7 Tips for Driving Around Ireland
If you visit Ireland, renting a car and going on a road trip is an absolute must! During our trip, we rented a small Honda CR-V and drove around the countryside of Ireland for two and a half days.
Until you get out of the city and get lost on a small Irish Country road, you truly can not appreciate all that the country has to offer.
While renting a car and driving on the opposite side of the road may seem intimidating for most people, it is not nearly as bad as you would imagine. I had only briefly driven on the left side of the road before our trip and picked it up rather quickly.
Some tips that we would recommend when planning a road trip in Ireland include the following:
Rent a Small Car
The roads in the Irish countryside are very narrow. Renting a smaller car will make driving around much easier, as well as when going throughout any city.
We did not run into much traffic on our road trip. However, on a few occasions, we had to pass tour buses and other cars on the small countryside roads and were very glad that we decided to get a small car for our trip.
Many rural roads in Ireland can be narrow, with limited visibility and occasional sharp bends. Drive cautiously, and be prepared to yield to oncoming traffic, especially on single-track roads.
Don’t be Afraid to get Lost
Some of our favorite moments from our road trip were going down random roads and through random towns. The small towns of Ireland are unique and easy to miss if you are driving on highways the whole time.
It may add an hour or two to your drive. However, getting to explore new areas and see the countryside is well worth it when visiting Ireland.
Read all the Car Insurance Options
We rented our car through Discover Car, and when booking the rental, it was mandatory to buy car insurance. When booking with Discover Cars online, they made us choose the default insurance option. When we arrived at the rental desk, I asked to review all insurance options, and we locked in a cheaper insurance package with the same amount of coverage.
It is always worth asking the rental person upon arrival, just to be sure you chose the correct insurance package!
Signal When Exiting a Roundabout or Passing a Car in the Countryside
Signaling took us a little bit of time to get the hang of.
Most roundabouts are not too tricky. However, until about halfway through our second day in Ireland. I did not signal to exit roundabouts. Signaling lets other cars know where you are headed and makes it a much safer experience for everyone!
While it may take some time to get used to, be sure to try and signal when you can!
Toll Roads
I would always recommend asking about toll roads when you first pick up your rental car, no matter what country you are in.
Most rental cars do not have tolls included or a device to pay the tolls electronically. So, make sure you are on the lookout for toll roads and be prepared with cash to pay the tolls or remember to log online and pay the toll by plate following your trip!
Drive on the Left Side of the Road
In Ireland, as in the UK, traffic drives on the left-hand side of the road, meaning vehicles overtake on the right.
Driving on the left side of the road may sound daunting to many Americans. However, once you are in the car and driving. It is pretty easy to pick up.
Watch Out for Pedestrians and Cyclists
Watch out for pedestrians and cyclists, especially in urban areas and near pedestrian crossings. Give them ample space and always yield to pedestrians at designated crossings.
Keeping an eye out for pedestrians is especially important on the back roads of Ireland. Many times, we would find ourselves driving around a sharp turn, and there would be someone walking down the road since there were no sidewalks. Always proceed with caution!
When visiting Ireland, you must rent a car and drive around the countryside! Ireland has some of the most beautiful and dramatic landscapes I have ever seen. Taking a road trip through the Irish countryside is one of my favorite travel experiences I have ever had, and I highly recommend it to anyone who plans to visit Ireland!
Be sure to check out our other blog posts detailing all of our trip to Ireland! While you’re there check out our photo gallery with all of our unposted shots we have taken on our trips.
Till next time – Josh 🙂
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