Car Hire City of Derry Airport (LDY)

If you’re planning a trip to Northern Ireland, you’ll find booking an Avis hire car from City of Derry Airport is the perfect way to explore the beautiful north west coast at your own pace.

Derry~Londonderry is the fifth largest city in Northern Ireland and has the distinction of being the only fully walled city on the island of Ireland. It is an important cultural centre with attractions including the Peace Bridge. The city has a busy programme of international conferences making car hire ideal for business travellers who want to explore further afield.

The north west of Northern Ireland is the perfect destination for a road trip and with a rental car you can easily explore this intriguing landscape from the Sperrin Mountains to the lush Bann and Foyle river valleys and vast stretches of golden sandy beaches along its stunning coastline. If you are wanting to hit the road on a grand tour of the island, Derry~Londonderry is the end point of the epic Causeway Coastal Route from Belfast.  

Whether you are travelling to the north west of Northern Ireland for business or leisure, our friendly, efficient Avis team at City of Derry Airport is ready to provide the perfect rental car for your trip.

Book direct with Avis and you’ll benefit from flexible bookings with free cancellation, a fleet of quality rental vehicles and speedy collection to get you on the road quickly plus we’ve a free loyalty programme with a host of travel benefits you’ll love. Don’t forget to check out the optional extras, including child seats and the option to include additional drivers so you can explore the area with ease.

You’ll find our Avis counter at City of Derry Airport located within the terminal building on the left hand side after baggage reclaim.  Our Avis rental car collection is a short walk away in the designated rental airport parking where you will find our Avis cabin. When you are returning your rental car to the airport just follow signs to the same car park.

City of Derry Airport (LDY) began life as a military airbase but was converted to civilian use in the 1990s.  As a passenger airport City of Derry has seen periods of rapid growth and redevelopment to improve facilties for travellers. Today it serves destinations including London Heathrow, Glasgow, Manchester, Edinburgh, Liverpool, and European centres such as Faro and Verona.

The airport is located on the north eastern edge of Derry~Londonderry with good road access to the city via the A2.

If you are driving in Northern Ireland for the first time or have just arrived in Europe, make sure you familiarise yourself with the driving rules for Northern Ireland before picking up your car. Remember that you will be driving on the left-hand side of the road and overtaking on the right as you leave our location.

What are the age requirements for renting a car at City of Derry Airport?

The minimum age to rent a car at the City of Derry Airport and the rest of the UK is 23. Age restrictions also vary by vehicle and some selected car groups are not available to drivers under the age of 25.

There is currently no maximum age for hiring a rental car, so long as you have had a full, valid, license for at least 1 year. Some additional steps may be required for those who are over the age of 75 on the date of the scheduled return.

What documents do I need to hire a car in Northern Ireland?

To hire a car at City of Derry Airport, Northern Ireland, you just need to bring your: 

• Driving licence
• The credit card used to make your booking (if it's a high value vehicle two payment cards must be provided, one of which needs to be a credit card),
• Proof of any discount (such as a frequent flyer or Avis Preferred 
• Photo ID for international rentals (such as a passport or driving licence) taken in the last 10 years.

Can I pick up my rental car at City of Derry Airport and return it to another location?

One-way car rental with Avis makes it easy to go from A to B without driving full circle. That means you can collect your Avis hire car from City of Derry Airport and then return it to another Avis office in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland. Many of our offices offer a 24-hour drop-off facility, which makes a one-way car hire hassle-free and very user-friendly. Simply check out our many available one-way journeys and start planning your route. When you are ready to book, just specify your destination in the booking panel and we will arrange it for you.

Is it worth hiring a car at City of Derry Airport?

While many parts of the historic city of Derry~Londonderry are easy to get around on foot, it is worth hiring a car to travel across and outside the city. Renting a car at City of Derry Airport gives you the freedom and flexibility to enjoy independent travel as well as offering the chance to explore further afield and even plan a road trip around Northern Ireland.

What is parking like in Derry~Londonderry?

While on-street parking is fairly limited in the centre of Derry~Londonderry, parking is plentiful in the city. There are two privately operated multi-storey car parks offering more than 2000 spaces along with several surface-level car parks run by Derry and Strabane District Council while several hotels offer parking for their guests.

From the Avis car park at City of Derry Airport to the centre of Derry~Londonderry is a drive of 9.2miles which will take around 17min depending on the time of day. Head west from the airport via the A2 following signs to the centre of the city.

There’s so much to see and do in Northern Ireland and starting off in Derry~ Londonderry is the perfect introduction to the beautiful north west of the country. It’s known as the walled city where the Wild Atlantic Way meets the Causeway Coastal Route so it’s the perfect starting point for an epic road trip whether you choose to head east or west. But first, take some time to immerse yourself in the story of this historic city filled with art, music or cultural heritage whether it’s the music of Van Morrison, the poetry of Seamus Heaney or the TV hit, Derry Girls. First step back into the 17th century to walk along the 400-year-old city walls, check out the city’s thriving café and artisan bakery scene, tour the museums and theatres and even book a show. Discover more about the recent history of Derry~Londonderry with a visit to the Peacemakers Museum and a walk across the city’s famous Peace Bridge.

The North West of Northern Ireland is a fabled part of the country blessed with stunning scenery, lakes, mountains and a breathtaking coastline and while here you'll be visiting locations that have inspired some world famous creative minds.

Seamus Heaney Home Place

Take a journey into the world of poet Seamus Heaney with a drive east across the Sperrin Mountains to his birthplace at Mossbawn and final resting place at Bellaghy where there is a museum dedicated to the life and literature of the Nobel Laureate. You’ll gain some insight into the landscape that inspired him on a drive around 45min via the A6.

Wild Ireland

Take a drive into County Donegal and around the Inishowen Peninsula to reach Wild Ireland, a unique wildlife conservation area. The journey may be short but you will step back several centuries as the setting is an ancient Celtic rainforest.

Coastal Road Trip

Driving the coastline of the island of Ireland from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland is a bucket list adventure. Whether you choose to drive west from Derry on the Wild Atlantic Way or head west towards Belfast on the Causeway Coastal Route, you are in for an unforgettable journey. If you’ve not got time to do the whole route on this trip, for a taste of what’s in store, don’t miss a trip to the Giant’s Causeway. The iconic volcanic rock formations on the north coast of County Antrim are around 40 miles from Derry~Londonderry, a drive of around 50min.