Driving in Ireland

To make your trip to the Ireland as safe and effortless as possible, we have put together a guide to everything you need to know before you go, from compulsory documents to the rules of the road.

In Ireland, RAC European Breakdown Cover (Basic, Comprehensive and Single Trip) provides a wide range of benefits should you break down in the Republic of Ireland to ensure you stay safe. 

To supplement this, RAC also offers travel insurance. Cover will include medical expenses, baggage, personal money and belongings, among many other benefits.

In an emergency

999 – The number of the emergency services in Ireland is the same as in the UK, and you’ll be able to connect to police, ambulance and the fire brigade. 

112 – Here's a really important bit of knowledge; you can dial 112 from anywhere in Europe and an operator will connect you to an emergency service in the country you're visiting. 

Operators can answer your call in their native language, English, or French. 

Looking for short-term insurance for your vehicle? Our temporary car insurance product is perfect if you're looking for flexible and comprehensive cover for between 1 hour and 30 days.

Visitors must be aged 17 or over and hold a full, valid driving licence to legally drive in Ireland. Riders of mopeds or motorcycles up to 125cc must be aged 16 or over. 

Driving licences issued in the UK, EU and EEA countries are accepted. International driving permits are recognised, but not required. 

Vehicles from the UK can be temporarily imported into Ireland for up to 12 months. In order to stay on the right side of the law, the following documents should always be carried:

• A valid UK driving licence
• Your motor insurance certificate in your name or as a named driver on another driver's policy
• Your V5 registration document (ideally the original and a copy)

Do I need an insurance green card?

Since 2 August 2021, drivers no longer require an insurance green card for taking their vehicles to Ireland.

No, you do not need a GB sticker or a UK sticker, unlike other countries in the EU.

If you are looking to drive in Europe, then you will need a UK sticker - GB ones will not be accepted.

In addition to required documents, drivers are also recommended to carry the following items when driving:

• Spare bulbs for your car's external lights
• A fire extinguisher
• A first aid kit
• A reflective warning triangle
• A Camping Card International to give you additional proof of identity, third party liability insurance, plus discounts at a wide range of campsites and tourist attractions

• Overtaking and passing: In Ireland, motorists drive on the left and overtake on the right. Drivers must not attempt any overtaking if it could cause inconvenience to others.
• Who has priority? Drivers must give right of way to vehicles approaching along a principal road at uncontrolled road junctions. These are junctions not controlled by the police or traffic signals. In situations where roads at an uncontrolled junction are of the same standard, drivers must give right of way to those coming from the right. Any vehicle approaching a junction must also give right of way to those turning or crossing at the junction. Any drivers entering the road from private property should give right of way to vehicles moving in either direction. Finally, cars entering a roundabout should give priority to those already on it unless otherwise indicated. Signs at uncontrolled junctions will highlight the presence of a main road.
• Warning of approach: Horns must not be used between the hours of 23:30 and 07:00 on any road that has a permanent speed limit enforced. 

Ireland seat belt law

If seat belts are fitted to your car, they must be worn by both drivers and passengers. The driver has a responsibility to ensure that all passengers under 17 are suitably restrained in the car. 

The fine for failing to wear a seat belt is set at €60, increasing to €90 if you don’t pay within 28 days. 

Traffic lights

The three-colour system conforms to the provisions of the Convention on Road Signs and Signals (red light on top). This system is used in most towns and villages across the country.

Ireland uses the metric system for all road signs, meaning speed limits and other road signs including distance are indicated using kilometres and metres.

Special speed restrictions apply to certain classes of vehicles, including vehicles with trailers and double-decker buses so check local restrictions before travel.

Speeding fines 

Speeding fines in Ireland are currently set at a flat rate of €80 regardless of the speed at which offenders are caught, or the road on which they’re driving. 

However, the Irish Government has recently announced plans to consider removing this flat rate and introducing graduated speeding measures that relate to the severity of the offence. 

Speed camera detectors

If you have a GPS navigation system that shows you where any fixed speed cameras are, you must deactivate this function. It's illegal to carry or use any radar detection equipment when driving through Ireland.

The driver of the vehicle is responsible for ensuring that all passengers under 17 are wearing a seat belt or appropriate restraint.

Child car seats

Children aged under three cannot travel in a car unless appropriately restrained, regardless of where the vehicle they’re travelling in was registered. Rear-facing restraints cannot be used in front passenger seats with active air-bags. 

Children aged over three can sit in the front passenger seat only if they’re using a safety belt or appropriate child restraint. If not, they must travel in a rear seat. 

Children under 150cm in height and weighing less than 36kg (generally speaking, children up to 11-12 years old) are required to use the correct child seat or booster cushion at all times while travelling. 

Camper vans and cars with caravans are not allowed to exceed 18.75 metres in length, 4.65 metres in height and 2.55 metres in width.

Loads mustn’t exceed 10.5 tonnes at the driving axle and 10 tonnes at a single axle.

Please note: The Department for Transport advises that A-frames are not legal for use by UK campers and caravanners abroad. In practice, this could mean towing your car while it’s fixed to a trailer.*

Towing

Check if you need to register your trailer before you can take it abroad.

Also note that UK drivers towing caravans or trailers may be required to have two green cards for insurance purposes – one for their vehicle and one for the unit they are towing.

On-the-spot fines

Officers of the Garda are able to hand out on-the-spot fines to motorists that have committed an offence under the Road Traffic Act. This fine is payable within 28 days. After this time, the fine increases by 50%.

Minimum and maximum fines

Fines range from €60 to €200, depending on the offence committed, although for certain, more dangerous offences such as dangerous driving the fine could be fixed at a higher amount following a court appearance. 

The minimum and maximum fines available depend on the offence committed, although offenders pay a reduced fine if they pay the required amount within 28 days. 

Confiscation of vehicles

Any vehicle that doesn’t display current road tax and/or insurance can be confiscated by police officers.

Parking in Ireland is slightly different to many places in the UK. Check the rules before you head to the country.

Parking regulations

As well as following any restrictions signposted locally, drivers in Ireland should also note that parking is prohibited:

• Within nine metres of a road junction
• Within the same distance - on the approach side - of a pedestrian crossing or pedestrian lights. Exceptions include when a passenger is leaving or entering the vehicle and when the vehicle is being used to load or unload goods
• At a bus stop with road markings
• Between a road pad and its corresponding traffic lights
• On the pavement if this affects the movement of pedestrians
• On cycle tracks
• On yellow lines

Parking at night

Vehicles can be parked without lights in situations where street lighting ensures they can be clearly seen by traffic. In other scenarios, side lights should be used.

Enforcement of parking regulations

On-the-spot fines can be handed down in relation to parking offences, while wheel clamps are also used. In some cases, a €80 fee may have to be paid for the removal of the clamp.

Cars may also be towed if they have created an obstruction and, again, a fee may be charged for release.

Disabled parking access

Disabled parking bays are highlighted by blue lines on the ground and the international parking sign featuring the wheelchair symbol.

Vehicles with a disabled badge can often park without time limits in spaces provided by local authorities and public bodies. Elsewhere, time limits in private car parks may be up to the operator.

Badge holders cannot park on single or double yellow lines, while they should also avoid places where their vehicle could cause an obstruction.

Legal limit

The limit for drivers of private vehicles is 0.05%.

For professional drivers - such as those driving a bus, coach, HGV or public service vehicle - the limit is 0.02%. The latter also applies to newly qualified drivers with less than two years of experience.

Drink-driving test

The Garda may set up checkpoints and conduct random breath testing on drivers. If the test is positive, the driver will be required to go to the station for a blood or urine test.

The Garda must also conduct a preliminary breath test when they believe a driver has consumed alcohol, or at the scene of a crash where someone has been injured and requires medical attention.

If a driver fails a roadside physical and behavioural test, the Garda may ask him/her to accompany them to the station for a drug test, either by blood or urine sampling.

Some motorways in Ireland have tolls imposed.

Most toll stations don't take credit cards so make sure you've got some change or invest in an e-Toll electronic tag that attaches to your vehicle and pays all required tolls.

Service areas in Ireland

There are motorway service areas located across Ireland, although in more rural western areas there are significantly fewer of these service areas so you may prefer to use local facilities instead.

Availability of fuel in Ireland

There are plenty of filling stations located across the country that sell petrol, diesel and LPG, although in rural areas in the west of the country there are fewer.

In larger urban centres, such as Dublin and Cork, there is also a growing network of electric charging points.

Fuel prices in Ireland can be found in our up-to-date European fuel prices page.

Not all of the information in the guide above will be relevant to those looking to rent a hire car in Ireland. Though it might be a good idea to read through everything anyway, here are the most important things to know for drivers of rental vehicles:

Rental information

• The minimum age to hire a car is 23
• You need a full, valid UK driving licence and usually a second proof of ID (passport)
• Car rental companies ask that you have held your licence for a minimum term of 2 years
• A credit card may be required by some companies, it is best to check beforehand
• You may not be able to drive outside of Ireland unless planned in advance - check with your hire company first
• Make sure you get car hire excess insurance before your trip to protect yourself from unexpected costs. It's almost always cheaper to do this with a separate insurer and in advance

Hire car driving tips

• The national speed limit on motorways in Ireland is 120km/h (74 mph). On a main road outside a built-up area it's up to 100km/h. For built-up areas it’s between 30km/h to 50km/h.
• Dial 112 in an emergency
• If seat belts are fitted to your car, they must be worn by both drivers and passengers.
• The blood alcohol content limit for drivers of private vehicles is 0.05%. That's lower than the 0.08% in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, but the same as Scotland

ETIAS – 2025

ETIAS stands for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System. It is a visa program for visitors who don’t need a Schengen visa, who want to travel to the European Union and a few other European countries.

Visitors who purchase an ETIAS will be able to enter the 26 member states of the Schengen Zone as well as Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, and Romania.

This will be launching in 2025. Learn more about ETIAS here.

UK Government travel advice

See up-to-date travel advice.

Need cover for the UK leg of your trip? Get complete peace of mind at home or at the roadside with RAC breakdown cover.