Do Some Research
Ireland is blessed with a modern motorway network so driving between cities has never been easier. However, it helps to do a little research and familiarise yourself with the names of these motorway routes, so you will feel more confident when you do get here. For example, the M8 is the motorway that connects Dublin with Ireland’s second city, Cork.
Off the beaten track
Ireland is such a beautiful country to explore, don’t be afraid to experience driving on its secondary roads. Dotted throughout Ireland are small towns and villages with lots of character so getting “off the beaten track” will really showcase Ireland’s beauty.
Get a second driver on your rental contract
As mentioned in our blog, this option opens the opportunity of having a second driver on your rental contract and best of all it’s free!
Make sure you have luggage space
There can be a lot to get through when deciding on a rental car to choose, one important factor to consider which may be overlooked is the size of the trunk or boot. Consider how much space you will need for luggage when travelling from and to Dublin Airport, the more people travelling, the more space needed.
Stick with an Automatic Rental
Most people in Ireland drive a manual transmission car but there are plenty of rental options for Automatic cars so stick with what you are most comfortable with.
Always keep change with you
If you are travelling on Ireland’s main motorways, make sure to have some spare change to hand as you will most likely pass-through toll booths that charge a small fee.
Accessing Roundabouts
Roundabouts can be a cause for confusion and tension for American tourists on Irish and British roads. Just remember the golden rules are always join a roundabout from the 6 o’clock position, enter by turning left and always give way to traffic coming from your right or who are already on the roundabout.
Navigating GPS
This is probably going to be the holy grail of your trip and it will be a godsend for navigating long journeys and confusing directions but it’s important to use it as a general guide as sometimes it can be prone to mistakes.
Speed Limits
Be mindful of different speed limits on roads, speed cameras are a common fixture on Irish roads, and you don’t want a speeding ticket to be a part of your Irish experience! Also, every road sign in Ireland will be marked in kilometres not miles.
Travelling with Kids
The current legislation in Ireland requires the following All children must travel in a car seat (including booster seats) until they are either 12 years old or 150cm in height, whichever comes first.
Backless booster seats: Backless booster seats can only be used by children who weigh 22kg or more. If they weigh less than this, they’ll need to either use a car seat or a high-back booster seat.
High-back booster seats: Booster seats with backs can be used by children weighing between 15-36kg. Again, before they reach this weight, they’ll need to use a car seat.
