Compare cheap 7 seater car hire at Shannon Airport. Booking the Cliffs of Moher, the Limerick Tunnel toll, the Killimer ferry to Kerry and Ireland’s 60 km/h rural limit.
Turn up at the Cliffs of Moher without a booking and you pay the full gate price of about £13 (€15) per adult. Book online, and aim to arrive outside the 11am to 4pm peak.
Shannon Airport handled 2,301,673 passengers in 2025, its highest total in 16 years and 9.4% up on 2024 (Travel Extra). Summer 2026 went further, with more than a million passengers between May and August for the first time (RUS Tourism News).
In summer 2026, Ryanair flew to Shannon from Gatwick, Stansted, Manchester and Edinburgh, among others, and Aer Lingus from Heathrow (Shannon Airport). From the airport, the Clare coast and the Burren are on the doorstep.
Booking the Cliffs of Moher
In 2026, the gate price at the Cliffs of Moher is about £13 (€15) per adult, or about £26 (€30) for a family of two adults and two children. Children under 12 go free with a parent, up to a maximum of four, and the ticket includes parking (Cliffs of Moher).
Booking online is cheaper, and quieter slots fall outside 11am to 4pm (Cliffs of Moher). Arrive within 15 minutes of your slot. The main car park sits across the road from the visitor centre, and there is no EV charging on site (Cliffs of Moher).
The Limerick Tunnel toll
Heading south towards Limerick and Kerry, the N18 runs through the Limerick Tunnel. Cars pay about £1.95 (€2.30) in 2026 (TII). Ask the hire desk whether the car has a toll tag before you set off.
Shannon 7 Seaters, side by side
See the 7 seaters at Shannon Airport in one list, with the excess and fuel terms for each.
The Killimer to Tarbert ferry
The Shannon Ferries crossing from Killimer in Clare to Tarbert in Kerry takes about 20 minutes (Shannon Ferries). It saves about 137 km of driving round the estuary (Ireland.com).
A car with its passengers costs about £21 (€25), or about £19 (€22.50) online. Minibuses and coaches pay more, at about £30 (€35) (Shannon Ferries). Buy tickets online or on board at least 30 minutes before boarding (Shannon Ferries). Boats leave Killimer on the hour, with the last at 7pm in October (Shannon Ferries).
Loop Head and the rural limit
Loop Head, at the tip of Clare, is about an hour and a half’s drive from the airport (Ireland.com). Many rural roads in Ireland are narrow with no hard shoulder, and you may meet tractors or animals (RSA).
Since 7 February 2025, the default limit on rural local roads has been 60 km/h, down from 80 (RSA). Motorways stay at 120 km/h and national roads at 100 km/h (RSA).
Irish rules worth checking
UK visitors can drive in Ireland on their UK licence, with no International Driving Permit needed (gov.ie). Hire firms set their own licence rules, so check yours. The drink-drive limit is 50 mg per 100 ml of blood, and 20 mg for learner and professional drivers (RSA).
Children must use a child seat or booster until they reach 150 cm or 36 kg (HSE). Holding a phone at the wheel is illegal, and penalty points apply to foreign licence holders (RSA).
British citizens travel under the Common Travel Area, so no passport is legally required, but some airlines ask for one (GOV.UK).
Room for seven and the cases
A large suitcase takes 80 to 110 litres (Markenkoffer). With all seven seats up, the roomiest common 7 seaters have about 340 to 350 litres of boot (Auto Express).
For a big case each, look for the ACRISS FV class, meaning seven or more seats with more space. On the Burren’s stone-walled lanes, a shorter car is easier to place.
Collecting the car at Shannon Airport
Your voucher shows where your firm’s desk is and where to collect the car. For a gentle first drive, Bunratty Castle sits just off the N18 between the airport and Limerick, with free parking (Bunratty Castle).
Flying into a different part of Ireland? Our Cork Airport guide covers West Cork and Kerry, and our Dublin Airport guide covers the east coast. The Ireland guide has the national rules.
Keeping a Shannon 7 Seater affordable
- Book the Cliffs online. The gate price is the highest you can pay, and parking is already included.
- Buy ferry tickets online. The Killimer crossing is cheaper booked ahead than paid at the slipway.
- Compare the full price. The excess, deposit, fuel policy and second driver fees all change the total.
- Book early for summer. The west coast is busiest in July and August, so lock in a cancellable rate.
Check Shannon prices for your dates
Put in your flight times to compare low-cost 7 seater rates on the Wild Atlantic Way.
Shannon questions answered
Do I need to book the Cliffs of Moher?
Booking online is cheaper than the gate price, and the ticket includes parking.
How much is the Limerick Tunnel toll?
About £1.95 (€2.30) for a car in 2026.
How long is the Killimer to Tarbert ferry?
About 20 minutes, with sailings every hour.
Can I drive in Ireland on a UK licence?
Yes. UK visitors can use their UK licence, with no International Driving Permit.
How do I compare cheap 7 Seater deals at Shannon Airport?
Use one search across several hire firms. Ours shows the 7 seaters at Shannon Airport with the total price for each.
