walk you to the vehicle, and take a few minutes to show you the controls and answer questions about tolls, fuel or your route. Shannon is one of Ireland’s key gateways from the US, serving Newark, JFK, Boston and Chicago O’Hare, and the service is built for passengers who’ve been travelling overnight.
One-Way Trips and Cross-Border Travel
Flying into Shannon and out of Dublin is a common itinerary and we don’t charge extra for it. You can also drop at Cork Airport, Mullingar, or either Belfast airport — and there’s no cross-border charge for taking the car into Northern Ireland, which most companies do add.
The classic version is Shannon in, up the west coast, across the north, and out of Dublin. It works well and it avoids doubling back. We operate seven days a week, 06:00 to 21:00, covering early morning arrivals and late evening flights alike.
Why Choose Value Car Rental at Shannon
We’re Irish-owned and have been doing this since 2010. We’re not a franchise and we’re not an aggregator reselling someone else’s fleet. Every booking is handled by the same team that meets you at arrivals, so if something changes mid-trip you ring us directly rather than a call centre in another country.
Full insurance is included as standard with a €350 excess, stated upfront rather than raised at handover when you’re tired and there’s a queue behind you. No hidden extras, no surprise charges, no bait-and-switch on vehicle class. Book direct for the best rate.
Shannon Airport Car Rental — Frequently Asked Questions
Where do you meet us at Shannon Airport?
Our representative meets you in the arrivals hall at Shannon Airport, holding a board with your name. Shannon has a single arrivals area, so there’s no desk to find and no terminal signage to follow — just walk through arrivals and we’ll be there waiting.
Are your cars automatic?
Yes — our entire fleet is automatic and right-hand drive. Unlike most Irish rental companies, we don’t treat automatics as a limited paid upgrade that sells out in summer. If you’re used to driving an automatic at home, you’ll get one here.
Do I need an International Driving Permit to rent a car in Ireland?
If your licence is issued in English, you don’t need an International Driving Permit to hire from us. Bring your full domestic licence, held for at least two years, along with your passport and the credit card used for the booking. Drivers must be 25 or over.
What happens if my transatlantic flight is delayed?
We monitor all flight arrivals into Shannon, including US routes from Newark, JFK, Boston and Chicago. If your flight is delayed we’ll know and adjust accordingly — you won’t lose your booking because of a delay outside your control.
Is the meet and greet included in the price at Shannon?
Yes — it’s standard, not an add-on. When you book with Value Car Rental at Shannon Airport, the meet and greet in the arrivals hall is included as part of your rental. No extras to add at checkout.
Is insurance included, and what about tolls?
Full insurance is included as standard with a €350 excess, stated upfront. There are no tolls on the roads immediately around Shannon — you’ll meet them driving east toward Dublin, particularly the barrier-free M50 toll, which has no booth and must be paid online. Ask us at handover and we’ll explain how it works for your route.
How narrow are the roads in the west of Ireland?
In Clare, Kerry and Connemara, genuinely narrow in places — single track with grass down the middle and stone walls on both sides. It’s nothing to be afraid of, but drive slower than you would at home, expect to reverse occasionally, and don’t take the smallest roads in the largest vehicle unless you have to.
Can I pick up at Shannon and drop off at Dublin Airport?
Yes — this is one of our most popular one-way routes, and we don’t charge extra for it. Pick up at Shannon on arrival and drop off at Dublin Airport before your return flight. One-way rentals are also available to Cork Airport, Belfast City, Belfast International, and Mullingar.
Is Shannon Airport a good base for the Wild Atlantic Way?
Yes. Shannon puts you within easy reach of the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, Lahinch, Doolin and the start of the Wild Atlantic Way. With a car collected straight from arrivals, you can be at the Cliffs of Moher in under an hour from landing.
Bigger Group Flying Into Shannon?
Shannon sees a lot of family and multi-generation trips, golf groups heading for Lahinch and Ballybunion, and wedding parties. Our 7 seater car hire is a Skoda Kodiaq with three genuine rows, which suits a family with luggage. Our 9 seater car hire in Ireland is an automatic Ford Tourneo Custom and sits within a standard car licence — no minibus licence, nothing to arrange before you travel. Larger vehicles are the ones that run out, so book early if your dates are fixed.
One-Way Hire from Shannon
Shannon is the classic starting point for a west-to-east trip. Drive the Wild Atlantic Way and finish at Cork Airport car hire, or cross the country and drop off at Dublin Airport before your return flight. We also cover car rental in Dublin city, the midlands from our Mullingar depot, and both Northern Irish airports — Belfast International and Belfast City Airport. First time driving here? Our guide to driving on the left in Ireland covers the roundabouts, road signs and the things that catch visitors out.