Car FAQ Details

Age Policy for Cars
At the commencement of rental, drivers must meet the requirement for licence eligibility.

If the number of years is 8, this does not mean that the driver must have held their licence for 8 years - it means they must have been eligible to hold their licence for 8 years.



Vehicle Category : Acriss CodesLicence Eligibility
Mini : MBMN / MDMN8 Years
Economy : EBMN / EDAH / EDAN / EDMN / EZMN 8 Years
Compact : CDAD / CDAH / CDAN / CDAR / CDMD / CDMN / CDMR / CFAC / CWMN / CWMR / CZMR8 Years
Intermediate : IDAD / IDAN / IDAR / IDMD / IDMN / IDMR / IFAC / IFAH / IFAR / IFMD / IFMR8 Years
Intermediate Elite : JFAC8 Years
Fullsize : FDAR / FDMR / FVAR / FVMR11 Years
Premium : PDAR11 Years
Standard : SVAN / SVAR / SVMN / SVMR11 Years



***For driving licences issued in the USA and Canada***




Vehicle Category : Acriss CodesLicence Eligibility
Mini : MBMN / MDMN9 Years
Economy : EBMN / EDAH / EDAN / EDMN / EZMN 9 Years
Compact : CDAD / CDAH / CDAN / CDAR / CDMD / CDMN / CDMR / CFAC / CWMN / CWMR / CZMR9 Years
Intermediate : IDAD / IDAN / IDAR / IDMD / IDMN / IDMR / IFAC / IFAH / IFAR / IFMD / IFMR9 Years
Intermediate Elite : JFAC9 Years
Fullsize : FDAR / FDMR / FVAR / FVMR12 Years
Premium : PDAR12 Years
Standard : SVAN / SVAR / SVMN / SVMR12 Years
Licence Policy
In order to rent a vehicle from us, we require that you hold a full, valid (in date), unendorsed driving licence for at least 2 years prior to the start of your rental. Licences must be produced in person at the rental location on collection of the vehicle. Licences must be from the country of permanent residence. NON-EU/EEA driving licences cannot be accepted if the holder has been resident in Ireland for more than 12 months. If your booking is for ‘GoCar by Europcar’ you will scan your licence in the app that you will be instructed to download.

Holders of UK, US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and all EU member states are NOT required to supply an International Driving Permit (IDP). International Driving Permits where required, MUST BE accompanied by the original domestic licence of the driver. This is clearly stated on the international permit. An International permit presented without the domestic licence, will not be accepted.

Attention: UK Driving Licence Holders
From June 8th 2015, the UK paper part of your driving licence will no longer be valid. We will require all UK licence holders to present evidence of your driving record (entitlements/endorsements) before the vehicle can be released. This can be obtained by printing it out from the DVLA’s ‘Share Driving Licence’ section - Share Driving Licence - before you collect your vehicle. This must be printed within 21 days of your pick up date.

We reserve the right to ask prequalifying questions on your insurance history. You may be refused a vehicle based on the answers you provide.

Irish Law requires that drivers are in possession of their driving licence at all times. Please note that failure to inform us of endorsements on your licence will result in us being unable to provide you with a vehicle and a forfeiture of any deposit taken. Under no circumstances will a letter from a driving authority be accepted instead of an original licence.
CDW Waived Conditions
To decline our CDW cover, the driver must fulfil a number of conditions. The driver must:


1. have a US issued World MasterCard or Gold/Platinum Visa Card or Canadian issued Gold/Platinum Visa/MasterCard that provides cover for CDW and TW as a benefit AND


2. provide WRITTEN PROOF that the card has relevant coverage for the Republic of Ireland. The letter must be dated within 21 days of the pick up date and contain the credit card number (partly masked is acceptable) AND
3. have €5,000 available for pre-authorisation on their card in case there is damage to the rental vehicle.


If a letter confirming CDW coverage is not provided on collection of the vehicle OR if your card does not provide the relevant coverage OR if you do not have €5,000 available on your card, you will be required to pay the premium for our CDW and THW cover at the local daily rate (ranges from €24-€33 per day depending on vehicle size).


We do not accept European credit cards for coverage. If you pay for the full rental with your eligible US World MasterCard or Gold/Platinum Visa Card or Canadian VisaCard/MasterCard, you may be covered for up to 50,000US Dollars auto rental insurance for your rental without excess. This coverage is a service provided by US Visa/MasterCard OR Visa/MasterCard Canada to the cardholder and therefore it is the cardholder's responsibility to ensure that they are adequately covered for the entire duration of the rental period. We reserve the right to refuse third party insurance.


**Please note that we DO NOT ACCEPT CDW policies purchased through a third party.**


Relevant cards will only be accepted for coverage for a maximum of 28 days in any one calendar year.


Please be advised that for security reasons, €5,000 will be pre-authorised on your card in case there is any damage. If there is any damage, this amount can be claimed back through your credit card company. We will NOT be held responsible for any exchange rate charges as a result.
CDW Inclusive Rates for Cars (excluding GoCar by Europcar)
If you have selected a rate inclusive of CDW and Theft cover, your vehicle will have the following excess/deductible and this amount will be held on your credit card for the duration of the rental. The excess applies per incident, not per rental.

Vehicle Category : Acriss Codes
Vehicle Excess
( SCDW waiver cover* )
Compact manual : CDMD / CDMN / CDMR
Economy manual : EBMN / EDMN
Mini manual : MBMN / MDMN
€1500
( €21.00 - €30.00 per day )
Compact automatic : CDAD / CDAH / CDAN / CDAR
Economy automatic : EDAH / EDAN
€1600
( €24.00 - €33.50 per day )
Compact Wagon / Estate : CWMN / CWMR
Intermediate automatic : IDAD / IDAN / IDAR
Intermediate manual : IDMD / IDMN / IDMR
€1800
( €24.00 - €33.50 per day )
Compact SUV / Fullsize automatic / Fullsize manual : CFAC / FDAR / FDMR
Intermediate SUV : IFAC / IFAH / IFAR / IFMD / IFMR
Intermediate elite SUV : JFAC
€2000
( €28.00 - €38.00 per day )
Fullsize minivan : FVAR / FVMR
Premium automatic : PDAR
Standard minivan : SVAN / SVAR / SVMN / SVMR
€2500
( €28.00 - €38.00 per day )

*You can reduce your excess to zero by paying the premium for Super Collision Damage Waiver (SCDW) cover.
Optional Extras for Cars ( excluding GoCar by Europcar )

The following optional protections/items will be offered on collection of the vehicle:

Additional driver€10.22 per day per driver
Baby / Booster seats€8 per day per seat (Maximum charge of €50 or €80 if more than 1 seat is required.)
GPS€14.76 per day (Maximum charge €147.60) Please note there is a €200.00 fee in the event of loss or theft.
SCDW Cover€21.00 to €38.00 per day. By paying the premium for SCDW, you minimize your excess.
Travel to Northern Ireland€34.05 per car
Returning to different location in a different county€00.00 / €68.10 / €100.00
Returning to different location in the same county€00.00 / €34.05
One Way RentalsRanges from €34.05 to €100.00 depending on location.

The law in Ireland states that an appropriate child restraint MUST be used. Babies and children aged 3 years or over who are under 150cms in height and weighing less than 36 kilograms must use the correct child seat, booster seat or booster cushion when travelling in cars.
Additional Drivers for Cars
Additional drivers can be added for a daily fee of €10.22. Additional drivers can be added at the time of reservation or on collection of the vehicle only. Please note unauthorised drivers are not covered by us and are prohibited from driving the rental car. The additional driver must be present at time of pick up and must fulfil the same age/licence criteria as the principal driver.
Forms of payment for Cars ( excluding GoCar by Europcar ) and Vans
We accept MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover Cards. For all 'pre-pay online' bookings, the person in whose name the vehicle is booked MUST be the person whose credit/debit card is used.


Debit cards will only be accepted if either (1) a credit card is also provided to cover the excess; or (2) the customer purchases our Super Collision Damage Waiver product, which reduces the excess to €250.


At the time of rental there must be sufficient credit on your card to cover all charges including the excess/deductible amount. The excess applies per incident, not per rental.

Payment must be made with a credit/debit card in the principal drivers name as we do not accept cash or the credit card from a third party. Holders of a 'Chip and Pin' card must know their PIN number.

Regardless of the level of coverage purchased, ALL renters will be subject to a minimum preauthorisation on their payment card of the vehicle excess amount plus €50. This is in the event of traffic fines, toll charges etc.
Documents required & payment
In order to rent a vehicle from us, you must have your driving licence (UK drivers must have DVLA code) and credit/debit card (in your own name) with you on collection of the vehicle. Unfortunately we will be unable to rent a vehicle to a customer who does not fulfil these criteria and we will not be held liable for any costs incurred if a customer is unable to pick up their vehicle as a result of failing to produce the above items or not knowing their credit card 'Chip and Pin' number.
Deposit / Cancellation / No Show Policy for Cars (excluding GoCar by Europcar)
Once availability has been confirmed, if your booking is for 35 days or less 60% is charged, and if your booking is for more than 35 days 30% is charged.


Modifications to your booking are free of charge before the start of the rental day (though new rental prices may apply)


If Cancellation Cover has not been purchased:
  • If cancelling more than 48 hours before the pick up date and time, you will get a full refund.
  • If cancelling between 24 and 48 hours before the pick up date and time, you will get a refund of the amount paid less a cancellation fee 15% of the amount paid.
  • If cancelling less than 24 hours before the pick up date and time, there is no refund.

If Cancellation Cover has been purchased:
  • If cancelling more than 48 hours before the pick up date and time, you get a full refund.
  • If cancelling between 2 and 48 hours before the pick up date and time, you will get a refund of the amount paid less the cost of cancellation cover.
  • If cancelling less than 2 hours before the pick up date and time, there is no refund.


Failure to collect your vehicle without notifying us results in the loss of the full booking deposit.

If you return the vehicle to us before the end of the agreed rental period, then you will not be entitled to a refund for any unused days.
Vehicle range available
We operate a fleet with many different makes and models of cars and vans. Whilst every effort will be made to supply the reserved model, we reserve the right to supply a suitable alternative. Unfortunately due to our extended fleet we cannot guarantee a particular make or model and vehicles shown on our website are only examples of what we have on fleet.
Upgrades
If on arrival the client feels that the car they have booked is not suitable for their requirements, we will be happy to provide a larger vehicle if available. Upgrade charges are payable on arrival at the local daily rate. If a customer is given a free upgrade on arrival, we cannot accept any customer service queries regarding fuel or coverage costs.
Vehicle Hold for Cars (excluding GoCar by Europcar)
Vehicles will only be held for 2 hours after the booked pick up time/landing time within our opening hours. After this time, the vehicle may not be available and deposits may be non-refundable.
Flight Information
For all rentals commencing at an airport location, we ask you provide us with the correct flight number and arrival time when booking your vehicle. Flights should be scheduled to land within our opening hours. This is to ensure that if your flight is delayed, your vehicle will be held, and staff will be in place to greet you when you arrive.


Where a flight is delayed (and we have been advised of the flight number) and the customer arrives at our desk 30 minutes or less after our closing time, no additional fee to the customer applies. If the customer arrives at our desk 30 minutes or more after our closing time, out of hours charges of €40 will apply.


If this information is not available to you at the time of booking, we ask you provide us with it at least 5 days before your arrival date. Where flight information is not provided in time, or incorrect information is provided, we cannot be held responsible for a failed rental and no refund will be due.
Grace Period for Cars
A one hour grace period will be provided at the end of each rental, after this a further days rental will be charged.
Mileage Policy for Cars (excluding GoCar by Europcar)
All rentals for 35 days or less have unlimited mileage.
If your rental is for more than 35 days, your rental has a mileage allowance of 3,000kms per 28 days.
Mileage will be calculated at the end of your rental and excess mileage will be billed at 14c per km on your final invoice.
Fuel Policy for Cars (excluding GoCar by Europcar) and Vans
For your convenience, we offer the following 2 fuel options:
1. PREPAID FUEL
Customers can choose our prepaid fuel option at the beginning of their rental at our special discounted rates. For your convenience there is no need to refill the vehicle. With this option, no refunds will be given for unused fuel. Prices for this option are set locally.
2. STANDARD REFUELLING
Customers can return the car as they wish. Should the car return less than full, the customer will be charged a local refuelling fee plus the standard fuel price per litre.

No compensation will be given for fuel charges if an upgrade to a larger car is given.
Barrier Free / Toll Roads
The M50 uses a barrier free tolling system between junctions 6 and 7. Drivers are responsible for the payment of their tolls directly with the Toll Operator. Further information regarding toll rates and payment methods will be given on collection of your vehicle. All other toll charges are the responsibility of the renter and must be paid as you enter or exit the toll plaza.
Travel to Northern Ireland
Vehicles may travel into Northern Ireland and you must inform us of this on collection of the vehicle (€34.05 per rental.)
However UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES can a vehicle be taken off the island of Ireland. Failure to purchase the required cover will result in the renter accepting full responsibility for any recovery fees, should the vehicle breakdown.
Electric Vehicles
If you are hiring an electric vehicle then the following terms will apply, in addition to terms contained within the Rental Terms/Agreement. These terms do not apply to Hybrid vehicles.

We guarantee that every electric vehicle will be at 80% charge at the time of rental and there is no minimum charge required upon return of the vehicle. Charging fobs are available at a cost of €20 per day. These can be used at our partner charging stations throughout the country.

It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure that the vehicle has sufficient charge to complete your journey. Any charges associated with a breakdown caused by allowing the vehicle to run out of battery will be the driver’s responsibility – this will include a Call Out fee and tow charge to nearest charging station.

EV Charging
You are not required to return the vehicle fully charged. Charging stations must be used in accordance with the rules and instructions provided by the charging locations.

Misuse or damage may result in a fine or damage claim. In this event, we will pass the fine or damages fee to the driver, along with an administration fee of €30.
If you use a public charging station and do not move the vehicle when your charging session has ended, you may be liable for a parking/idle fee. Any fines received are the driver’s responsibility and will be passed to the driver along with an administration fee of €30.

Please note that parking fees are separate to charging fees – please ensure you check parking rules onsite.

EV Equipment
Charging fob and charging cables are provided in the vehicle. If the fob is lost or damaged, a replacement cost of €100 will apply. If the cable is lost or damaged (outside of fair wear and tear) a replacement cost of €500 will apply. Charging cables are EXCLUDED from all our direct Damage Excess reduction policies.
AA Callouts
Our rates include 24 hour breakdown cover, however we reserve the right to add a callout charge to the hirer's rental agreement in the event that the callout does not arise from a mechanical fault with the our vehicle. Callout charges resulting from incorrect fuel being added to the fuel tank, keys being locked into the vehicle or mislaid, off road recovery and wheel changes due to punctured tyres will be added to the rental costs. The current callout charge is € 125 plus tax.
Fair Wear & Tear Policy
Please note that we operate a Fair Wear & Tear policy.
Any Damage below the Fair Wear & Tear policy does not need to be reported.
Damage evaluator

Vehicle Condition
Please check the condition of your rental vehicle to ensure that it agrees with the condition report on your rental agreement. If you disagree with the inspection report or if you have received your vehicle outside of business hours and you need to report undocumented damage, please take photos of the damage and contact the rental station with whom you made the booking. Failure to do this will result in your acceptance of the inspection report.
Speeding / Fines
The renter is responsible for all costs and penalties incurred relating to traffic offences, parking tickets, clamping fines, compound charges, speeding fines etc and also the provision of documentation relating to accidents. The hirer is liable to pay for these fines / offences directly to the local authority. Where the hirer does not settle these fines directly, the hirer's details will be provided to the local authority and an administration fee of € 30.00 will apply.
Maximum Length of Rental for Cars
The maximum length of car rental allowed on one booking is 84 days. For rentals of a longer duration, please contact our reservations department. Customers, who rent from us for more than 35 days in a 12-month rolling period, will be subject to the higher rate of vat at 23%. This will be recalculated locally.
VAT Policy
Please note that all charges for your rental are inclusive of VAT.
Damage Management Policy
Our damage policy is changing to provide more clarity and fairness to our customers, as well as improve our efficiency and service quality.

Damage claims will now be classified into two categories:
  • light damage (scratches, dents, including windscreen repair and tyres repair/replacement)
  • serious damage

What does it mean to you as customer?

Light Damage Matrix – no wait time for cost or documentation, immediate return of difference in deposit, no delay in processing time.

Light Damage:
This shows the pre-agreed fixed sum(s) as set out in the Light Damage Charges Schedule. As explained in our T&Cs, Light Damage is minor damage to the Vehicle (but which is not classed as wear and tear) and therefore does not necessarily require immediate repair for safety, mechanical or cosmetic reasons before it can be rented to another customer. If the costs of repair cannot be determined via the Light Damage Charges Schedule, we may calculate them by requesting a desktop assessment. Any desktop assessment used to estimate damage costs is carried out by Europcar's independent third-party engineering partner. All engineers are Audatex Vehicle Damage Assessor qualified.


Serious Damage:
This shows the sums Europcar has become liable to pay in recovering and/or repairing the Vehicle. As set out in our T&Cs, you will indemnify us for this amount as a debt.


Total Loss:
This shows the pre-accident value of the Vehicle and any Vehicle recovery charges, less any sums that we recover in respect of the Vehicle when it is sold for salvage. As set out in our T&Cs, you will indemnify us for this amount as a debt.


Loss of Use:
This is a charge to take account of our loss of revenue while the Vehicle is being repaired. We calculate the Loss of Use charge on the basis of the daily rental rate set out in the Rental Agreement, adjusted to reflect the estimated percentage utilisation of our fleet, which is calculated quarterly. For Serious Damage, other than Serious Damage to tyres and windscreens, the number of days charged by us for Loss of Use of the Vehicle will comprise:


a) one day for the Vehicle to be taken in for repair;

b) one day for each period of four hours (or part thereof) of labour required by the relevant supplier to affect the repair; and

c) one day for the Vehicle to be returned to us and checked in following the repair.

For Damage to the tyres and/or windscreen a Loss of Use is capped at €20.

Tyres:
For minor repairs to tyres or tyre replacements, this charge is the sum Europcar has become liable to pay in repairing or replacing the tyres. As set out in our T&Cs, you will indemnify us for this amount as a debt.


Windscreens:
For minor repairs to windscreens, this charge is the pre-agreed fixed sum(s) as set out in the Light Damage Charges Schedule. Please see the description of Light Damage above for more information. For other damage to windscreens, this charge shows the sums Europcar has become liable to pay in repairing or replacing the windscreen. As set out in our T&Cs, you will indemnify us for this amount as a debt.


Damage Administration Charge:
This shows either the Light Damage Administration Charge or Serious Damage Administration Charge (whichever applies). Each of these Charges pays for the back-office resource required to process paperwork associated with the relevant Damage to and/or the Total Loss of a Vehicle, including calculation of the applicable Loss of Use charge and liaison with an engineer where applicable. Light damage administration fee will be €50 / Serious damage administration fee will be €90.


Engineers Charge:
This applies if the Vehicle has suffered Serious Damage or is a Total Loss. It pays for an engineer to assess whether a damaged Vehicle is worth repairing and, where appropriate, to:


a) liaise with the repairers to determine how it will be repaired and what it will cost; or

b) determine the pre-accident value of the Vehicle and to arrange for the Vehicle to be sold for salvage.

Deduction – application of the excess: To reflect the fact that you have agreed an Excess amount, a deduction has been applied to reduce the amount of the charge to the level of the Excess amount plus the relevant Damage Administration Charge or/and Loss of Use Charge (i.e. Light, Serious Administration Charge, Tyre or Windscreen Loss of Use Charge)

No VAT:
You will note that the invoice is not subject to VAT. Please disregard the references to VAT in the documentation enclosed with this letter.


Light Damage Matrix
Link to Light Damage Matrix - please note that an administration fee of €50 applies to all Light Damage.


Damage identified upon the return of the Vehicle and in your presence:
If Light Damage is identified upon the return of the Vehicle when the inspection is made in your presence and in the presence of our agent or its representative and if you acknowledge the damage by signing the statement of return of the Vehicle, we will EITHER:

  • provide you with an invoice immediately detailing the applicable charges and, to the extent that the charges can be determined at the check-in, will charge the debit or credit card you supplied to us at the time of pick-up, with EITHER:
  • the charges detailed; or
  • the Excess amount under our Protection packages, whichever is lower

OR

refer the matter to our head office team who will assess the Light Damage identified and will determine the appropriate charge. This will be done in one of two ways: a) by reference to the Light Damage Charges Schedule; or b) by carrying out a desktop assessment using industry standard software to estimate damage costs. We will then send you an invoice for:

  • the charges detailed
  • the Excess amount under our Protection packages, whichever is the lower amount

If you contest either the damage and/or the invoice; or if you refuse to sign the statement of return for the Vehicle; or for whatever reason, the charge cannot be determined at the time of check-in (for example, where there is no price for the specific damage in the Light Damage Charges Schedule) then we will send you the documents outlined below and you have the option to follow the procedure in set out in ‘Querying the Damage Charges’

  • the statement of return for the Vehicle detailing all the damage we identified;
  • pictures of the damage;
  • an invoice detailing the applicable charges

Damage identified upon the return of the Vehicle and in your absence:
If damage is identified during the inspection of the Vehicle by us in your absence we will send to you the following documents by email or by post:
  • the statement of return for the Vehicle detailing all the damage we identified;
  • pictures of the damage;
  • an invoice detailing the applicable charges


Querying the Damage Charges
You have fourteen (14) days from the date on which the email or the letter is sent to you to challenge your liability for the damage identified and/or the charges levied by us. If you do not challenge within this period of fourteen (14) days, we will charge the debit or credit card you supplied to us at the time of pick-up with either:

  • The Charges detailed: or
  • The Excess amount under our Protection packages, whichever is the lower amount


Customer Damage Team
If you wish to contest your damage invoice, you may reply to the email from the damage team or you can send a claim to our customer service department at customerservicesie@europcar.ie
Customer Service
To assist with your customer service query, you can email us at customerservicesie@eurpocar.ie or call us on +353 1 8122880. We accept no responsibility for delays which may occur at the start of hire due to circumstances beyond our control.


Europcar subscribes to the European Car Rental Conciliation service (ECRCS) (https://www.ecrcs.com). You may file a claim to ECRCS: Email: complaint@ecrcs.com Web: https://www.ecrcs.com


It should be noted that the conciliation service will only accept your claim once you have exhausted all avenues directly with Europcar customer service. The service can only help with disputes involving a 'cross-border' rental transaction occurring with the European Union. You must be a resident of the EU, or UK, and the rental must have taken place in a different EU country.


If your complaint concerns a non-cross border rental, you should contact the Car Rental Council of Ireland.
Email: info@carrentalcouncil.ie Web: https://www.carrentalcouncil.ie