Breakdown Cover in the Republic of Ireland

If you’re planning a trip from the UK to the Republic of Ireland, having breakdown cover in place can bring you peace of mind. While our UK breakdown cover applies to Northern Ireland, it’s important to remember that you’ll need a separate European breakdown cover policy if you’re travelling to the Republic of Ireland from England, Scotland or Wales.

Get complete peace of mind whilst driving in Ireland. And if you choose our Comprehensive Plus cover, you'll have best cover on the market¹.

Above prices are based on European breakdown cover for a 14 day trip, in a vehicle up to 1 year old, travelling in zone 1.

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To make sure your trip goes to plan, here’s more information about driving and breaking down in the Republic of Ireland.

Do I need separate breakdown cover for the UK and the Republic of Ireland?

The RAC’s UK breakdown cover applies to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland only. So if you’re going on holiday to the Republic of Ireland, you should buy a separate policy for breakdown cover in Ireland to make sure you’re covered if you break down there.

What happens if I break down in the Republic of Ireland?

If you break down in the Republic of Ireland, what you do next depends on whether or not you have breakdown cover in Ireland.

If you have RAC European Breakdown Cover:

If you don’t have European breakdown cover:

If you have RAC UK Breakdown Cover

If you live in Northern Ireland, the RAC’s UK breakdown cover is ideal for you. You’ll also be covered in England, Wales and Scotland.

In addition, if your home address is in Northern Ireland and you break down in the Republic of Ireland, the RAC will provide you with Roadside Assistance and a 10-mile tow as standard. If your breakdown cover includes National Recovery, we can tow you from the Republic of Ireland back to your home address, or to a garage in Northern Ireland.

You’ll get a complete breakdown service as standard – including Roadside Assistance and home rescue, and garage support and a 10-mile taxi to your home address, with all cover levels.

Preparing for your visit to the Republic of Ireland

In many European countries, it’s a legal requirement to carry certain equipment in the car. It’s a little more relaxed in Ireland, which has driving rules much like the UK’s. It’s still best to be prepared though, so reduce the risk of needing roadside assistance in Ireland by following these easy steps.

Documents and paperwork

You’ll need to have a valid driving licence with you when driving in Ireland, and your motor insurance documents, too. And you should display a UK sticker (previously known as the GB sticker) on the rear of your vehicle, so it shows where your car is registered. A UK sticker is only mandatory if your vehicle’s number plate has a GB identifier with a euro symbol, Union flag, flag of England, Scotland or Wales, or if it only contains numbers and letters. However, if you’re driving to Spain, Cyprus or Malta, you must display a UK sticker for all number plates.

Vehicle equipment

Like in the UK, in the Republic of Ireland it isn’t compulsory to carry certain items in your car, as it is in much of Europe. But it’s still worth having them with you – especially in the case of a breakdown.

It’s a good idea to find room in your car for things like a warning triangle – ideally two. If you break down, you can put them placed in front and behind your car to advise other motorists that you’ve pulled over and require assistance.

High visibility vests or jackets are also really helpful – particularly if you’re visiting Ireland in the winter, when evenings are darker earlier. If you need to get out of the vehicle while you wait for help, motorists might not see you in the dark. A high visibility vest will make sure you’re all clearly visible to other drivers. So make sure you have enough for everyone in the car.

A first aid kit, torch and fire extinguisher are all recommended. Take a look at our selection of European Driving Kits which can provide everything you need.

Vehicle maintenance

Giving your vehicle a bit of TLC before you travel can help a lot of headaches once you’re on the road. Run through some maintenance checks to make sure you don’t have any minor issues that end up causing major problems.

You could also book your vehicle into a garage for a service before you travel. Even if you’re not due one, having a professional look over the car to deal with any potential problems can really help to ensure it’s ready for a road trip. Find an RAC Approved Garage here.

What are the driving rules in the Republic of Ireland?

In terms of road rules, the Republic of Ireland is broadly in line with the UK. Just like the UK, you drive on the left-hand side of the road, and give way to cars approaching from the right – which makes it easier for UK motorists to adapt.

However, as in most of Europe, speed limits are presented in kilometres format. So be aware of this when reading signs and understanding the difference between that and miles (which is used in the UK). This applies particularly with speed limits. In Ireland, the limit in towns and city centres is 50 km/h, 80 km/h in regional roads, and 120 km/h on motorways – approximately 30 mph, 60 mph and 75 mph.

Seat belts must be worn by everyone in the car, and something else to bear in mind is the difference at traffic lights. In Ireland, the lights go from red to green; amber is used before a red to advise stopping unless it’s unsafe to do.

Many motorways in Ireland have tolls on them, so it’s worth looking these up before you travel to check your route and pre-empt any potential delays and likely charges.

Read more about road rules in Ireland and driving in the country here.

Other important considerations before travelling to the Republic of Ireland

Driving is just one consideration when you’re visiting another country. We recommend getting travel insurance to cover things like travel cancellations, medical expenses and lost or stolen personal belongings. It could save you some nasty surprises if anything goes wrong with your trip. Get an RAC Travel Insurance quote here.

It’s a good idea to let your bank know you’re away from home, too. Then, when you withdraw any money or use your debit or credit card, they’ll understand it’s not a potentially fraudulent use. Otherwise, if you haven’t told your bank, they may flag it as a security issue. Get in touch with your mobile phone provider too, so you’re sure you can use your phone as normal without any restrictions.