Tips For Driving In Ireland

The rolling green countryside of Ireland is best explored by car, but you’ll need some quick tips before venturing off:

Tip 1: You need to opt for full rental car insurance coverage. Most credit card companies DO NOT provide collision damage insurance in Ireland. Maybe it’s the narrow roads that dance between stone walls and heart stopping drop offs, or perhaps the wild fucia bushes that reach out and scrape the paint right off your car door, or the pesky mountain goats that appear like magic in the middle of the roadway. Whatever the reason, if you rely on a credit card for coverage, you’ll need to confirm with your company in advance about exactly what coverage they offer in Ireland. Be sure to carry more than one credit card, in case damages are charged to your card leaving you with little remaining charge capacity.

Tip 2: Driving is on the left, so take some time when you get into your rental car to get familiar with controls in new places. And take my advice to spring for an automatic – you’ll have enough to worry about without figuring out how to shift with your other hand!  It’s probably not a good deal to rent a GPS unit, as many of Ireland’s country roads have not been mapped into the system.

Tip 3: Dublin – walk this way
Driving in Dublin is very congested and parking is extremely challenging (most hotels don’t have parking facilities). Our advise is to pick up your rental vehicle after leaving Dublin. This delightful city can best be enjoyed by foot. Or, pick up a multi-use DART pass for buzzing around Dublin – find details at http://www.irishrail.ie. AND REMEMBER – look LEFT first when stepping off the curb.

Tip 4: Car rentals sell out fast in summer
Always reserve your rental car well in advance during summer months – car rental companies often completely sell out. Our favorite vendor is Auto Europe – they are extremely helpful, offer free cell phone use with car rentals, and can help with troublesome problems like car rentals for folks over 70 years of age.

Tip 5: Watch out for pedestrians
You may see a flashing yellow traffic light which follows a red light. This means to give all pedestrians the right of way and proceed with caution when the crossing is clear.

Tip 6: Vehicles for Hire
Let someone else do the driving. In Ireland you’ll encounter both taxis and hackneys. The difference is that hackneys are privately owned vehicles with the driver ‘for hire’. Establish the fare with the driver before you take the ride. Taxis on the other hand use meters and are government regulated.

If you’re accustomed to driving in rush hour traffic in a major American city, driving in Ireland will be a delight. Just be sure to have some good maps on hand, and a sense of humor – you’ll see lots of road signs that will set you to chuckling.

Category: Europe, Ireland, Transportation