Car Hire in Belfast

Part of our guide to car hire in the United Kingdom.

Driving and Parking in Belfast: What You Need to Know

• City centre driving: Belfast is compact, and most visitors reach it by motorway. The M1 arrives from the west and south-west, the M2 from the north, and the M3 crosses the River Lagan on the eastern side. The Westlink dual carriageway runs along the western edge of the centre and links the M1 and M2. Drive on the left throughout, and at roundabouts give way to traffic from the right and travel clockwise.
• Parking: City centre car parks include Q-Park Victoria Square, CastleCourt Shopping Centre on Royal Avenue, Saint Anne's Square on Edward Street beside St Anne's Cathedral, Cromac Street, Oxford Street and the car park at Europa Bus and Rail Station on Hope Street. Tariffs and opening hours differ between operators, so read the signage at the entrance before you leave the car. Never park on double yellow lines.
• Bus lanes and restricted zones: Belfast has bus lanes on many routes, including the Lisburn Road, Falls Road, Antrim Road and Upper Newtownards Road, on city centre streets such as Victoria Street, Queen's Street and Oxford Street, and on the hard shoulders of the M1 and M2 approaches. Hours vary by lane, so check the sign before you enter. Bus lane contraventions are enforced by penalty charge notice.
• Toll roads: Northern Ireland has no toll roads. Tolls begin south of the border, where the Republic of Ireland charges on several motorways and on the M50 around Dublin through the eFlow system.
• Speed limits: Limits are in miles per hour: 30 mph in built-up areas unless signed otherwise, with 20 mph zones becoming more common, 60 mph on rural single carriageways, and up to 70 mph on motorways and dual carriageways. Using a hand-held mobile phone while driving is illegal.
• Crossing the border: Nothing marks the line between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland on the road, but speed limits change from mph to km/h. Cross-border policy differs by supplier: some allow it, some charge a fee, and some forbid it, and driving south without permission can void your cover. Confirm permission with the supplier before you travel, and read our guide to car hire in Ireland for the rules on the other side.
• Driving on the left: If you normally drive on the right, collect the car at a quiet time, take the first few minutes slowly and leave the satnav set before you move off. The driver's seat is on the right, and the most common mistakes are at roundabouts and when turning out of a car park onto a main road, so keep to the left and give way to traffic from the right.
• Best time to drive: Weekday commuter periods in the morning and late afternoon are the slowest times on the M1, M2 and Westlink. Mid-morning, early afternoon and weekends are the easier windows for crossing the city.
• Road signs and junctions: At a stop sign, come to a complete stop and then give way to all traffic. Do not enter a box junction unless your exit is clear, and stop at flashing red lights at railway crossings until they stop flashing. Cycle lanes in Northern Ireland are marked in green, and you should not drive or park in a solid-line cycle lane during its hours of operation.
• Seat belts and alcohol: Everyone in the car must wear a seat belt, in the rear seats as well as the front. Children under 3 need a suitable restraint in any vehicle, and the driver is responsible for passengers under 14. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.08 per cent, and the safest approach is not to drink at all if you are driving.

Top Places to Visit from Belfast by Car

• Giant's Causeway — about 60 miles north via the M2 and the A26, in roughly 1 hour 15 minutes. The National Trust visitor centre car park is the main car park at the site. The smaller Nook car park sits closer to the stones and fills by mid-morning on busy days, so an early start makes the day easier. The scenic alternative follows the coast through Carrickfergus, Larne and the Glens of Antrim. It adds time, so it suits a full day rather than a quick visit.
• Carrickfergus — about 11 miles north-east along the A2, in roughly 15 minutes. The Norman castle stands on the harbour, and the town makes an easy half-day trip that does not need a long drive.
• Newcastle and the Mourne Mountains — about 30 miles south, with the town of Newcastle on the A2 at the foot of the Mournes. Allow roughly one hour each way. The mountain and coastal roads around Newcastle are narrower than the motorway approaches, so leave margin for slower driving.
• Dublin — about 103 miles (166 km) south via the M1, which becomes the A1 in Northern Ireland and returns to the M1 in the Republic, in roughly 2 hours. Confirm cross-border permission with the supplier first, and carry cash or an eFlow plan for tolls on the southern side.

When is the Best Time to Hire a Car in Belfast?

Peak season: Demand is highest from July to August, when visitors drive the Causeway Coast, and around Easter and Christmas. Northern Ireland bank holidays, including St Patrick's Day on 17 March and the Twelfth of July holiday, add pressure on availability, and the most popular vehicle classes are the first to go.

Shoulder season: May, June, September and October are steadier. Weekday availability is generally good, and the roads to the coast and the Mournes are quieter than in midsummer.

Low season: January, February and the quieter weeks of November are the least busy. Winter daylight is short, so plan longer drives to the north coast for the middle of the day.

Advance booking: Book several weeks ahead for July, August and the main bank holidays, and as soon as your dates are fixed if your hire has to match a ferry or flight arrival. Free cancellation means booking early carries no penalty if plans change, and the balance is paid at the desk on collection, so nothing is charged in full at the time of booking.

Before you drive away: Photograph the vehicle thoroughly at collection and again at return, including all four sides, the wheels, the windscreen and the interior. Dated photographs give you a clear record of the condition you received.

Fuel: Confirm the fuel type shown on your booking confirmation before you refuel, and ask at collection which fuel policy applies to your hire. Refuel before you set out on a long day trip so that you are not searching for a fuel station on the way.

Car Hire Suppliers in Belfast

Car hire in Belfast is available through the following supplier.

• Green Motion

Car Hire Pick-Up Locations in Belfast

Your booking confirmation from eCarBookers locks in your price and your vehicle class before you arrive. You pay the balance at the desk on collection, and the terms confirmed at booking are the terms you receive. Always confirm your hire in advance to guarantee your price from the moment you collect the keys.

• Belfast Heron Road