If you're relying on Irish public transport it could be tough to visit the
off the beaten villages in rural areas that make Ireland so special
driving in Ireland can be intimidating especially given the legendary
reputation of narrow Irish roads but if you follow these seven tips you'll be
cruising the Irish roads like a local in no time
just be careful when passing sleep before we get started please like
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What to know would renting a car. Yes, you can wait until getting to Ireland to
rent a car but you'll get a better price and more options if you booked before
your trip is often the easiest online although you can also book by phone. Most
rental cars can be reserved online or by phone with major international chains
auto Europe Avis Hertz or some smaller companies when looking at car rental
rates online they usually show you the lowest possible base rate and don't
include it necessary upgrades like insurance and excess collision damage
waiver CDW insurance the truly worst part about
renting a car in Ireland is the insurance there are loads of insurance
options in Ireland and many of them are mandatory including collision damage
waiver many savvy travelers simply waive the CDW coverage from the rental agency
because they can often use their credit card however this is usually not
possible in Ireland. When renting a car in Ireland it is also standard procedure
to put a fat hold on your credit card sometimes upwards of $3,000 depending on
the agency this can be a real problem for travellers especially if they're
using their credit cards as they travel for hotels and food on their trip. At
minimum drivers need to be at least age 21 in order to drive in Ireland but if
you're between ages 21 and 24 you will pay a surcharge. Ireland also has age
restrictions on the upper threshold and charges a bit more if you're over 75 and
some companies will not even rent to older drivers. In the States, people tend
to think that bigger is better especially when it comes to rental cars
but that's not the case in Ireland in fact you will likely want a smaller car
why you may ask quite simply many of the roads are
narrow I mean really narrow especially on the beautiful country in backwards so
once you'll quite possibly want to drive on you will appreciate a smaller car
when passing oncoming traffic especially lorries and coaches with rearview
mirrors that will hang into your lane however when they say compact car in
Ireland they really mean it look carefully at the description of the
round car and especially how many people in suitcases can fit in side you don't
want to accidentally book one of those tiny toy looking cars and then not have
enough room for a suitcase because there isn't even a trunk. Number 2 - Remember
that automatic cars don't come well automatically don't drive a stick-shift
you might be surprised to know that most Irish do so the majority of cars in
Ireland are stick shift not automatic that means automatics often have a
limited availability and usually cost more another good reason to book in
advance. Number 3 - if you have a US driver's license you are fine to drive
in Ireland no need for an international permit. Number 4 have a good map a GPS
unit or use Google Maps on your cell phone a good physical map can help out
planning a day's itinerary often revealing sights and attractions that
could be missed by online maps and GPS units perhaps help with the discovery of
a place GPS units can be a godsend for guiding you through winding roads in
small streets but many are foregoing these devices for Google Maps on their
smartphones by Google Maps let me count the ways you can plug in multiple
destinations and we'll plan the best route you can find information on nearby
essentials like gas stations restaurants and grocery stores it lets you have
control over your route you can avoid toll roads avoid ferries and avoid
highways it speaks to you to help you drive even if you are alone it gives you
a heads up where you'll encounter traffic finally Google Maps is not a
Data Hog. Just turn on cellular to plot the route then turn your phone to
airplane mode it will still talk to you through the route and remember your
route as long as you do not close the app this will give your Irish roadtrip
lots of flexibility and enable you to modify your itinerary if you wish to
linger or leave early no problem given how unpredictable the weather can be in
Ireland this could be really helpful it also means never scrambling to find gas
Number 5 - know the rules of the Irish Road some quick pointers the Irish drive
on the left side of the road just like the British in the Japanese that may
seem basic but you'll be surprised how many people do not know. Parking many Irish
towns have Street disk parking this may involve you purchasing a parking disk
from a retailer we're visiting a town or city check what system is in place and
avoid penalties for not displaying inappropriate parking discs or ticket if
your vehicle does not have daytime running lights fitted as standard it is
recommended that drivers have dipped headlights on at all times when driving
in Ireland roundabouts by law a driver must enter a
roundabout by turning to the left treat the roundabout as a junction and
give right-of-way to traffic already on it if you are unfamiliar with driving
on the left-hand side of the road roundabouts may pose a particular risk
so please take extra care no seatbelts no excuse every person in the car is
legally required to wear a safety belt where one is fitted about safety in cars
all children should be restrained in the correct child seat or restraint when
traveling in a vehicle breathalyzer and being pulled over Gardia Siochanaa\ the
Irish police have the power to breathalyz any driver stop at a mandatory
alcohol testing checkpoint maximum penalties on conviction for drink and
drug driving is 5,000 pounds and/or six months imprisonment you may also be
breath tested if you commit a road traffic offence it is illegal to splash
someone driving through a puddle yes it is true look it up and finally no
turning on red lights number 6 mind a speed limit or get stung all Irish roads
from city streets to highways have speed limits usually indicated by a white and
red circle with a number by kilometres not miles per hour written in the centre
safety cameras are in use on Irish roads location of speed cameras are available
on the web at WW.garda.ie Number 7 give me a break
I'm new at this if you want to get a little slack on the roads and Ireland
drop by a gas station or auto shop and buy a red L sign to put in your car
window this indicates a new driver with license but wait till you're outside of
Dublin as Irish learner's aren't allowed to drive on the motorways
that cluster around the city the locals will know to stay far far away from you
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