International Drivers License Ireland

EU/EEA licence holders can drive in Ireland with no International Driving Permit needed, while visitors from outside the EU/EEA can drive on a valid national licence for up to 12 months, with an IDP recommended and often requested by rental companies.

• EU and EEA driving licences are valid in Ireland with no IDP required, for as long as the licence itself remains valid.
• Visitors from outside the EU/EEA can drive on a valid national driving licence for up to 12 months from arrival.
• An International Driving Permit is recommended if your licence isn't in English, and many rental companies request one regardless of where you're from.Commonly reported
• Ireland issues its own IDPs under international convention, valid for one year from issue.
• Ireland drives on the left, with the driver's seat on the right side of the vehicle.

Ireland's motorways and national roads are well maintained, but rural roads are often narrow and winding, and speed limits, tolls, and roundabout rules are worth knowing before you set off.

• Speed limits are 120 km/h on motorways, 100 km/h on national roads, 60 km/h on rural local roads, and 50 km/h in towns.Commonly reported
• Roundabouts move clockwise, and you give way to traffic already on the roundabout, approaching from your right.Commonly reported
• The M50 motorway around Dublin is barrier-free — tolls are charged electronically and must be paid online by 8pm the day after you travel to avoid a penalty.Commonly reported
• On narrow rural roads, use designated passing bays for oncoming traffic rather than reversing long distances.Commonly reported
• Seat belts are mandatory for all passengers, and using a handheld phone while driving is illegal.

Manual transmission is the standard rental car in Ireland, so if you want an automatic, it's worth booking well ahead and expecting a noticeably higher price.

• Rental companies commonly require drivers to be at least 21-25, with a licence held for at least 2 years, even though the legal minimum driving age is 17.Commonly reported
• Automatic transmission cars are less common than manual and often cost noticeably more — book early, especially in peak season.Commonly reported
• Dublin Airport has the widest selection of rental cars in the country, with counters reachable from both terminals' arrivals areas.Commonly reported
• Typical documents requested at pickup include your original licence, an IDP if applicable, your passport, and a credit card for the deposit.Commonly reported
• If you plan to cross into Northern Ireland, confirm this with your rental company in writing — some policies limit insurance cover to the Republic of Ireland only.Commonly reported

Keep your original driving licence, and your IDP if you're carrying one, together as your standard document set any time you're driving in Ireland.

• Your original licence, and your IDP if your licence needs one, should be kept together and accessible.
• Motor insurance is required in your own name or as a named driver — carry your rental agreement as proof if you're using a hired car.Commonly reported
• An Garda Síochána, Ireland's police, can be reached on 112 or 999 — both numbers work equally for any emergency.Commonly reported

Driving between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland is straightforward and open, with no border checkpoint — the main thing to confirm in advance is whether your rental insurance covers driving in Northern Ireland.

• There's no checkpoint, customs stop, or separate permit needed to drive between the Republic and Northern Ireland.Commonly reported
• Confirm cross-border cover with your rental company in writing before you travel — some rental insurance is limited to the Republic of Ireland only, and crossing without confirmed cover can void your policy.Commonly reported
• A number of rental providers add a cross-border fee or require advance notice, even when cover is included.Commonly reported
• Northern Ireland uses miles per hour and British pounds, while the Republic uses kilometres per hour and euro.Commonly reported
• Your Irish IDP requirement, where it applies, covers driving in the Republic — Northern Ireland follows the same driving-licence rules as the rest of the United Kingdom.Commonly reported