An article published in the Irish Independent today (28 August 2008) featured the operations manager of Murray’s Europcar, Pat Geagan, as saying the market in Ireland has been ‘diabolical’ during 2008.

“It has been our worst year since 2001 in both volumes and prices. The numbers renting from the United States are down 35 – 40 percent and numbers from elsewhere are down 10 to 15 percent. It’s now cheaper to rent a car than it was in 2001.” – Pat Geagan.

There are a number of factors bringing down the car rental market including the weak dollar, a very competitive market and the falling price of used cars. Among the difficulties facing car rental companies in the near future is the adoption of the M50 West Link barrier free tolling without much direction from Eflow.

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