Driving in Ireland: What First-Time Visitors Get Wrong

Ireland's scenic routes — the Ring of Kerry, the Wild Atlantic Way, most of the Burren — are built around driving them, so a rental car is genuinely the right call for a lot of this site's content. Here's what actually catches first-time visitors out, beyond the obvious "drive on the left."

Left-hand driving

Ireland drives on the left, the same as the UK. If you're used to driving on the right, this is usually the single biggest adjustment — more than the narrow roads or the roundabouts — and it's worth giving yourself a quiet first hour or two, ideally picking the car up somewhere low-traffic rather than straight into a city centre.

Roundabouts

Roundabouts are common on Irish roads, and the rule is straightforward once it clicks: go clockwise, and yield to traffic already on the roundabout, coming from your right. They catch out visitors used to driving on the right more than anyone else, simply because the direction of travel is reversed from what's instinctive.

Narrow rural roads

Away from the main routes, it's genuinely common for a road to be too narrow for two cars to pass without one pulling into a passing place — this is normal on routes like the Ring of Kerry and much of the Wild Atlantic Way, not a sign you've taken a wrong turn. Expect the occasional tractor or herd of sheep moving slowly ahead of you too; patience, not overtaking, is the normal response. A smaller rental car is a genuine advantage here, not just a cost saving.

Licence and rules

Visitors from the US, Canada and the EU can generally drive on a valid home licence for up to 12 months — check the current rules for your specific country before travelling, since requirements and any required documentation can change. Drink-driving and mobile phone use while driving are both enforced seriously in Ireland, with real penalties, not just a nominal fine.

Automatic vs manual

Manual transmission is the norm for Irish rental cars; automatics are available but cost more and are in shorter supply, especially in July and August. If you're not confident driving a manual while also adjusting to the left side of the road, book an automatic well ahead rather than assuming one will be available on arrival.

A note on navigation

Sat-nav apps, including the major ones, will sometimes route you onto a road that's technically the shortest route but is far narrower or rougher than it looks on screen. If a route looks implausible for the road type shown, it's worth cross-checking rather than trusting it blindly, particularly in rural Kerry, Clare and Galway.

Related reading

• Ring of Kerry Guide
• Best Day Trips from Galway
• Things to Do in Clare
• Money and Tipping in Ireland