Car insurance is compulsory in Ireland. When getting a quote from any agency be sure to find out exactly what is included in your rate, especially if you have been quoted with a very low rate. You don't want to be surprised at the rental desk with huge add on fees.

Note: Some travel insurances include certain insurances. If your travel insurance carries car rental insurances there is no need to pay for them again. By booking early you can negotiate a better price for your rental. You will need a copy of your travel insurance contract that proves you have the insurance so bring it with you.

The majority of cars in Ireland are manual transmission (stick shift). If you require an automatic make sure you request it, but be prepared to pay a bit more, as they're more expensive to buy and that cost carries over to the rental cost..

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.

Note: It's also key to note that if you have Mastercard Gold or Platinum that your card may also cover the CDW excess. You will be required to bring a copy of your agreement with you that states this. You will be required to pay for your car with this card so be sure to bring it with you.

Most car hire companies in Ireland no longer accept Visa's CDW coverage in Ireland. You can pay for your rental with Visa but it will not cover the excess.

Taking the car out of the country

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

Ireland drives on the LEFT side of the road. This is important to remember especially when making turns, as your natural tendency may be to veer to the right side of the road once you have completed the turn. Most car rentals will have a sticker on the dash to reminding you to keep left.

On multi lane roads, always stay in the left lane unless you are overtaking/passing a vehicle.

The right lane is a passing lane only, not the fast lane.

At junctions or roundabouts ensure you are in the correct lane for your destination. Do not pass in front of the car beside you to make a turn if you are at a junction. Prepare for the turn well in advance by moving into the lane before reaching the junction.

Treat them as normal junctions.

Traffic goes around clockwise.

A car already on the roundabout has right of way.

Yield to traffic coming from your right.

Signal before making any turns. If you wish to take the 3rd road off a 4 road roundabout, signal to the right as if you're turning right. As you round the roundabout, signal left just before the junction, getting into the appropriate lane if the roundabout has more than one lane. Exit normally. Only signal to the left as you approach a roundabout if you mean to turn left. Be sure to be in the left lane as you approach.

Single or double solid white lines – Stay left. No passing.

Single broken white line – Passing allowed only when safe.

Single broken white line with arrows curving left – No passing lanes ahead.

Double broken white lines – Indicates solid white line(s) ahead.

Broken white line together with a solid white line – If the solid white line is on your side of the road passing is not allowed. If broken white line is on your side, passing is allowed.

Single broken yellow line on the left/shoulder – Indicates hard shoulder on a carriageway. This is not an extra traffic lane. Use it only when there are no pedestrians or cyclists on it to pull over to let a car pass you out then return to your lane as normal.

Junction boxes are painted directly on the road surface, which consist of crisscross yellow lines that mean stay clear. Do not enter these boxes unless you can make a complete turn or pass through it.

Ghost islands are similar to junction boxes in that they are painted on the road surface and drivers are meant to stay clear of them. Imagine that a cement island is in it's place. You will encounter these at some junctions before a turn and between some wider roads. Treat them like junction boxes...do not drive over them or stop on them.

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.

	50km/h replaces the old 30mph. This is the speed limit for TOWNS & CITIES unless otherwise posted.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	Note: All speedometers have dual mile and kilometer per hour clocks.

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.

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.

Parking disks are in the process of being abolished around Ireland and are being replaced by parking meters that spit out a printed parking disk on demand.

Traffic wardens patrol the streets and an expired disk or a car with no disk will result in a parking ticket. If you return to your car and find a ticket, follow the instructions on it to pay the fine. If you fail to pay the fine, the charge will automatically revert to the car hire company and will be charged on your credit card along with any fees the car hire company imposes. So it is better to take care of it personally as soon as possible. Retain your receipt of payment!

• 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