Photo: Colin Park / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Isle of Man car hire — who to hire from, what it costs and when to book
Photo: Colin Park / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Which car hire firms trade on the Isle of Man, airport and Sea Terminal pickup, sample 2026 prices, age limits, insurance excess and hiring during TT.
You don’t need a car to see the Isle of Man. The buses and heritage railways cover the towns and most of the sights. But the glens, the west coast, the northern plain and anything after about 6pm are much easier with one. If you’re flying in, that means hiring. This page covers which firms trade on the island, where you collect, what it costs and the small print that matters.
Who hires cars on the island
These are the firms we could confirm are trading, with where they’ll hand you the keys (September 2026):
| Firm | Pick up at | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Athol Car Hire (opens in a new tab) | Airport arrivals hall, Sea Terminal, Douglas and Ballasalla offices | Local, founded 1945, 130-plus vehicles |
| Hertz Isle of Man (opens in a new tab) | Airport, Sea Terminal, White Hoe Industrial Estate (Douglas) | Also hands over cars at the Rex showroom in Douglas |
| Mylchreests (opens in a new tab) | Airport | Agents for Avis, Europcar and Thrifty. The Douglas office has closed |
| ASP Car Hire (opens in a new tab) | Airport (delivered to the entrance) | Prices published online, sister firm to ASP airport parking |
Athol, Hertz and Mylchreests have desks in the arrivals hall at Ronaldsway, according to the airport (opens in a new tab). Visit Isle of Man (opens in a new tab) also lists smaller local operators, including Let’s Hire and 4Hire. You’ll usually need to phone them for a price.
Airport or Douglas?
Fly in: collect at the airport. The desks are in arrivals, and every firm above will hand over a car there.
Arrive by ferry as a foot passenger: Athol has an office inside the Sea Terminal with its own spaces on Victoria Pier, and Hertz lists the Sea Terminal as a pickup point. That lets you walk off the boat and drive away. Athol also runs cheaper non-airport rates (opens in a new tab) if you’re willing to take a courtesy minibus to its Ballasalla or Douglas office and do the paperwork there. Allow an extra 30 minutes.
What it costs
Most island firms only quote when you enter dates. ASP publishes its “from” daily rates, which give a useful benchmark (September 2026):
| ASP car (or similar) | £350 excess | £0 excess | TT and Classic TT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (Hyundai i10) | £47.42 a day | £57.94 a day | £65 a day |
| Medium (Vauxhall Corsa) | £55.58 a day | £66.10 a day | £75 a day |
| Large automatic | £61.45 a day | £71.96 a day | £80 a day |
So a week in a small car costs from about £330, or about £455 at TT rates, before fuel, extra drivers (£12 a day at ASP) and child seats (£5.50 a day).
Seasonal prices move more at the firms that quote by date. Athol says its online price takes the season, the length of hire and weekend rules into account, and it runs a weekly deal (opens in a new tab) of seven days for the price of five. The only way to compare a July week with a November week is to put both sets of dates into two or three firms’ booking pages. Do it before you book the ferry or flight, not after.
The small print
Age. Athol (opens in a new tab) hires to drivers aged 23 and over but under 81. ASP (opens in a new tab) hires from 25 to 70. Hertz (opens in a new tab) won’t rent to under-25s who’ve held a full licence for less than a year. Everyone wants a full licence held for at least 12 months. UK drivers should have a DVLA check code ready. ASP charges £20 to check by phone.
Insurance excess. This is where the real cost hides.
| Firm | If you damage the car | To reduce it |
|---|---|---|
| Athol | Liable up to the car’s value, with a £3,000 deposit | £6.50 a day cuts it to £500; £10 a day cuts it to £0 |
| ASP | £350 or £1,000, depending on the rate you book | The zero-excess rate costs about £10 a day more |
| Hertz | Up to £1,000, plus a £100 deposit | Platinum cover takes it to £0 |
Figures from each firm’s terms, September 2026. Athol’s £0 option also gets you a free additional driver, normally £10 a day.
Fuel. Athol supplies cars with a quarter of a tank and wants a quarter back, or it charges a fixed £40. Hertz wants the car back full or charges for fuel plus £25.
Mileage. Unlimited at Athol and ASP. You’d struggle to use it up. The island is about 30 miles long.
Leaving the island. Athol cars can’t leave the island. ASP allows it only by arrangement with a director, with a £15-a-day surcharge plus 10p a mile over 500 miles.
Hire a car or bring your own?
If you’re coming from Britain or Ireland, you have a choice. A car on the Steam Packet starts from £98.50 each way (September 2026), and you don’t have to pay extra to reduce an excess or fill up a strange car before you drop it off.
- Bring your own for a week or longer, for families with a boot full of kit, and if you’re sailing anyway. Check that your insurance and breakdown cover include the Isle of Man first. It isn’t part of the UK.
- Hire if you’re flying, staying three or four nights, or only want a car for part of the trip. A good compromise is to go car-free in Douglas and hire for a day or two to do the west and the north.
Whichever you choose, read our driving guide first. It covers the roads with no speed limit, the Mountain Road and the TT rules.
Hiring for TT
TT 2027 runs from 31 May to 12 June. During TT and the late-August racing, the rules change:
- Rates go up. At ASP, a small car goes from £47.42 to £65 a day.
- Minimum hires. Athol may apply a seven-day minimum (opens in a new tab) around the TT.
- No refunds. ASP’s deposits for TT and Classic TT hires are non-refundable, and so are its prepaid bookings for those weeks.
- Cars run out. The island’s fleets are small, and TT visitors who flew in want them all. Book the car when you book your travel.
The honest bit
— The Guru
Common questions
How old do you have to be to hire a car on the Isle of Man?
It depends on the firm. Athol hires to drivers aged 23 up to 80, ASP to drivers aged 25 to 70, and Hertz won't hire to anyone under 25 who has held a full licence for less than a year. Everyone needs a full licence held for at least 12 months (September 2026).
Can you pick up a hire car at the Douglas Sea Terminal?
Yes. Athol Car Hire has an office in the Sea Terminal with parking on Victoria Pier, and Hertz Isle of Man lists the Sea Terminal as a pickup point. Other firms will meet you there or collect you by arrangement.
Can you take an Isle of Man hire car to the UK?
Usually not. Athol doesn't allow its cars off the island, and ASP only allows it by prior arrangement with a director and charges extra. If you need a car on both sides of the water, hire separately or take your own on the ferry.
Is it cheaper to hire a car or bring your own on the ferry?
For a week or more, bringing your own is often cheaper. A car on the ferry starts from £98.50 each way (September 2026), while a week's hire of a small car starts at around £330 before fuel and insurance extras. For a short break when you're flying, hiring usually wins.