| Requirements for renting a car in Ireland |
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Drivers must be over 25 and
under 69 and have at least 3 years driving experience
for groups A to G.
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Drivers must be over 28 and
have 7 years driving experience for groups 7
and up.
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Have a full driving license
for the class of vehicle you are renting. You will be required to produce your license at the car rental desk
so be sure to bring it with you. If the car
will have more than 1 driver they will also
be required to adhere to the above requirements
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Drivers aged between 21 - 25
and 70 - 75 are subject to special conditions.
Details are available on request.
International Driving Licenses
- You do not require an Irish license to hire a car
in Ireland, unless you're a resident of Ireland. And
you do not require an or international drivers license,
as they're not recognized in Ireland. The license you
hold from your country of origin or residency is all
you require as long as you adhere to the rules above.
Be sure to bring your license with you, as you will
not be able to hire a car without it.
When renting your car in the Republic you are certainly
allowed to take it into Northern Ireland. Some car hire
companies will charge a cross-border add-on insurance
to cover any breakdowns you may have while in the North.
This is because of the exchange rate.
Most companies will NOT allow cross-channel passage,
but some due, including our main vendor. There are stipulations
though, which include that you must return the car in
Ireland, and a hefty cash deposit to guard against the
car being left outside of Ireland. This deposit pays to
have someone go to the car and drive it back...airfare
or ferry passage to the car, petrol, meals for the person
going to get the car, their salary, etc. This privilege
is only good for travel into Great Britain and does not
include taking the car on the ferry to the Continent.
Rules of the road and learning to
drive in Ireland
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| Roundabouts
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Throughout
Ireland you will encounter a large number of roundabouts.
Roundabouts are usually at intersections where there are
no signal lights or stop signs and are meant to smooth the
flow of traffic. Some very large roundabouts will have signal
lights. |
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| Roundabouts operate as follows: |
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| Road markings |
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| Junction
boxes and ghost islands |
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| Speed Limits |
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On 20 January 2005, Ireland changed
over from Imperial speeds to metric speeds. This means
that speed limits will now be recognized as kilometers
per hour and NOT miles per hour. Below are examples of
the new road signs that you will see as you travel around
Ireland.
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50km/h replaces the old 30mph. This is the
speed limit for TOWNS & CITIES unless otherwise posted. |
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80km/h replaces the old 60mph. This is the
speed limit for REGIONAL roads, indicated by an R
before the road number on your map (eg: R478, R660,
etc.) This is the equivalent of 50mph now, so the
REGIONAL limit has been reduced by 10mph. |
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100km/h replaces the old 60mph. This is the
speed limit for NATIONAL roads, indicated by an N
before the road number on your map (eg: N1, N23, etc).
60kph is the equivalent to 62mph, so the NATIONAL
limit has increased by 2mph. |
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120km/h replaces the old 70mph. This is the
speed limit for MOTORWAYS, indicated by an M before
the road number on your map, usually around cities
(eg: M1, M50, etc). 120kph is the equivalent to 75mph,
so the NATIONAL limit has increased by 5mph. |
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This sign has been abolished. Originally
it indicated "end of speed restriction." This sign
would have been used at the edge of towns and cities
and other built up areas, indicating that drivers
could speed up to the limit once they were clear of
town. If you see one of these signs while traveling
please remember the new speed above for 50km/h unless
otherwise noted. |
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Note: All speedometers
have dual mile and kilometer per hour clocks.
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There
are regular speed checks/check points on Irish roads
so obey the signs. A speed check/check point is a random
occurrence and manned by members of the local Gardai.
If you are caught speeding there is an on the spot fine
of 50.
If the Garda (police officer) thinks you are were driving
at excessive speeds or dangerously you can be summoned
to appear in court. This carries a much higher fine.
You will be summoned within 6 months and will be required
to return to Ireland to appear before the judge at your
own expense. So YES, tourists are just as responsible
for watching speed as residents.
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| Alcohol and driving |
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The limit in Ireland is a blood alcohol level of 80 milligrams per
100 milliliters of blood. This is approximately one pint
of beer or 20 fluid ounces. It is a serious offense to
drive, attempt to drive or be in charge of a motor vehicle
while under the influence of alcohol. Driving on the “wrong”
side of the road is difficult enough without alcohol to
impede your reactions. If you
are going to drink do not drive.
Note: The standard pint is 16 ounces. However,
in Ireland a pint is 20 ounces, which is why an Imperial
gallon is larger than a US gallon. One US gallon is
3.785 liters and an Imperial/UK gallon is 4.55 liters.
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| Parking |
Parking in Dublin City
Be careful of where you park in Dublin City. Traffic wardens also include
clampers. Should you park your car in the wrong place you
will come back to find a big yellow lock or “clamp” attached
to one of your wheels. There is a fee of 75
(approx. $113US) to have the clamp removed, and you could
be waiting all day for the clamp removers. In some cases
the car will be towed and there is higher fee to recover
it. Dublin is a nightmare to drive in and park in. We
suggest you use public transport (DART, LUAS, bus) or take
a taxi to get around city center and hire your car as you're
leaving the city, or return the car as soon as you return
to Dublin. |
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| Parking disks |
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| Use common sense |
- When parking take account of your surroundings. If the area looks unsafe
or have a bad feeling find somewhere else to park.
Where possible use supervised or off street parking.
- Choose accommodation that has off street parking, private car park/parking
lot.
- Never leave valuables (cameras, bags, jackets, luggage, etc.) in view
in the car while it is parked. Place them in the
boot (trunk), out of sight.
- When parking in the country make sure you park so as not to cause an
obstruction or danger to other road users.
- As a general rule yield to traffic coming from your right at a junction.
- If you are going to drink do not drive
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