Practical Tips for Driving in Ireland

If you’re visiting Ireland, there are a few different options available to you when it comes to navigating the country. Driving is the most efficient option as it allows you to travel from point A to point B on your own schedule. It can be very different than driving in the US but it doesn’t have to be scary. Here are a few tips to remember when renting a car in Ireland.

Allow Extra Time at the Car Rental Facility

If you’re picking up a rental car from Dublin Airport, add at least an hour to two hours to your itinerary. We knew there would be a shuttle to the car rental facility but had no idea how long it would take.

After leaving the airport itself, we had to cross to an area to wait for a shuttle bus. Each rental company has its own shuttle and you have to wait for YOUR rental company’s bus to come by. 

We saw several other rental buses come by but had to wait and wait for ours. Finally, about 50 minutes later, one arrived for us. But by that time, there were a lot of people waiting for that one. So, we had to cram as many as we could onto the shuttle.

Once we got to the rental facility, there was another long line wrapped outside the building. They did not have the counters fully staffed and we waited at least another 40 minutes inside the facility before being helped.

Then there’s another wait outside while they bring your car around. So if you’re building your itinerary by thinking that you’ll be able to just get through customs and pick up your car and be on your way, you may need to add some additional time for picking up your rental.

Insurance

Buy the insurance. Seriously. Ireland has some very different laws regarding the insurance and even the cheap insurance doesn’t cover things like your windshield/windscreen and tires. We even bought the insurance that has the waiver.

The choice is ultimately yours and I know the extra cost is not something you probably to spend, but at least listen to what they have to offer before you make your decision. The agents at the rental counter can explain what costs you might be expected to pay out of pocket if you decline the insurance.

Driving on the Left

Unlike cars in the U.S, the steering wheel is on the right side of the vehicles in Ireland. In addition, you will be driving on the left side of the road. If you already drive on the left, this will not be foreign to you but if you’re not used to it, it will take some time to adjust.

The biggest issue will be judging how close you are to the side of the road on the left side of the car. But it usually only takes about a day to get used to it (we only hit one curb!) Most importantly, when you pull out of a parking lot and onto a road, make sure you are pulling out onto the correct side of the street…especially when turning left.

Manual Shifting

A lot of cars in Ireland are not automatic. The automatic transmission rental cars are more expensive than the manual ones. If you can drive a manual car, you can save yourself some money on the rental. But also remember that you’ll be shifting with your left hand while you’re driving. This too may take some getting used to.

Narrow and Curvy Roads

The roads are narrow and full of curves. The highways are pretty wide but when you start to get into some of the county roads, you’ll notice they start to get narrow. At most points, they are wide enough to have one car going either direction.

But at some points, one car may need to pull over to let the other one past. (Yes, they are that narrow!) Some of these roads have a very generous speed limit and local drivers can speed down them with no issues.

However, with all the curves, we ended up driving slower than the posted speed limit. If this is the case for you and you notice drivers piling up behind you, please do the courteous thing and pull over to the side to let them go around you. We needed to do this more than once to let the local traffic past.

Cows and Sheep

Animals also have a right of way. Along some of the more scenic roads you may come across cows or sheep along the road. Cows may be moving from one field to another. Sheep may just be grazing along the side. Either way, you’ll need to let them clear before you can begin driving again.

When planning our trip, I read that you should look at the posted time it takes to drive between two distances and multiply by 1.5. For instance, if it takes an hour between point A and point B, assume it will take you an hour and a half.

This allows for animal delays, traffic delays or detours, and for unplanned stops that you may want to make on your trip. There were many times we just stopped to take a few photos because the scenery was just that beautiful. Give yourself that time.

Roundabouts

Roundabouts are everywhere in Ireland. And they are so close together. Sometimes our directions would say “drive ¼ mile and take the third left, then drive 250 ft and take the second left, then continue ½ mile and take the first left”. Just be prepared…and if need be, go around again.

Bring a Real Map

Bring a paper map or print out your driving directions. Do not solely rely on your cell phone or on GPS service. There are some areas where your signal will completely die. We had several spots that we had this happen in. So keep your paper maps or directions handy so that you don’t get lost.

Speed Cameras

Don’t speed. It probably goes without saying but don’t speed in Ireland or any foreign country for that matter. No matter what the penalty is, it could possibly ruin your vacation. There are speed cameras in Ireland. 

I can’t say for sure if I actually saw one or not because I was pretty wrapped up in looking at the scenery but I definitely wouldn’t take the chance on speeding and get caught.

Overall, driving in Ireland was fairly easy. There was a little bit of a learning curve when it came to driving on the left side of the road but the roads themselves were easy to navigate.

While it’s true you can hire a car to take you around, you will have much more freedom and save yourself some money if you rent a car for your trip. It’s definitely worth it!