Budget Car Rental Dublin City Centre - North

414 reviews

151 Drumcondra Rd Lower, Drumcondra, Dublin, D09 YKH9, Ireland

www.budget.ie

+35318379611

About

Budget Car Rental Dublin City Centre - North is a Car rental agency located at 151 Drumcondra Rd Lower, Drumcondra, Dublin, D09 YKH9, Ireland. It has received 414 reviews with an average rating of 3.7 stars.

Photos

Hours

Monday9AM-6PM
Tuesday9AM-6PM
Wednesday9AM-6PM
Thursday9AM-6PM
Friday9AM-6PM
Saturday9AM-6PM
Sunday9AM-6PM

F.A.Q

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The address of Budget Car Rental Dublin City Centre - North: 151 Drumcondra Rd Lower, Drumcondra, Dublin, D09 YKH9, Ireland

  • Budget Car Rental Dublin City Centre - North has 3.7 stars from 414 reviews

  • Car rental agency

  • "Recently I rented a car here, and experienced dubious customer service before and after the rental"

    "Dear Budget, I had a positive 3 week rental experience from Dublin Lower Drumcondra in Aug 2016 so I feel you deserve more precise feedback than your poorly designed questionnaire which I filled in anyway"

    "Do not rent from this office, especially if you plan on using your credit card as damage insurance"

    "I cannot comment on their level of service, but as a resident who lives beside the company I do wish to point out that the company is in the habit of leaving cars for collection by customers in the bus-lane or on the public footpath beside the busy bus-stop"

    "My girlfriend and I just came back after spending 12 days in Ireland"

Reviews

  • Mario Torrado

Recently I rented a car here, and experienced dubious customer service before and after the rental. At the moment of pick up, I was surprised to hear that I had to pay a deposit of 1,500 euro, considering this amount has never been higher than around 500 euros in other rental companies or other countries. Arranging my bank accounts to be able to pay this amount created an inconvenience. Then, when I was ready to pay the 1,500 euro, the Budget shop attendant said that debit cards were not accepted. I explained that I can always rent cars with that card, because it is possible to use it for credit as well as to withdraw funds from my savings. However, the attendant didn't even try. So then I was forced to buy the insurance from Budget in order to not have to pay the 1,500 euro deposit, even if I had my own insurance. The amount charged for the Budget insurance was 118 euro. Just a week after, we rented a car at Hertz in Bristol, and they applied a nice 300 pound deposit, and I could use my debit card, no problem at all. For several years now I haven’t really liked Budget so I rent cars at Budget only if it is cheaper than Hertz, Avis or Europcar. From now on I won't use Budget anymore at all. Things like the above add general discomfort and anxiety with problems during holidays, and that is much more expensive than the slightly cheaper price you may get at Budget sometimes. All of the above was written in the terms and conditions of my online agreement. I just didn't read it because I assumed everything was going to be as per usual in these cases. I select renowned companies like Budget so that I don't have to read the small letters on the agreements and still have peace of mind that everything will go smoothly. With how busy everyone is, it is not practical to organise your holiday reading all the terms and conditions of everything you want to do. I didn't read the terms and conditions for the Hertz rental above and nothing unexpected happened anyway. And nothing unexpected has ever happened to me when using renowned car rental companies, hotels, airlines, etc., and not ever reading their terms and conditions. Also, I just assumed that Budget wouldn't consider me as someone that would run without paying for a damage to the car. It just makes me feel like a suspect rather than a customer. In a few words, I don’t want to use a car rental company where you’d rather read the terms and conditions. BUDGET THINK THEY CAN GET PEOPLE’S MONEY BY DOING THAT AND NOT BEING FULLY TRANSPARENT. So in summary, I was very discontent for the poor customer care I received, as the Budget personnel didn't try for me to have a pleasant and convenient rental, and for the abusive Terms and Conditions making customers pay 1,500-euro deposits unless they pay for insurance. IT SEEMS LIKE TRAPS, AND AS A CUSTOMER I DON'T LIKE GOING TO A PLACE WHERE TRAPS ARE SET TO GET MY MONEY. Then I sent them emails to try to get a compensation for me to be willing to rent from Budget again. That was a hopeless chain of them repeating the same things over and over but not addressing my dissatisfaction and doing nothing to keep me as a customer. On top of everything, my fuel deposit was refunded only after I sent an email to remind Budget Ireland, so then it was refunded almost a month after the rental. Again, that seemed pretty sneaky. I DON'T WANT TO IMAGINE HOW MANY PEOPLE JUST ASSUME BUDGET WILL REFUND THE FUEL DEPOSIT, AND THEN THAT NEVER HAPPENS.

  • Adam Pandian

Dear Budget, I had a positive 3 week rental experience from Dublin Lower Drumcondra in Aug 2016 so I feel you deserve more precise feedback than your poorly designed questionnaire which I filled in anyway. Here are the specific highlights of my experience and in the booking prior: 1) Like other international rental companies I am used to renting from around the world, you made booking and documentation simple. I wrote off a few companies with lower rates when I found out that as standard procedure they require ridiculous verification documents I had not needed anywhere else like utility and credit card bills, conversion to international driving licences even though my driving licence is in English and I have an impeccable driving and credit record. I have had bad experiences with companies that surprise you with ridiculous documentation requests especially when you lock in at good rates. 2) Compared to other international companies in Ireland, you offered a competitive rate overall. 3) Staff were were firm but fair and very quick in discharging and taking return of the car and explanation was clear once I was attended to. They marked clearly scratches existing and when I returned it in original condition, they were quick to assess and process refund of deposits. But there was a one hour waiting line going out the door which made it slower than anywhere else I had experienced, bar one outrageous experience with Thrifty Cambridge. 4) I appreciated that the car itself was the model booked, not an equivalent. It was new, in excellent condition and I even noticed that it came with extras like sunroof that similar models on the road did not. Talk about delighting the customer. 5) It was a bit of a walk from the hotel to your budget office but I notice like mine you had everyone's cars ready and quickly brought to the door and we did not have to go anywhere else. 6) There were no hidden costs. I paid what I booked and I was treated fairly. I hope you find this feedback useful. Maybe the positives above and the peak summer season is the reason for the long waiting lines. I hope it can be addressed and I hope you do exceedingly well. This is my first Budget experience though I have booked in the US, Canada, Europe, UK, Australia and New Zealand both local and international companies like Hertz, Thrifty, Enterprise in over 30 years of travels. I will certainly look out for Budget on my next booking.

  • Phil Phil

Do not rent from this office, especially if you plan on using your credit card as damage insurance. First, I need to point out I drove a manual transmission car everyday for 10 years and never had to replace a clutch. I rented a manual transmission car from them and soon after leaving the office I realized the clutch was hanging on by a thread. While driving the 1 mile to my hotel I noticed the car was accelerating very slow, I assumed it was due to the lack of power of the engine. The car started stalling while driving at any speed below 10 mph. I stopped at the first safe parking space I could find, my hotel. I called the office for help. The office told me I burned out the clutch in 1 km and the previous 43,000 km did not cause the issue. Then I was told I needed to get the car back to them and I would be charged for the clutch out of my $6,100 credit card hold. I could not find a tow truck to get he vehicle to the office. I tried to limp it back to office. The clutch had gone completely and I was stranded on the side of the road. Luckily I was in pushing distance of the of office. The office manager told me I would not be charged for the clutch based on the circumstances. I was given another vehicle which worked perfectly during our trip. I turned that vehicle in a learned I will be charged for the clutch. Terrible customer service, who only care about money. A little common sense goes along way. UPDATE- I spoke to the main office and they informed me I would not be charged for the clutch as they do not charge for damaged clutches. Thank you to the main office. City Centre does not know there own procedures.

  • Jason McElligott

I cannot comment on their level of service, but as a resident who lives beside the company I do wish to point out that the company is in the habit of leaving cars for collection by customers in the bus-lane or on the public footpath beside the busy bus-stop. Both of these practices are contrary to the rules of the road. They are also dangerous because customers have to check cars for damage before they set off by walking out into an exceptionally busy road, and the driver has to get in and out of the vehicle (while illegally parked) by opening the door into busy on-coming traffic. Very dangerous. This is bad enough for visitors from the UK (who happen to drive on the same side of the road as us), but many mornings as I wait for the bus into work I have seen visitors from the States or the continent in exceptionally dangerous situations trying to work out how to pull out with a heavy flow of traffic passing by and many buses and taxis beeping their horns at the driver to get out of the bus lane. All while trying to get to grips with driving on the wrong side of the road. There is a very simple solution; the company could pay a Euro or so in parking charges to leave the cars across the road on Hollybank Road for customers to pick them up. It is a safe and quiet street where cars would not be parked illegally on an exceptionally busy road as drivers try to familiarise themelves with their new hire car. I have mentioned this many times to the management in the store, but they won't listen. There will be an accident, I'm afraid.

  • Kevin C.

My girlfriend and I just came back after spending 12 days in Ireland. We picked up our car from the Budget City Centre location on the 3rd day out of Dublin. It was very busy for a Monday so it took a little longer to get to the front desk than is ideal, but once we got to the front of the line, things went very smoothly, and to be fair, all 3 staff members were working as fast as they could and there seemed to be a lot of people just dropping by without pre-booking. He did encourage us to take the full insurance package, but we weren't really pressured into anything, and we were given a proper explanation of all of our options and other necessary details regarding drop-off of the vehicle. The only real difficulty is that the nature of the location means you need to exit on a busy road, which is quite daunting if it's your first time driving on the left. If you are extremely nervous, you might want to consider heading back to the Airport location if that's a concern. Once we got off the road, things got much better. Car was mostly great (windshield wipers were kind of worn out) and worked perfectly the whole time we travelled with it. It certainly helped having a stress-free vacation with a clean and fully operational car. We mentioned during drop-off that the GPS device gave us occasionally bad advice since it seemed to be a little out of date with the newer roads, and without forcing the issue we were offered a 100 Euro credit for it. Nice! Would have no issues going with Budget again should we ever return to Ireland.

  • Andrew M

I have a credit card that insures for rental cars. Apparently when I made the booking over a month ago, I didn't opt out of the basic coverage. When I went to pick up the car, the agent informed me that my card wouldn't cover me, since I I had taken SOME coverage from Budget. I either had to pay for the extra coverage (€75) or cancel my booking and rebook (€100). Apparently they are happy to add coverage at any time but it is absolutely impossible to remove coverage. The person explaining this was extremely hard to understand. Also, we neglected to pay an automated toll on time. Our fault, totally understand having to pay a fee. Must happen all the time, right? Well we overheard the people returning a car DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF US, that they were in the exact same situation. The agent told them that "I don't know what to do, since this has NEVER happened before". What an odd coincidence, considering it happened to us as well. When we told him that we also had forgotten to pay a toll, he said "I don't know what to do since this has NEVER happened before". Apparently he didn't realize we overheard the first couple. I would place a toothpick under my toenail and kick a brick wall before I would rent from Budget again. Why they would ask me to leave a review after I gave them such a poor survey response baffles me. They are all idiots.

  • wald rose

Charged for Personal Accident Insurance by Budget Car Rental Dublin Airport without requesting it. I asked for the Excess Insurance but Budget also proceeded to charge me for Personal Accident cover. I already have an annual travel insurance policy that covers me for Personal Accident worldwide, why on earth would I want to pay twice. Questioned the charge before I signed and was told it was the excess cover. Complained to Argus Car Hire afterwards when I realised I'd been charged for PAI which I didn't request. Was told too bad as I signed for it. Avoid using this company at all costs and if you must use them challenge everything especially if you have prepaid your car rental through a third party like Car Trawler/Argus Car Rental. Had another bad experience with Budget Dublin Airport a few years ago too when I took out the excess cover to reduce my liability to zero. Didn't check all the damage tallied with the report before I left as I knew I was covered. Wing mirror was obviously damaged before I left the airport. Upon return I was told I caused this damage to the car. I didn't but as I had paid for the excess cover it didn't matter. Budget staff kept me there for 30-40 minutes arguing before they finally admitted that they couldn't charge me a penny. Missed my flight as a result. Unprofessional, dishonest Company. Avoid.

  • Dermott O'Gorman

I was very unhappy with my experience of the pick-up at the Budget office in Drumcondra for the following reasons: 1) I booked my car for 6pm from the Drumcondra office but arrived at 6:15pm as the ferry was 15 minutes delayed. 2) My taxi driver explained he felt the office would be closed and he was correct. Thankfully, he offered to take me to Dublin airport but at extra EUR 17 cost. 3) I do not expect to book a car at 6pm and arrive only 15 minutes later to find the office closed. Furthermore, nobody from the office attempted to call me. 4) I asked for Budget to pay my taxi fare to Dublin airport but they refused as they said the opening times were clear on the website and an official was there until 6:10pm. That is true but my point is that I booked a car at 6pm and, during the booking process, it did not flag that the office closed at that time. Furthermore, I would at least expect a courtesy call asking my whereabouts and informing me to go to Dublin airport. Had I been with children, or had a disability, this would have been even more difficult. I would never hire with Budget again.

  • Hassen Roger

Just avoid this agency! They are absolutely not professional. Online I sign up for the insurance, no more option were available however front desk guy want to charge me 28 euros MORE per day for a “full coverage” insurance because I hold a debit card and not a credit one. I told him that I sign up already for insurance and I just want to stick with what I sign online. He told me that “it is in the terms and conditions” and I had read it and show him that nothing mention that on it. I had shown him it, notice that it is not written but term and condition mention a “credit card”. I have to precise that when I booked online my card been perfectly accepted. Without this extra cost, I won’t be able to take the car and I haven’t got it. So very bad experience and very disappointed. They are just ruined my week end. Total of hidden cost: 28 euros more because the car is picked up from the “city center” (by the way, for your information Drumcondra is not in city center), 28 euros more /day for insurance and 107 euros for the fuel (refundable if you give it back full).

  • Vinícius Kienen

As any other low cost service, you will need to read/get informed of some details of the contract. The most important thing you need to know: you need 1500 € available limit on your credit card OR you will NEED to pay a DAILY fee regarding the insurance or something. So your final rent could EASILY double or more, but if you can afford this limit, you should have no other surprise. My first experience renting there had that issue, from the second on, I was prepared so I had no disappointment as most of other aspect of the renting was alright. Two last things, first positive the other neutral/negative: + You can rent the car for a day and a half and get a fair price. Other companies will definitely charge you for two full days. If you need the car just for a short trip, it's the place to look for. And they're open Sundays (most of others are not). - The car was a bit old (like 2+ years/80k+ km and had many marks of use), but hey, it's a BUDGET option anyways, so if you don't care much about it, go for it.

  • 陳彥龍

I have rented car with Budget several times either in Dublin Airport or branch in North Dublin. The experiences were all good till my last return in north Dublin, before returning the car I inspected the body of the car myself and it was as same as the date I picked up the car(Budge never inspect the car with customer when picking up which I think Budget should), after staff from budget had inspection (Budget never inspect the car with customer when return which I strongly suggest Budget should), there are two tiny small dents on the side of door(there were several damage already caused by previous rental). However Budget immediately charge me €1,500 for just two small dents and said I will get the refund till 10-15 working days as the actual damage is estimated(which is not fair in my point of view, Budget should charge customer exactly the actual damage). The young staff at the desk is helpful and assist me through the process anyway. All my point is there is room for Budget to improve their policy.

  • Antonios Terzakis

No flexibility at all with the payment methods. Forcing people to buy extra insurance packages. Other car rentals don't prepay the fuels neither require only one transaction for both deposit and fuels. I thought Avis should have great customer service as it's a known brand with good reviews. # Following up on Avis response below: My card has enough limit to cover the security deposit. The problem here is that you forced me to pay deposit+fuels in one transaction which raised the amount over the limit. Show me where in your terms & conditions say that I'll have to pay in one transaction both these amounts. That is your trick to make people buy insurance packages as you probably know that most credit cards have a transaction limit of €2000. I gave other options to your employee (pay the whole amount in cash, split the fuels from the deposit to two transactions,etc) but there was no flexibility from his side.

  • Jan Schäl

As we booked our rental car with Expedia there were no additional costs even though the staff tried to talk us into additional insurances as every other rental car company does. However we arrived just after they opened at 9am for the contracted pick up time. Our car wasn't ready at this stage, we were told we had to wait 10-15mins, the car would have to be cleaned. Eventually we got our car 45mins later and when we said that it wasn't acceptable there was no excuse from any member of staff. The car itself seemed not to be in a very good state. Even though it was only 2 years old it already had nearly 100,000km of mileage, scratches ALL around the car and also even though they cleaned for more than half an hour it was rather dirty on the outside as well as on the inside. We can't recommend Budget Drumcondra and wouldn't go there again.

  • Joshua Tripp

This rental company is horrible and I can recommend you use any alternative. The company provided me with a vehicle with over 110,000km, lacking proper maintenance and significantly jeopardized my life and wellbeing due to their negligence. The vehicle had headlights that did not work properly at all (barely even dim) which for Irish roadways is deadly at night considering there are more than likely no street lights anywhere. Also, the windshield had a substance that could not be removed which led to being completely blinded from the headlights of other cars. I brought these issues up to the company and they completely disregarded me and made me feel utterly insignificant. Please beware of this company for the safety of your family!!

  • Paul Ferns

I am a regular in the Drumcondra branch and I have never had a problem. I rent for work and I find all the guys there friendly and accommodating. If I need a car fast, or I need to extend my rent period it is never a problem. Anytime I have seen them encounter a problem with another customer they have been kind, patient and happy to resolve any issues and offer the best advice. I have never encountered any hidden charges. The price is always what I book online. I have rented with other companies in the past and always encountered issues with pricing, insurance etc. Since i changed to Budget I have gone nowhere else. Thanks to Thomas, Mark, Liz and Barry for all your help.

  • R B

I saw some bad reviews here, I came from Vancouver rented a car for 2 weeks, I went over every scratch on the car before I left and made the guy sign off any changes that he didn't not mark initially -this is key- , when I came back 2 weeks later, there were no charges or scams and my money was returned to my accounts, I didnt experience any horror stories like I read, but I’m a big guy and showed that I wouldn’t be messed around with, but was still very polite. Do your due diligence when going over the inspection Before you take the car and note anything that is not on the form and have them sign it. And your fine from there. No hassle at all

  • Michael Gladishev

Very bad and dishonest service. We returned our car after 2 weeks of rental with small scratches on the front windshield and right side mirror. We were charged a 1500 Euro fee for these scratches. They explained that they charge the full amount for any new defect, no matter how small, and reimburse the difference once the actual repair cost is determined by the company. It has been 3 weeks and we still haven't heard from them. If you are renting a car here be prepared to pay 1500 Euros for a new scratch they find on the car when you return it. I would strongly recommend renting a car from a different company.

  • Tiboverboard Boït

Prices are ok. Convenient because open on sunday but make sure you re not renting on a football game day it's just impossible to drive around or park at the entrance and they will force you to do so.. Advice to management: Close your shop on football games sundays you know it's impossible to park, if you don't want to close PLEASE ADVISE YOUR CUSTOMER That the area will be crowded by thousands of people!!! Very disapointed by this experience and by the non-existent support of the staff (the other car with me had to give back the car at the airport because it was just impossible to park in front of budget)

  • Eddie McGuinness

Budget is a simple way to rent a car or mini bus. Its website makes it a quick, easy process. We used it for our festival in Co.Clare and had to get from Dublin to Lisdoonvarna. The mini bus was ready to go no waiting around and got quick lessons on all parts of the mini bus too. The staff in Dublin office Drumcondra were lovely and made me very welcome and so help full thank you so much. We had a second car to be picked up with limited time and they had it ready on time and ready to go. Thank you again to all the staff you helped make our event amazing by helping us get there. Eddie ;-)

  • Enrique Clemente NSI

Bad experience. 90 minutes waiting for the car, and that we had already the reservation done through internet. Understaffed for the number of people they have. Should at least have two tails, because people without reservation take half an hour to make the process. The staff does what it can. It must be a very stressful work. They are friendly. They charged 90 € on petrol, even then they reimbursed. There was also waiting for returning the car. Only due to we insisted we could do it faster (25 minutes). Right price and quality car. Improve customer service and then I will recommend you.

  • D&C Lambert

We made sure we did our duty of inspection before leaving the yard and the minor faults were duly acknowledged by email from the main office. We had read t&c's regarding the deposit so was prepared and anyone turning up here without being able to cover this...it is your own fault and not the companies as they make it clear, and they are entitled to set their own conditions. The staff are professional and when we dropped the car off it was immediately inspected and told the deposit would be refunded. The price of the rental was great and the new car was ideal.

  • Pankaj soni

Even if they are 100% cheaper, don't book them. I booked my car last Friday. I am regular car hire person, not through budget though. I gave them a shot. I returned my car yesterday and was told that there are tiny scrapes, not scratches, as if some bushes somehow touched the side that I never even realised. I told them that it's not me and if it was already there as the car was investigated in rain when I picked. They are insisting on charging me 1500 euro and I think that's how they make money.NEVER RENT OR YOU will Regret!!

  • Harish Mallya

This location of Budget Car is much better than the one in Dublin airport They have a very nice collection of new cars with minimal kms on the odo. The people working here are very professional and helpful. They didn't try to upsell any extras that aren't needed. If you're travelling from the airport into the city, its better to take a bus from the airport to this budget office where you can get your car in like 5 to 10 mins Budget office at airport will take you in a shuttle to pick your car and its the same for drop-off.

  • Stephen Meagher

Our recent experience with Budget Car Rental Dublin City Centre -North was outstanding. From our booking in Australia to the pick up and return of the car was seamless. We would certainly recommend this company to family and friends. Our experience was only enhanced by the service we received from Tony and Gelmi when we returned the vehicle. They kindly offered to store our luggage while we attended to some other business for a couple of hours. A truly 10 out of 10 car rental experience. Thank you Budget.

  • Nish Goyal

Never ever using 'budget' again. We booked a car for two days and paid for full insurance and excess protection. When we got to the office, the thieving crooks decided that our full insurance and excess protection actually meant the total opposite, and that we would either need to fork out £106 per DAY for 'insurance' (although we had already paid for full insurance) or else we would have to pay a £2,200 deposit to cover the excess (despite the fact we had purchased excess protection). Utter utter crooks.

  • Mihir

Very poor customer service. money thirsty company. I missed an important meeting due to inflexible attitude of staff. Do Not Recommend this to anyone. Weird company policies and lack of knowledge in staff members. Always pushing for more insurances and asking for upgradation of vehicles at an extra price. Dublin Airport Facility Staff is the worst of all. Don't even take responsibility to sort things. Will surely recommend to try options for Alamo, Sixt, Hertz, Enterprise and National.

  • Michelle Martins

My worst experience thus far with renting a car in Dublin. Waited over 30 minutes to be helped as there was only 1 person at the desk. When I filled up the petrol tank before return, I had to fill up 10 litres for only 50km driven. The needle of the petrol guage on the Clio didn't even move & show full. When I mentioned this on return of the vehicle, the man at the desk was dismissive and didn't even address the issue. Very poor service, I'm afraid.

  • John Paul Prior

Really excellent service. Have had negative experiences relating to excessive hidden costs with other rental companies in the past but haven't experienced this with the folks at Budget in Drumcondra. I have now used Budget for my last 5 rentals and can see that they really watch out for loyal customers. Most recently got an amazing upgrade on the bank holiday weekend to a Merc. Much appreciated Thomas and co! Keep up the good work.

  • Martin Doh

Service is terrible. Might suit local Irish customers though. - The 2 staff members faces saying "Better be quick or go away". - No mention about M50 toll payment system when taking the car (usually the renting company pays first and bills to the customer later). - No wifi router renting service. - And daring to end their explanation with a "Goodbye". I just asked to check if the address they have is the correct one.

  • A F

Online booking with pickup scheduled for 6pm. We didn't get our car because we were 5 (!) minutes late due to major traffic diversions from protests in the city centre. Guy called us exactly 6:01pm that he's closed now we don't need to show up. Don't take pickups at 6 if you can't handle them. If we'd knew, we would've picked an earlier slot... Trying to get our car at the next budget outlet at the airport now...

  • James Campbell

As a photographer based in Dublin, I rent out cars quite often to travel to jobs all around Ireland. While I have used many car hire companies, Budget stands out by a mile. Cars are clean and well maintained. The staff are very welcoming and will do their best to accommodate you in any way they can! Tony was very helpful during my booking. I will be using Budget from here on in during my jobs in Ireland.

  • Thom H (JPH)

Age was asked during booking process. Filled it out (24) just to travel all the way to the pick up location and get feedback "you're supposed to be 25+". Please budget, code your website appropriately. With a "*" minimum age is 25 text clearly whilst filling out customer's details. Or alternatively a check that will interrupt the booking process. In order to prohibit disappoint with new customers. Thanks

  • Mick Bannon

I have been using the services of Budget Car Rental in Dublin for the past few years. They have consistently provided me with excellent service. Staff are always very helpful and the process of picking up and returning a car always works efficiently. Their rates are usually the best in town and I have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone wishing to rent a car in Dublin. --Mick Bannon--

  • A Bialowas

This is a real terrible location from which to rent a car. Getting out of the back lot and onto the street is an ordeal. Driving a car in Dublin is a challenge and renting from this poor location just adds to that challenge. The car we rented was in poor shape and had much damage. When we returned it we had to haggle a bit because the attendant thought there was new damage....there wasn't.

  • kR1ptic 00

They had automatic transmission vehicles when no others did, the service was good but did have to point out some pre existing damage before taking the car so check that. The GPS was really the only bad part, it was not updated missing round abouts and not finding locations, I would suggest getting a pay as you go phone for GPS. Overall the service was great no issues or services pushed.

  • Alba Blesa

The pick-up was really fast and all the cost were explained. You have to leave a deposit for the tank in case you don't return it full. We contracted full coverage there, apparently if you don't have it they will block 1500 euros from your credit card as your lialability , so I recommend to contract the full coverage. They were very helpful. Special thanks to Ivan for all the help

  • Franck Dempsey

Everything went pretty smoothly. Getting the car and returning the car was quick. The car was in good condition and clean. It'd be great if the agency was open after 6pm (especially on Sunday), say if you rented a car for a weekend getaway, you'd have to drive back to Dublin quite early on Sunday to make it on time, otherwise return the car at 9am Monday and pay an extra day.

  • El Kanagavel

The billing was completely unclear, and the service at the desk was fairly unsympathetic about it. I chose Budget because they seemed to be the cheaper option, but the total cost was about 3 to 4 times what I expected when booking online. Fees and charges just seemed to be hidden from me at each stage, and there was little effort made to make it clear what I was paying for.

  • Ron Hale

I rented a car online. Before I picked it up I read some poor reviews which made me very nervous. I must say that the staff were great. They were very friendly and professional. I got a great car just as requested. They explained insurance options without any pressure so I could make the decision that was bests or me. In all the rental experience was excellent.

  • Just A Simple Guy On The Internet

We had a really unpleasant experience with this place. The car we had rent was returned on time, in nearly perfect conditions. Unfortunately, the employees who had checked the vehicle at first called us six hours after the return to complain about it being “dirty and smelly” when it clearly was not, and charged us of 100€ unfairly. Absolutely not recommended.

  • Kim Althen

These guys were great! Went way beyond anything I would expect for customer service! They truly went out of their way for us. The car was clean and well maintained. I was actually only the second person to rent it, so as shiny as the car was -the service out shined it by far. Especially the guy from Galway (I think his name was Tony)! Thank you again.

  • Paul Hegarty

Rented a car recently from Budget in Drumcondra. I was served by Tony who was very helpful. Explained all the rental terms to me. Suggested I take the optional insurance for peace of mind. Glad I did. Returned the car and fuel allowance was returned straight away. Very professional service, couldn't recommend enough. Car I received was brand new too.

  • Penny Williams

Oscar and Mark are true professionals who run this location. Extremely nice and made the process simple, quick, and safe. Gave me what I needed for the car (chargers) and offered the option to exchange at any other location in case of something happening. Looking forward to renting from them again when I'm in town. Thank you Oscar and Mark! -Olivia

  • Lucijana Šutalo

Rental agency I would recommend to everyone! If I come in Ireland again definitely I am booking car again here! Pick up and return was really fast and the staff was really helpfull. Make sure you return car with a full tank, as you took it, if not you can be charged a lot for your laziness. :) Special thanks to Ivan. He was really helpful and kind!

  • Kayla Eng

I had great service upon pickup. Good experience in that regard and drop off felt like a breeze as well. The staff were informative, knowledgeable. I had a discrepancy with fuel charges not being reimbursed post rental return however once staff were made aware the issue was dealt with swiftly and I could not appreciate that more. Thank you, Mark!

  • Pat Ru

Always great service from Budget in Dublin Airport and Drumcondra offices. Good choices of cars, no hidden charges. Cars are always clean and the rental process is hassle free every time. My first choice in car rental for the past few years. As someone who lives in the city centre, I enjoy being able to pickup and drop off the car in Drumcondra.

  • Meri Low

Our first hire experience in Ireland. Service was great! Car was ready staff very helpful and assisted us with our luggage. Car was good, very economical though somewhat underpowered and we should have chosen an auto, but overall we were very happy. Thanks Budget Dublin City North for being part of our fab holiday! M and B Low Australia

  • Andrea Smyth

Awesome service. Great that at time of pickup they recommended a diesel. We paid for no excess at pick up and I would advise this for peace of mind. We chose a 2 door manual and got a Seat Leon which suited us perfectly. Got us around from East to west and south and back on a variety of roads. Advice dont take L roads! Very local …

  • Uwe Siol

A five star rating well deserved. I took out a car for one day to go to the Midlands. I dealt with exceptionally friendly staff at pick up and return. The process was very fast, I went in and out in no time on both occasions. It's a good location because it saves me the trip to the airport. The car was new, in good condition and clean.

  • Angelo Babos

Bad experience. I booked on line a car to rent for a week. When I went to collect it I fund out that is a huge deposit that I have to pay with a credit card only. I didn't have a credit card only debit cards. I couldn't rent the car but they charge me 60 % . I didn't even see the car I soposed to rent. I will NOT recommend to anyone.

  • Maria Lieb

The employees were really friendly and everything was easy, however, our car was already pretty "damaged" when we got it with many little dents and not all of them were documented by the employees before. So, take more time when picking up the car so that you can recheck again whether all dents have been documented already!

  • Rebekah Bailey

Charged us for not taking their insurance. Car we got was not the one we ordered. Showed them the receipts from online booking, still charged us more for "other fees". When we returned the car, claimed there was "damage" on the hubcap, which was absolutely not true. Scam artists trying to take your money. Go elsewhere.

  • Eugene Martin

I rent cars on a regular basis from Budget Drumcondra. The location is perfect as being accessible from town but away from city gridlock. The staff here are extremely helpful and efficient. I never have to wait more than 5 minutes to be seen and checkout takes no time at all. Can't recommend highly enough. Eugene

  • Ambre Poilly

Very understanding when unexpected external experience (clamp) that delays the return. Friendly staff, they gave use USB charger that were not provided in the car Very well maintainted cars, very clean and tidy, quick service, really good value. We rent a car for less than 100€ for 5 days I highly recommend!

  • Miguel Graça Oliveira

Avoid! I've returned my car without any additional scratches. However the guy there kept on saying that I had scratched the hub cap even though it was clearly marked in the sheet as previously scratched. The discussion ended with a threat: "you're lucky this time". Worst rental experience ever. Never again.

  • J. Beel

The car was ok and staff was friendly; but long waiting times and most importantly: they charged 120€ as 'deposit' on my credit card (they didn't block the money, they literally charged the credit card). They told me, they would refund the money once I returned the car. However, they only refunded 107€.

  • Богдан Кобрик

Superb service! Very friendly and approachable staff. Always happy to help and always quick. Have been renting deliberately from them since December 2022. Successfully rented 5 cars. Cars were always clean and prepared. My score: 5/5! Will definitely recommend them to all my friends and colleagues!

  • Soraya McMahon

These guys always go out of their way to help out. It's my preferred place to rent a car in Dublin and couldn't be more pleased with the service, cars, and price. I've rented here MANY times and they never disappoint. Highly recommend above other companies and other locations in the Dublin area.

  • Caleb

We rented a car for the weekend to head to Cork. Service was great, and didn't have to wait long on the car. Quality vehicle, I think we were upgraded over what was booked, and drop off was quite simple too. Prices here are much more competitive than other rental locations near downtown Dublin.

  • Dr. Cynthia Lischick

We loved the personal service we received in Dublin when we rented our car to drive around Ireland! I got full instructions on how to drive the car (on the opposite side of the raod) and get out fo the city! The car was perfect, infact it was practically brand new! Thank you for everything!

  • Alex Carroll

Small rental store in Dublin. Service was ok at pickup and great at return. Not the easiest lot to get in and out of. I don't recommend driving in Dublin if you are a tourist. Plenty of reliable transportation and much is walkable. Save the rental for when you are driving out of the city.

  • John Casey

Pick up in Dublin was fine. The Skoda ran well and was comfortable and held our luggage. Drop off at Shannon was not so great. It wasn't clear where to park the car and the computer was down; two days later and I still haven't gotten the final cost. Everyone was friendly and helpful.

  • AUSPAIN

Fantastic. After days of internet faffing I was able to talk to a friendly helpful person. Thank you Darren. The car was great - it helped open up experiences of Ireland that otherwise we would have missed out on. Car return was a breeze. Overall very positive experience

  • Chucky B. Hollow

Total scam! Went from 49 up to 253 due at time of pickup. Not to mention the full coverage bought prior to pickup was basically money 100% lost. If you don’t get their insurance they want 25,000 for a deposit. Better off buying your own car then renting with this trash.

  • Castellanas Sports

Really poor service. I do not recommend this place. The didn't give the car I ordered and I spent more than 50min waiting for the car. They haven't refunded me the 1500 fee, 3 days and still waiting.... I will not rent a car again in Budget. I am very dissapointed.

  • Tom O'Malley

First trip to ireland. Needed a 9 passenger vehicle. Budget had an Opel that was great. Only had 9,000 thousands miles on it. Was very comfortable and ran without any problems. Probably drove 500+ kilometers. Very good experience. Take it for what its worth.

  • Sandor Gera

Be careful reserving as at payment you have to have certain amount on your card. Read the Terms and Conditions. Always a problem with this.... Online price is a little bit misleading as your liability should be presented on your card!!! 1500 for small car...

  • Julie Fitzpatrick

Excellent service. I have been renting with Budget for many years. The staff are always very pleasant and professional - Liz Thomas Conor Tony.... and the price I am quoted is always the best value available. I highly recommend this company. Julie

  • Peter Keeley

The office is very convenient for me. The staff are great and very professional. Very obliging and helpful if I have any questions. They would always be my first port of call when I need to rent a car and I would be very happy to recommend them.

  • François Piette

That was the first time I rent a car in Dublin. I already rent a Budget car in Portugal and was happy. I'm not disappointed! In Dublin, I received a brand new car and everything was perfect. No problem. I recommend both Budget and that agency.

  • Patricia Berger

Very good experience! The man working on the day we rented the car was very friendly and helpful and seemed in a good mood! When we returned the car, he was still there and made sure we had everything we needed! Will gladly rent here again

  • Sarah Dickhans

This car rental station is easy to find,directly on the main road. When I had to return my car first I drove to far,couldn't find a parking space and had to make a you-turn during rush hour.It's tricky to find a parkingspace there.

  • Prathmesh Lad

Really enjoyed their car rental service. Probably the best in the city. They maintain their vehicles to the high standards of safety, hygiene and performance. I would highly recommend them as they offer the best value for money.

  • Simon Hauck

they try to give you insurances double that you have already... they do not block the deposit on your creditcard but immediately withdraw 1350 euro! very unfriendly, they didn't even come out of their office to show you the car.

  • Elmo Paetow

Ordered a car online through a redirecting website. Got a car that was not in a good shape but have registered all scratches correctly. After I returned the car, we had no problem with the return. Personell was friendly.

  • Rami Batal

The staff is very professional and friendly. The cars are good. I never had problems with them. Better to book online for cheaper prices. The car has to be full before being returned, there is a gas station nearby.

  • TJ Mulloy

I rent here on a regular basis. Good selection of cars, always spotless. And the customer service is exceptional. Always willing to go the extra step to help on a rental, which is so important when you need a car.

  • Francisco

All clear and easy. The only thing is that you have to pay 32 euros a day for the full insurance or they will take 1500 from your account as a deposit. You don't need and irish driving license to rent with them.

  • Mar Riam

I've had a great experience with budget car drumcondra. I've booked a car to get 2 days out in the west and go a clean newish Renault Clio. The staff was friendly and professional. Any time again, thanks lads!

  • Nela Karlikova

Horrendous experience! We had a flat tyre, stuck a bit further from the city, tried to call emergency assistance which should be available 24/7 unfortunately without any response. Never again!

  • Greg Dalton

I agree about the reviews with the insurance made me feel uncomfortable, also with the deposit on the credit card, it worked out fine the car was brand new also they upgraded me at no cost

  • Adrien B.

No problem, but I really suggest you to take the insurance, in case! And don't forget return the car with the tank full. And book at least 2-3 days before. And everything will be perfect.

  • Joseph MC BRIDE

Recently hired a car from Budget Car Rental Drumcondra, Dublin. Staff were friendly and helpful. Great customer service. Car that I hired was very comfortable and was very clean inside.

  • Juan Manuel Gomez

I already rented cars here more than 5 times during the last year 2016 & 2017 and their customer service guys at the front office are great. Never had an issue! Will come back for sure

  • Terry Geraghty

Didn't quite get the ordered car (no air con) and a hard sell on insurance that I already had. The staff were very friendly and the whole hire trouble free. Terry Western Australia

  • Anton Visser

Got a car without a heating on one site of the the car. The passenger was freezing. I made a phone call and sent an e-mail. No reaction at all. Budget your clients deserve better!

  • Kristijan Popaginovski

Great Experience! Staff very friendly, the whole process from picking up the car to returning was fast and easy. Perfect example of how a rent a car company should be! Well done!

  • Olga Torres Hostench

We are very pleased with the service. The service was excellent and fast (Drumcondra office), and the car was super. We paid insurance costs and nothing happened. Just in case.

  • Dara Gleeson

Great Team and Service If I ever need to get a car this is the place to go. The team there are really helpful and considerate. It's the only place I go to get rentals.

  • Soraya Khalje McMahon

This really is the best place to rent a car in Dublin! Close to the city center and the employees are terrific. And the cars are great. HIGHLY recommend it!

  • Amon Ette

Booked a car here online only to be told on pick up day that I did not meet the minimum age criteria, despite entering my age in the online form…

  • Furqan Khan

A very smooth pick up and drop experience. By far the best rates for car rental in town. Highly recommend it for all kinds of car rental needs.

  • eduardo teixeira

Very bad service. I don’t recommend. We did the reservation online, we paid in advance and we have to wait more than 2 hours to get the car.

  • Mariana Andrade

TERRIBLE SERVICE PROVIDED. MORE THAN AN HOUR IN THE LINE TO GET THE CAR WE RESERVED. ONE EMPLOYEE TO SERVE MORE THAN 15 people in line.

  • Richard Eichele

Very friendly and competent people gave us a new car in perfect condition. No complications or „insurance traps“ at all! 100% reliable.

  • Frank Higgins

I've used this location a number of times in the past and always found the staff to be very professional. Keep up the good work

  • Seonaid Stuart

Good communication, friendly staff. Very nice car. No hassle to purchase extras etc. Overall, extremely pleased.

  • soraia vasconcelos

BAD SERVICE! MORE THAN 1:30 TO GET THE CAR THAT I HAVE RESERVED AND PAID IN THE INTERNET!!!!!! THATS RIDICULOUS

  • Changhong Li

Good service and reasonable price. Released my deposit right after they checked the car. No BS, No scams.

  • Bertie Brosnan

I have been using them for nearly 10 years - excellent service and affordable, very good vehicles always.

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