American citizens are permitted to drive in Ireland for the duration of a visit up to 12 months as a tourist. If you wish to apply for an International Permit for use during your visit you can apply through the AAA, but when renting a car, most car rental companies will require a driving license issued by the country you are normally resident in, not an international driving license/permit.

Drivers must be over 25 and under 69 and have at least 3 years driving experience for groups A to G.
Drivers must be over 28 and have 7 years driving experience for groups 7 and up.

Documents required when driving:
Valid driving license
Vehicle title document/registration certificate or vehicle rental agreement
Valid insurance documentation
Valid Certificate of Roadworthiness

Recommended equipment:
Visibility Vests are now compulsory in Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, Norway, Portugal and Spain (and likely to become compulsory throughout the EU). The rules vary from country to country concerning number of vests required and whether they should be carried in the car or boot. Common sense suggests that there should be a vest for every occupant, and that the vests should be carried in the car, and put on before getting out. Do this and you will not have a problem.

It is advisable to carry breakdown-warning triangle, first-aid kit, fire extinguisher and spare bulb kit in your vehicle. Also, if you wear glasses, bring a spare pair in the car with you.

Left Hand Drive: CAUTION!

As driving is on the left side of the road in Ireland, motorists without experience in left-drive countries should be particularly cautious. Tourists driving on the wrong side of the road are the cause of several serious accidents each year. Road conditions are generally very good, but once off main highways, country roads quickly become narrow and uneven. Roads are more dangerous during the summer and on holiday weekends due to an increase in traffic.

Before you even hit the road, try to get a feeling for the mirror-image layout. Your left hand will operate the gearstick, your right hand open the door. Remember that the more important wing mirror is on your right, the central rear view mirror on your left. If at all possible drive a few minutes in the rental company’s yard.

This may be obvious when everybody else does, but tends to be forgotten especially after breaks, on lonely roads and in the morning. Pass traffic islands to the left. Only use a roundabout clockwise. Take a left turn when accessing a motorway and remember to join traffic on your right side. It actually helps to have a small post-it note saying ‘stay left’ on the dashboard.Seat Belts

Wearing of seat belts is compulsory in front and rear seats. Children under 12 years old should be seated in the rear. Young children should be properly placed in child seats.Cell Phones

It is illegal to hold a mobile phone while driving.Horns

Not to be used between 11:30pm and 7:00am.Lights

Dipped headlights must be used in poor daytime visibility. Motorcycles must use dipped headlights during the day at all times.Drinking and Driving

‘Drink’ driving (driving under the influence) is a very serious offence in Ireland. Over 0.08 per cent and you could face anything up to imprisonment. Local police (An Garda Siochána) have powers to set up random breath-test checkpoints (and they do often!). If caught driving under the influence you will receive a very hefty fine and possible imprisonment. You should make sure that you have appropriate identification and vehicle documents with you. Taxis are available in nearly all towns and villages and the fare is quite inexpensive.Emergencies

In the case of an accident you will need to call the police (in Ireland they are called Garda) and if anyone is injured an Ambulance, telephone number is 999 for both. If there is any damage to the car or injury to a passenger then calling the police is essential. You will need to take contact details of all witnesses to the accident. If you have a camera make sure you take photographs from all angles before any vehicle is moved. Always take the name and address or telephone number of any potential witnesses to the accident in case of disputes arising later. Never engage in an argument about the cause of an accident. If you have hired a car you must contact your rental company immediately.Insurance

Car insurance is compulsory in Ireland. Ireland competes with Portugal for the most traffic accidents in Western Europe.

A note on CDW insurance: One of the additional optional insurances you can pick up is called the SDW, Super CDW or Master Cover. This is insurance on your Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) excess/deductible. All vehicles have an excess starting at 800 euro. If you are in an accident you pay the first 800 and the CDW insurance covers the balance. The SDW will pay that excess charge for you. Each company has a different fee for this depending on which insurance company they’re using but you can expect to pay about 12-15 per day on top of your rental costs.

In Ireland people seem to park wherever they can. Parking is confusing. One yellow line marked on the pavement means no parking Monday through Saturday during business hours. Double yellow lines mean no parking at any time. Broken yellow lines mean short stops are OK, but you should always look for explicit signs or ask a passerby.

Even in small towns, rather than fight it, just pull into the most central ‘disk’ or ‘pay-and-display lot’.Parking Discs

Parking discs can be purchased at local shops. You buy one disk for each hour you want to stay. Scratch off the time you arrived on the disk and put it on your dashboard.Pay and Display

These modern pay-and-display machines are solar-powered and placed regularly along the street (about six feet tall, look for blue circle with white letter P). Keep a bag of coins in the ashtray for meter/voucher machines (no change given for large coins).

Signs along the street will state whether parking disc or pay-and-display laws are in effect for that area.Avoid Illegal Parking

In recent times there has been a concerted effort to control parking in the city. Vehicles which are illegally parked stand a good chance of being clamped or impounded so be careful where you decide to park your car. More and more towns are outsourcing parking control to private companies which are keen to be seen as efficient. This means that illegally parked cars will be quickly immobilized by clamps or even towed away and only released after a hefty fee is paid.Safety

When driving in a city make sure all your windows are closed. You can lock your doors. Do NOT leave valuables on the seat in full view – there have been cases of cars having their window broken at junctions and traffic lights for thugs to steal valuables on display.Parking Tickets

If you get a parking ticket in Ireland you should pay it even if you are driving a rental car. If a ticket is unpaid the rental car company will be charged, and they in turn will bill your credit card.

Gas stations can be few and far between in rural areas with almost none of them offering 24/7 service. It is a good idea to refill once your tank is half empty. Remember that not all gas stations will take credit cards.

It might sound really basic, but make sure to fill your tank with the right stuff. Whereas at many US gas stations the pump handles for Diesel are green, a green handle denotes unleaded petrol in Ireland. Always read the label. And if you make the mistake of filling up with the wrong fuel: do not start the car, push it to the side and contact your car rental company immediately. They’ll put you in contact with a mobile tank-cleaner, which is costly, but way cheaper than losing the engine.

European drivers are obsessed with fuel efficiency. One look at the price of gas in Ireland, let alone in Northern Ireland, will explain this obsession. Expect to pay twice the price you are used to. But fuel efficiency of rental cars should normally be great, even for the larger vehicles, which ultimately makes driving in Ireland not a hugely expensive way of travel.

All grades of petrol, diesel and LPG are available as well as lead replacement petrol (LRP). It is allowed to carry petrol in a can. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted. It’s a good idea to let your card issuer know you will be traveling abroad. This ensures they don’t suspend your card if they spot it being used in unfamiliar places, which they sometimes do as an anti-fraud measure.

If you are in a hurry use the highway. Ireland’s roadways have become much more developed in recent years which make your trip to the airport much easier. But remember that Ireland’s byways are much more scenic. While the highways are the quickest route from point A to point B you will miss the High Crosses, the small shops serving fresh scones and tea and the experiences that make Ireland truly memorable.

The vast majority of the roads (particularly in the south, southeast and southwest of Ireland) have stonewalls lining the road (even many of the national roads). The walls are almost on the white line on the edge and often covered with vines. Unfortunately, the roads were first built for wagons and the rock walls are frequently just off the pavement. Only skilled pedestrians should try their luck in some places.

Many country roads are not well marked. Therefore, it is most helpful to know the name of the next town or village on your route. Directional road signs are usually a single post with a number of arrows pointing in different directions. In some instances, it is difficult to determine which way the arrows are pointing. Some signs are broken and the arrows are pointing in the wrong direction. If you come to a crossroad and you are not sure how to proceed the best advice is to go straight. If you plan on traveling at night it would be a good idea to carry a flashlight so that you may read the signs and arrows at the crossroads. Have fun trying to figure things out and making your way. Don’t be afraid to stop and ask for directions. The locals are usually very helpful and more than willing to offer assistance.

You will encounter traffic jams, but not in the horn-honking-frustrated-driver way you may be used to. Think instead of a herd of sheep in the middle of the road trotting from one field to the next or cars parked on either side of an already narrow road as an entire community attends the burial of a neighbor. Relax and enjoy the pace of Ireland.

On two lane highways, the Irish do something which some drivers may find unusual. Often, Irish drivers will go right down the middle of the road to pass another car in spite of the fact that there is oncoming traffic in the other lane. The oncoming traffic; as well as those being over taken, is expected to drop to their left while the passing car goes right down the middle. If you are driving slower than others, it is best to keep your car to the left side of the road and use the paved berm. If you’re traveling considerably slower than the flow of traffic keep as far left as possible with the left hand directional turn signal or hazard signals on.Toll Roads

Many motorways in Ireland are toll roads.

E FLOW Tolls around Dublin
M50 – The M50 is now a paperless/cashless Toll Plaza. There are no barriers or Toll Booths. It is operated by a system of cameras recording registration numbers of vehicles from the front and rear. There is a 3 euro charge that is levied by an automatic sensor as you pass this point along the M50 (every time you pass it). The charge is automatically charged to your cars vehicle ID number and must be paid by 8PM the following day or a huge fine is levied. It is easy to pay at a variety of sites like certain petrol stations. Verify with the rental car company where the sensor if located and if you will encounter it on your planned route around Dublin. Some rental car companies come with an E flow pass- where it is automatically charged to your credit card by your rental car company. (www.eflow.ie)

M1 Dublin to Belfast Toll is at Drogheda
M3 Dublin to North West
M4 Dublin to North by North West
M6 Dublin to Galway Toll is at Ballinasloe
M7 Dublin to Limerick/Cork Toll is at Portlaoise
M8 Dublin to Cork Toll is at Portlaoise AND Fermoy
N18 Limerick Bypass(Tunnel) Tunnel is in Limerick City
N25 Waterford Bypass Toll is on Cork side of Waterford (Bridge Crossing)
East Link Toll Plaza Dublin City
Dublin Port Tunnel – leading from East Link under City emerging on the M1 Motorway to Belfast / Connecting with M50Roundabouts

Roundabouts (rotaries) are very uncommon in the US but are a standard feature of Irish road networks. Roundabouts are frequently used on Irish roads to keep the traffic flowing. Don’t let a roundabout spook you. After all, you routinely merge into much faster traffic on American highways back home. The traffic in a roundabout has the right-of-way; entering traffic yields (look to your right as you merge). It helps to remember that the driver is always in the center of the road.

The rules for using roundabouts are simple:
Yield to all vehicles coming from your right and always turn left on entering the roundabout.

Approach them slowly when you see the sign signaling one is coming up. Keep to the left. You must ALWAYS give way to traffic already on the roundabout. If you are leaving the roundabout on the first or second exit, keep in the left lane. If you are leaving the roundabout on the third exit, you drive on the inside lane, the right lane, passing the first exit and just after second exit indicate left and get into the left lane. Then exit as before.

You should yield and/or observe traffic signals when approaching roundabouts. Once you enter a roundabout you should keep moving. If you miss the exit you wanted, keep moving until you come back to it again. You should use your direction signal when exiting in a roundabout.

Maybe the most challenging aspect of driving in Ireland is the rain. Even the natives struggle to get to grips with downpours, poor visibility and frequent floods. As a tourist you’ll be even more disadvantaged, lacking local knowledge that will, for instance, help you to gauge the depth of a spreading puddle. So here are some helpful hints:Be Prepared

The national newspapers carry weather reports and predictions and will give flood warnings and feature reports on major road closures. Unfortunately they are ‘old hat’ by the time you read them.

More up to date would be reports on national radio stations like RTÉ or Today FM. Weather reports are usually given with the news on the hour (or half hour). Road traffic reports are less frequent.

The most recent information can be found on the internet – for weather information surf to the Met Eireann website. Traffic information is continuously updated at AA Roadwatch – which also has an excellent route planner in case you have to reschedule.Check the Car

Essentials to check are:
Tires – are all five properly inflated? (check the spare as well). And the tools to change a tire.
Gas – hit the nearest station to fill the tank before you head out.
Lights – not do much to see but to be seen.
Windscreen wash – driving on wet roads can be extremely dirty business and you’ll hit the ‘wash-wipe’ button very often.Charge Your Cell Phone

If you carry your cellphone with you, make sure its fully charged and that you have call credit (if on prepay). It might be your lifeline in the middle of nowhere. Maybe invest in an in-car-charger?Do Not Trust Your Satellite Navigation

Satnav devices are dumb – they’ll lead you right into the maelstrom if you trust them blindly. There currently is no system that will incorporate road closures or spot flooding in real time. Never assume that because your satnav sends you down a road it will be safe. Always drive slower in heavy rain, be extremely alert and watch for tell-tale signs of danger.Observe Oncoming Traffic

Spare a second to observe oncoming drivers, they might give optical signals that are meant to warn you. If for instance you pass a motorist that is slowly waving his hand up and down, he might advise you to slow down. This might be due to a puddle of epic proportions, cattle or debris on the road or a speed-trap.Slow Down

Ireland’s roads are not built perfectly flat and not designed to be self-draining at all times. That means that a film of a few millimeters of water will often stay on the surface for long times. This is where the danger of aquaplaning starts. Slow down, especially in poor visibility.Never Underestimate a Puddle

What looks like a normal, albeit large, puddle to you may conceal anything from a bend in the road to a king-size pothole. Drive slow and you’ll be safer. And minimize the risk of water damage due to spray.Floods: Stop

Only locals know what actually is hidden by a flood – so you might be heading straight for a riverbed on what you thought to be a safe course. There also is the danger of the floods being quite deep. This will, sooner rather than later, lead to your car’s electrical or mechanical systems interacting with water in several interesting ways.Take a Detour

Unless you are totally sure that you can make it on your planned route without risk, you should consider a safer detour if possible. Again local knowledge is priceless here. Or a decent road map, much more practical than satnav systems when planning a safe route on higher ground.

The beauty of driving in Ireland is that you are rarely on the one and only road from A to B. The ‘back roads’ might take you there as well; via C and Mother McCre’`s cottage (take a left where her cow died in 1964).Finally – Is Your Journey Really Necessary?

If you decide to drive in bad weather, you are putting yourself, your passengers and other road users in danger. Only to arrive at a sight you can’t properly enjoy or even see.

During January 2005 Ireland converted its speed limits from MPH to KPH in a well planned operation that resulted in minimal confusion and disruption. Since then all cars sold in Ireland are equipped with speedometers that are measured in KPH. The speed limits were reduced on 91% of the roads during the change to metric in an aim to improve road safety. If you are planning to drive through Northern Ireland while in Ireland, please be aware that the speeds have not been converted to metric in Northern Ireland and are still in MPH.

Drivers should observe all posted speed limit and road signs. Weather conditions and the size and condition of the roads can vary widely. Therefore, common sense should be used while traveling. Note that road surveillance cameras strictly enforce speed limits. Any driver (including foreigners renting cars) photographed speeding will get a nasty bill in the mail. (Cameras flash on your rear license plate in order not to invade the privacy of anyone sharing the front seat with someone they shouldn’t be with.)Speed Limits in Ireland

National roads – Speed limit is 100 km/hr (62 miles/hr) – (roads on the map with an ‘N’ number and signs colored green).
Motorways – Speed limit is 120 km/hr (75 miles/hr) – (roads which bear an ‘M’ number and have signs colored blue).
Regional Roads – Speed limit is 80km/hr (50 miles/hr) – (signs are colored white).
Towns and Cities – Speed limit is 50 km/hr (30 miles/hr).
Special limits (Schools, etc) – 30 km/hr (19 miles/hr).

In Northern Ireland speeds are still measured in miles per hour with the standard speed limit set at 60 miles/hr.Quick Calculation – Miles to Kilometers:

If you are used to miles as opposed to kilometers, a very quick way to work out how far you have to go is take the kilometers, divide by eight and multiply by five, ie: sign says 32 kilometers, so divide by eight = 4, multiply by five = 20. You have 20 miles to go. It’s a really simple way to work it out and you get used to doing it very quickly. Why not practice at home before coming over? Don’t be too fussy with the mathematics – if the sign says 34km just round it off and allow for the slight difference.

Dublin

Avoid driving into Dublin if at all possible. We suggest dropping your car off and then spending a few nights in Dublin at the end of your trip or before picking your car up on arrival. There is great public transportation. The airport shuttle buses are convenient and run about every 15-20 minutes back and forth between the airport and Dublin. Check which one drops you off closest to your hotel. (It makes a difference if it is raining!).Heritage Pass

Consider getting a Heritage Pass. It is easiest to pick one up when you first arrive or at the first Heritage site you visit. It will more than pay for itself in a short time. Go to the Heritage Sites of Ireland Website to see the list of sites that it covers. It covers many of the favorite sites like: Glendalough Visitor Center, Rock of Cashel, Bru na Boinne Visitor Center (Newgrange and Knowth), Ross Castle, Jerpoint Abbey, Kilkenny Castle, Trim Castle, Charles Fort in Kinsale and many other sites.Heritage Island Visitor’s Guide

It is pretty inexpensive and provides various discounts (some are 2 for 1) on 90 visitor attractions (all are different than those covered by the Heritage Pass).Time

First-time visitors sometimes underestimate the time it takes to travel between two points. Distance is not the only criterion. Driving on motorways roads aside, prudent route planners reckon to cover an average 30 miles/50 kilometers in an hour.

In the Republic of Ireland signposts and place names are displayed in both Irish (Gaelic) and English, and distances and speed limits are in kilometers. In Northern Ireland signposts and speed limits are all in miles, and place names are in English, with a sprinkling of bilingual English/Ulster-Scots signposts in some areas and, occasionally, English/Irish Gaelic.Traffic Lights

RED – Stop. Wait behind the stop line.
RED AND AMBER – also means Stop.
GREEN – You may go if it is safe to do so. Take special care if you mean to turn left or right and give way to pedestrians who are crossing.
GREEN ARROW – you can go in the direction shown if it is safe to do so. You can do this whatever other lights are showing.
AMBER – also means Stop.
FLASHING AMBER – means you must give way to pedestrians on the crossings, but can continue if there is nobody on the crossing.Dangerous Driving and Penalty Points

Drivers with foreign driving licenses who drive in Ireland are subject to Ireland’s penalty points system, a system designed to save lives and prevent injuries resulting from road crashes and collisions. If someone is driving in Ireland on a foreign license, the driver’s details are held on a separate database for the purpose of recording penalty points. If that driver later applies for and obtains an Irish driving license, the penalty points are then activated on that license.Terms to Know

Driving in Ireland can become a linguistic nightmare, especially if ‘American English’ is your native tongue. If, for instance, somebody is asking you to open the boot, he is not referring to your footwear.

Here are some helpful hints:
A-Roads (Northern Ireland) – major roads.
B-Roads (Northern Ireland) – minor roads.
Boot – trunk.
Boyracer – young motorist given to fast and (often) reckless driving.
Bus Lane – lane for the exclusive use by buses, taxis and emergency vehicles.
Estate – station wagon.
Filling Station – gas station.
Garda (Republic of Ireland) – police; the Garda Traffic Corps is charged with directing and controlling traffic.
Gas – in Ireland this does not refer to liquid fuel (petrol), but to gases.
Jeep – any 4×4 vehicle.
L-Driver – driver on a learner’s license, required to display a red L on white background to warn other motorists.
Lorry – truck.
Motorhome – RV.
Motorway – equivalent to an Interstate.
N-Roads (Republic of Ireland) – national (major) roads.
Petrol – gas.
Petrol Station – gas station.
R-Driver – driver on a restricted license, required to display a red R on white background to warn other motorists.
R-Roads (Republic of Ireland) – regional (minor) roads.
Tyres – tires.

If you plan to rent a car in Europe, it would be wise to familiarize yourself with the operation of the manual transmission. The vast majority of rental cars have manual transmissions. There are only a limited number of automatics available.
The very concept of ‘car’ is radically different between North America and Europe. Whereas in the US and Canada size really matters, Europeans look for fuel economy and have cramped parking conditions in mind. Here are some hints on choosing the right car when renting.Transmission – Not Automatically Automatic

The very first thing to bear in mind is the transmission. Whereas most rental cars in North America will be equipped with automatic transmission, manual transmission is the norm in Europe. In addition the gearshift will be to the left of the driver. If you are not familiar with a manual transmission be sure to select an automatic. And remember that the ‘exotic’ automatic transmissions may sell out fast, so book early.Interior Space

Most rental cars are standard European or Japanese vehicles, built for cramped road conditions and comparatively short journeys. Especially the lower categories (Sub-Compact and Compact) are typical ‘city cars’ for the occasional user. Even ‘mid-size’ in Europe would be rated Compact in the US. So expect tighter conditions and choose a larger vehicle if traveling long distances.Seats and Legroom

Cars are smaller and Europeans are used to them, so this leads to different car ratings. In the US, a car rated for two adults and two children, would be rated for five adults in Ireland. If you are in any way larger than the average European (5 ft 7 in, 165 pounds) go for a larger vehicle.The Trunk

Luggage space in European and Japanese cars can be tight. Sub-Compact and Compact vehicles will more than likely be of the hatchback type with no actual trunk and a somewhat cramped storage area in the back. Getting four adults and their luggage into a Sub-Compact is nearly impossible. If you are planning to take your full baggage allowance go for a Mid-Size at least. Do not plan on leaving your luggage in view while touring, this will attract undesirable attention.Extras – You Don’t Need Them

When looking up European rental cars you might notice that air conditioning or cruise control are not necessarily included in the specifications. You will not really miss them. While air conditioning can occasionally be nice during the short Irish summer, cruise control would be of no practical use at all.