Driving in Ireland

Are you preparing to drive in Ireland? It might sound intimidating, but trust us – driving on the left will feel like second nature after a few days cruising the Wild Atlantic Way, down castle-dotted country lanes, or around roundabouts outside of Ireland’s charming towns.

Follow this guide to prepare for everything you need to know about driving in Ireland, from driving on the left side of the road to navigating country lanes. Learn about the documents to bring and what to do in an emergency, as well as the differences between driving in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Handling requirements

If you are a resident of the USA, Canada or the European Union and have a valid driver’s license, you will be able to drive in Ireland. Drivers from other countries will need to obtain an international driver’s license, but US licenses are automatically valid on Emerald Isle. (Just check with the car rental company to see if they have any other restrictions, like a minimum age.)

In addition to a valid driver’s license, you must also have third-party insurance (and credit card insurance doesn’t count, unfortunately). Make sure you know where your vehicle registration is and bring a copy of your rental agreement or a letter from the car owner if the vehicle you are driving in Ireland is not registered in your own name.

Checklist for driving in Ireland:

• Valid US, Canadian or EU driver’s license (required)
• Passport (required, if your driver’s license does not have a photo)
• International driver’s license (optional for US, Canadian and EU drivers, required for others)
• Vehicle registration document (V5) (required)
• A contract from the car rental company or letter from the registered owner giving you permission to drive, if the car is not registered in your name (required)
• Proof of third party insurance (required)
• First aid kit and visibility vest (recommended)

Rules of the street

The most important rule of the road in Ireland is: keep left.

In the last 20 years, roads in the Republic of Ireland have improved dramatically and there are many new high-speed motorway options to cover long distances. However, Ireland is very much a rural country, and rural traffic is the norm. Expect large, slow pieces of farm machinery around every corner from March to October. Also be prepared for wildlife and pets to suddenly cross the road, and know that you can turn a curve to find cows or (especially) sheep resting right in the middle of the pavement.

Finally, remember that traffic laws will differ slightly depending on whether you drive in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland, which are two different countries.

• Speed Limits: In the Republic of Ireland, speed limits are: 50 km / h (30 mph) in urban areas; 80 km / h (50 mph) on single open roads; 100 km / h (60 mph) on national highways (marked with a green signal); and 120 kph (74.5 mph) on highways. In Northern Ireland, the speed limits are: 50 kph (30 mph) in urban areas; 100 km / h (60 mph) on individual roadways; 112 km / h (70 mph) on highways. (Note: a single carriageway is a smaller highway with one lane in each direction, whereas a dual carriageway has some sort of divider between opposing traffic and generally has at least two lanes in each direction.)

• Road signs: While warning signs in Northern Ireland generally meet international standards, those in the Republic of Ireland tend to be a bit old-fashioned. Don’t worry: most of them can be easily understood without any problems. Direction signs are blue for major routes (highways), green for national highways, and white for local highways. Places of interest are marked in brown in the Republic and black in Northern Ireland, both in white lettering. In Ireland, all place names will appear in Irish and English, and distances are given in kilometers and miles. In Northern Ireland, all signs are in English and use miles to communicate distances.

• Seat Belts – The driver and all passengers must wear seat belts at all times. Children who weigh less than 36 pounds or who are less than 4’11 “(150 cm) tall should use an appropriate car seat or booster seat.
• Cell Phones : The use of cell phones while driving in Ireland is strictly prohibited. Bluetooth or hands-free devices are technically allowed, but the Gardaí (police) warns that these devices are also distracting and will issue fines for any unsafe driving. Keep this in mind if you plan to use your phone as a GPS for directions, and let a passenger be the navigator because the rule in Ireland is that the driver cannot touch a phone while driving a vehicle.

• Drinking and Driving : Drinking and driving are taken very seriously in Ireland and few people will risk getting behind the wheel even after a drink. The legal limit for driving in Ireland is 0.5 milligrams of alcohol per milliliter of blood, which is lower than that legal limit of 0.8 in many other countries.
• Motorways – There are no motorways in Northern Ireland, but they do exist in the Republic of Ireland and often significantly reduce travel time compared to older roads. You will stop at toll booths to pay when entering the toll roads in Ireland, with the major exception of the M50 around Dublin, which uses the eFlow barrier system. You will go through this system if you are traveling to or from Dublin Airport, but there are no physical toll booths. Your car license plate will be photographed and you should remember to pay the toll online or at a designated kiosk by 8pm the next day.

• Driving on the left side of the road: In Ireland, you must drive on the left side of the road. This means more than just remembering to stay to the left. It means that everything you do as a driver in Ireland will feel like the mirror image of what you do without thinking when driving on the right. Remember that the most important rear view mirror is on your right and the interior rear view mirror is on your left. If possible, drive a few minutes into the rental company parking lot before hitting the road, just to get used to the feeling of backing up. Driving on the left side of the road may seem surprisingly obvious when everyone else is doing it, but drivers who are used to keeping to the right tend to forget and let old habits take over, especially after breaks, on highways. lonely and in the morning. When you stop or need to turn
  Driving on the left means that you will always pass the traffic islands on the left and drive through a roundabout in a clockwise direction. You must turn left when entering a motorway (which is the Irish term for a major motorway) and remember to join traffic on your right hand side. Some people find it actually helps to have a little sticky note saying “stay left” on the board.

• Right of Way – At unmarked junctions, the car on the right will have the right of way, and the same is true for cars already in a roundabout. In the Republic, yellow signs with black markings give directions at marked intersections, with a graphic approximation of the design with thick lines indicating the right of way, thinner lines representing roads that must yield. On rural roads, which tend to be very narrow, it is best to let large cars and buses have the right of way just to be safe, unless they clearly stop to yield to you.

• Gas Stations – Expect most gas stations (called “gas stations” in Ireland) to be smaller than the standard convenience and service store option in North America. Service stations can be few and far between in rural areas, and almost none of them offer 24/7 service. It is a good idea to refill once your tank is half empty. Remember that not all gas stations accept credit cards, so you must have plenty of cash. That means euros in the Republic of Ireland and pounds in Northern Ireland. As you fill up the tank, be sure to check what type of gasoline the car needs and what type of gasoline the pumps offer. While diesel pump handles are green at many US service stations, a green handle means unleaded gasoline in Ireland. Always read the label to be sure. And if you make the mistake of filling with the wrong fuel, don’t start the car; push to the side and contact your car rental company immediately. They will put you in touch with a mobile tank cleaner that is expensive, but cheaper than losing the engine.

• In case of emergency: If you need to contact the emergency services in Ireland for any reason, 112 and 999 will connect you to the emergency operator regardless of whether you are in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland.

Automatic driving vs. lever shift

Most private cars, as well as most rental cars, in Ireland are shifts. This means that in addition to getting used to driving on the left side of the road, you will also need to become familiar with a car that looks like the mirror image of one who might be more used to driving on the right. Deciding between automatic driving and the gear stick in Ireland is about more than knowing how to operate a manual transmission vehicle on the right side of the road because the gear shift will also be in a different place.

In Ireland, you’ll change gears with your left hand, which takes some getting used to, especially when you’re right-handed. If you’re not comfortable handling the stick shift (or don’t want to worry about relearning left), be sure to reserve your rental car as far in advance as possible before the automatic cars sell out.

Should you rent a car in Ireland?

Ireland has a bus system that connects most major and medium-sized cities, but renting a car is the best way to see the Irish countryside. However, you don’t need a car if you just plan to stay in Dublin.

In Dublin, parking spaces are very expensive, traffic is slower than in New York City, and most places of interest are within walking distance of each other. Choose your accommodation location wisely so that it is walkable and use public transportation or a taxi for destinations that are not within walking distance. There should be no reason to use a car in Dublin or many other Irish cities.