The Do’s & Dont’s of Renting a Car in Ireland – ❌ Avoid the Common Mistakes

First, let’s look at why you should rent a car in Ireland…

For starters it offers a great deal of flexibility, giving you the abilty to go where you want when you want. You can also switch up your plans last minute because you discovered a cool local festival that is taking place just 20 minutes down the road!

And…then there is Irish public transport. While it is good in between cities and big towns, it seriously lacks convenience when it comes to getting to Ireland’s coastline. Where most of the beautiful landscapes just so happen to be!

To shop around for car rental prices I like to take a look at Discover Car, they do a wide search on your dates compiling pricing from all the major car rental brands. It’s also a good place to start to give you an idea of how much renting a car will cost.

Section 3: Booking Strategies & Budgeting Tips

1. Book Well in Advance: Car rentals tend to get more expensive the longer you wait, so book early for the best prices.
2. Consider Off-Season for Cheaper Rates: Renting in the off-season, like November, is usually cheaper due to lower demand.
3. Don’t drive in Dublin: I can’t stress this enough, Dublin is NOT a drivable city. There is loads of rules in place to make driving that extra bit more difficult like no right or left turns on some streets. I really advise against renting a car when in Dublin. Besides, parking is typically around €4 or more an hour so that will rack up your budget pretty quickly. The public transport within Dublin is good enough to get you around and it’s also an extremely walkable city.
4. Rent from the Airport for Convenience: If Dublin isn’t your first stop then I recommend picking up your car at the airport for convenice reasons. It’s located just off the motor way which means you can drive on easier roads at first to get used to the left hand side of the road.
5. Inspect the Car Thoroughly: Before driving off, thoroughly inspect your rental car for any damage. Take timestamped photos of any existing dents, scratches, or other damages to avoid being blamed (and charged) for them later.
6. Return Car with Full Tank: Save yourself from extra charges by returning the car with a full tank of fuel. Some companies will charge an inflated rate if they need to refuel it for you.
7. Check for a Spare Tire Not all rental cars come with a spare tire or jack. Double-check that these are included before you drive off.
8. International Drivers License: U.S. and EU driver's licenses are valid in Ireland. There's no need to apply for an international license.
9. Age Restrictions: The minimum age to rent a car varies, so check with the rental company beforehand. If you’re under 25 or over 75, you may face additional fees or restrictions.

Section 4: Driving Techniques & Tips

Now let’s take a look at some driving techniques that you should consider to help drive you rental around Ireland.

1. Familiarise with the road system: We typically name our roads according to it’s driving conditions and limits.

• M = Motorway: Similar to US interstate highways with on and off ramps. The speed limits on these range from 100 to 120km per hour.
• N = National: National roads are generally used between cities and large towns when a motorway is not prescent. In most cases they easy to navigate. They do give more of s ‘country’ feel to them but don’t tend to be overly windy compared to actual country roads. They are usually 100Km per hour.
• R = Regional Roads: These are far smaller than National roads and generally only have two lanes (one going in each direction). They can really vary in difficulty, some you may question if they are a one way system whereas others are nice, wide and open. They can be windy in places but manageable for most drivers.
• L = Local Roads: It’s rare that a tourist would end up on one of these roads but it does happen. Only because Google Maps insists that it is a ‘shorter’ route. When in reality no one, not even the locals are driving at the 80km speed limit on them. These roads are used as access to a house or property.
• A Pass or Gap = Scenic Driving Route Through the Mountains: Odds are you will come across these road terms more than once on your trip to Ireland. It typically refers to scenic driving routes that bring you up through the mountains. My favourites being, Connors Pass in Kerry, Do Lough Valley in Mayo and Sally’s Gap in Wicklow.
• Road Navigation: Google Maps may suggest L roads, which can be less safe and slower. Turning off “prefer fuel-efficient routes” may help avoid those narrow paths.

Make Sure to Drive on the Left: Driving in Ireland means staying on the left side of the road. A helpful tip is to wear your watch on your left wrist as a reminder. A lot of car rental companies will have stickers on the windscreen and there will also be signs when entering some major roads.

When using roundabouts (traffic circles), remember: Yield to traffic coming from the right. Don’t stop in the roundabout to read signs—learn the flow of roundabouts before your trip! Roundabouts are everywhere in Ireland. If you're unfamiliar with them I found this helpful Youtube video which will teach you everything you need to know.

Overtaking: The right lane on motorways is primarily for overtaking. If you're not overtaking, stay in the left lane.

Section 5: Helpful tips to driving care free in Ireland

Make Use of Eircodes: Google Maps is your best friend. For precise directions, use eir code (Ireland’s postcode system) to navigate. This is a 7 digit code at the end of a address. You do not need to put the full address into Google Maps, the air code will do as every address has an individual code.

Post-it Note Tip: Using post-it notes to sick inside the car can help remind drivers to stay on the left side of the road, of common road signs and convert the speed limit from kilometres to miles.

Mental Cues for Driving: Vocalising your actions (like “turning left, staying left”) can help override instincts and keep you safe.

Road Navigation: Google Maps may suggest L roads, due to the speed limit being 80km/h on them but no one in their right mind is driving at that speed. These roads tend to be less safe and slower. Turning off “prefer fuel-efficient routes” may help avoid those narrow paths. If you do notice the GPS is directing off a main road, pull over for a minute and see if there is a longer but more efficient road to continue on. 9 times out of 10 there is!

If you want to discover more tips and advice about driving in Ireland then make sure to check out my two blog posts below which cover the topic in much more detail!

• Do’s & Don’t of Driving in Ireland (#12 – A Rule Most Are Unaware Of!)
• Avoid These Rookie Mistakes When Driving in Ireland – (#29 Will Shock You!)

Section 6: Parking, Tolls & Service Stations

1. Be Prepared to Pay for Parking: Many places require payment for parking, for the most part you will be able to pay by card with the exclusion of some small and rural towns. So keeping a little supply of euro coins will come in handy.
2. Tolls on Irish Roads: Some motorways in Ireland, including the M50 in Dublin, are tolled. For the M50, it’s an electronic toll, so you won’t stop to pay. Instead, you’ll need to pay online (within 24 hours or risk a higher fee) or prearrange a payment method a head of time with you rental company. Other tolls accept both card and cash payments.
3. Keep an Eye on Fuel Costs: Not all service stations (gas stations) have the same pricing. Some may be cheaper than others. So, it’s a good idea not to let you tank go to emply so you can make use of more affordable options.
4. Diesel VS Petrol: Irish petrol stations offer both diesel and petrol. It's crucial to know which one your rental car requires because using the wrong type can seriously damage the engine. Which can end up being a costly mistake. Diesel cars are common and generally more fuel-efficient.
5. Fuel Pump Colours: Diesel has a black nozzle, and gasoline has a green nozzle, which is the opposite of the U.S. This is a crucial detail to remember to avoid mix-ups!
6. DIY Service Stations: In Ireland all service stations require you to pump the petrol or diesel yourself. Once you have filled your car, go into the shop, tell the assistant what number fuelling station you are parked at and pay at the till. Some stations now have an option to pay at the pump using a debit or credit card.
7. Currency Tip: When asked whether you would like to pay in Euro or your home currency, always choose Euro as conversion rates are normally more expensive.

Section 7: Safety and Emergency Tips

1. Rain and Mud: Be cautious about pulling over on grassy areas during rain or in generally. Cars can easily get stuck causing the wheels to spin in the mud. I experienced this the hard way when renting a camper van a few years back. It was also a particularly sunny day but the rain from a few days previous cause the ground to be softer than it looked.
2. Emergency Number: If you find yourself in an emergency, you can call either 112 or 999 which will connect you with fire, ambulance or the Gardaí (Ireland’s Police Force).
3. Find Out Your Rental Policy for Breakdowns: Make sure you are aware of how you rental car company deals with break downs and what services they offer if you find yourself in that situation.
4. Narrow Roads: Irish roads can be narrow especially out west. This is something you should not let scare you but also remain mindful the hedges and stone walls might be closer than you expect. And the bushes can hide obstacles and road signs.