Pet Travel Guides
Hiring a Car for Pet Travel Between Britain and Ireland
By Lorna Mullins, Founder of Fetch Travels
Published 20 September 2026
Last fact-checked 20 September 2026
Hiring a car can make travelling with a dog or cat feel much easier, room for the carrier and the Christmas presents, no anxious platform changes, no question about whether a bus driver will accept a larger dog. But permission to hire a car in London isn't the same as permission to take it on a ferry to Ireland, and permission to carry a pet is a separate question again.
Option 1: hire in Great Britain and take the car to Ireland
Ask the rental company before booking the ferry whether the exact vehicle may be taken to the Republic of Ireland, and get the answer in writing on the rental agreement. Policies vary significantly.
GOV.UK's driving-abroad guidance says a hired or leased vehicle taken abroad needs proof that you are authorised to use it, commonly a VE103 certificate. Confirm how the company supplies it, plus insurance, roadside assistance and recovery cover in Ireland.
Most British hire cars must return to Britain. An international one-way rental must be expressly offered and documented. Also check mileage and cross-border fees.
The ferry booking must include both vehicle and pet, with the arrangement confirmed for the exact sailing.
Option 2: hire a car after arriving in Ireland
This removes the cross-border vehicle paperwork because the car is collected and used in the country of rental. Confirm the exact collection location, opening hours and what happens if a winter sailing is delayed. The rental company must still approve the pet, and cleaning charges may apply.
Keep the dog or cat safely restrained
Highway Code Rule 57 says animals should be suitably restrained so they cannot distract the driver or injure themselves or others during sudden braking. Suggested options include a seat-belt harness, carrier, dog cage or dog guard. Choose the vehicle around the restraint system and luggage.
Questions to ask before paying
- May this exact vehicle travel to the Republic of Ireland by ferry?
- Will you provide written authorisation and the required vehicle-on-hire documentation?
- What insurance, breakdown and recovery cover applies?
- Are there international, ferry or mileage charges?
- Are dogs or cats permitted, and must they remain in a carrier?
- What cleaning or damage charges could apply?
- Where must the car be returned if the ferry is delayed?
Book in this order
- Confirm the pet's legal entry requirements and destination.
- Choose whether to hire in Britain or Ireland.
- Obtain written pet and cross-border permission where relevant.
- Confirm documents, insurance, breakdown cover, fees and return point.
- Find a ferry with a suitable pet arrangement and add car and pet.
- If hiring in Ireland, arrange a pet-friendly transfer to collection.
- Pack the approved restraint and interior protection.
- Recheck all terms shortly before travel.
Rental and ferry terms change. This guide intentionally does not claim that any particular rental company permits a pet or cross-border trip; confirm the exact booking directly.
Keep reading
Related pet travel guides
Decided your pet might be happier at home?
Not every journey is right for every pet. Fetch Travels can care for your dog or cat in the comfort of their own home, with familiar routines and regular updates while you're away.
Sources
Check the current guidance
- GOV.UK, Driving abroad
- GOV.UK, Highway Code Rule 57
- Irish Ferries, Pet Travel FAQ
- Stena Line, Travelling with pets on the Irish Sea
This guide is provided for general information and reflects rules and prices we understood to be accurate on the “last fact-checked” date shown above. Pet-travel rules, ferry and transport-provider policies, and veterinary costs can all change, and some, including Irish public transport’s pet policy, are under active review as we publish this. Always confirm current requirements with the official sources linked in this article, and with your vet, before booking or travelling. Fetch Travels provides in-home pet sitting in London; we do not currently offer pet-travel planning, veterinary coordination, or relocation services.