Car rentals in Ireland

Driving in Ireland: Essential Rules

Ireland is a joy to explore by car but comes with a few rules that every visitor should know before setting off.

• Drive on the left. Ireland drives on the left-hand side of the road — the same as the UK. For visitors from continental Europe, North America, or Australia, this is the single most important adjustment to make. The highest-risk moments are pulling out of car parks, petrol stations, and airport exits. Take your time at every junction until left-side driving becomes instinctive.
• Roads can be narrow. Outside of motorways and national roads, Irish country roads — particularly in rural and coastal areas — can be extremely narrow with high hedgerows and stone walls on both sides. A compact or small vehicle is strongly recommended for anyone planning to explore the countryside. Passing bays are provided on the narrowest roads — if you meet oncoming traffic, use them rather than attempting to squeeze past.
• Speed limit signs are in kilometres per hour throughout the Republic of Ireland. Be aware that if you cross into Northern Ireland the signs switch to miles per hour immediately — a significant difference worth remembering at the border.
• Drink driving laws are strict. The legal limit for fully licenced drivers is 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100ml of blood. The limit for professional and learner drivers is lower at 20 milligrams.
• Average speed cameras are increasingly present on Irish roads, with new installations introduced throughout 2025 on major national routes. New red light cameras are also being rolled out in Dublin and other cities. Fines are processed automatically from your registration plate.
• Seatbelts are compulsory for all passengers in both front and rear seats. Children must use an appropriate child restraint system at all times
• Mandatory equipment: Ireland does not have an exhaustive list of mandatory equipment in the same way as some European countries, but your hire car will be equipped with a warning triangle and high-visibility vest as standard. Always check these are present at collection.
• Speed Limits — Ireland (as of February 2025)

  Road Type	Speed Limit
  Motorways	120 km/h
  National Roads	100 km/h
  Regional Roads	80 km/h
  Rural Local Roads	60 km/h
  Urban / Built-Up Areas	50 km/h/td>

Note: Speed limits are currently under review. Many urban roads are expected to reduce to 30 km/h by March 2027 as part of Ireland's Road Traffic Act 2024. Always observe posted signs.

Toll Roads

Car hire in Ireland includes access to a well connected motorway network, but toll roads are a practical reality worth understanding before you set off. Most toll plazas on Irish motorways accept cash and card payment at barrier booths. The main exception is the M50 — Dublin's busy orbital ring road — which operates as a barrier-free electronic toll. Cameras record your registration as you pass and payment must be completed online or at a PayZone outlet before 8pm the following day. Miss the deadline and an automatic penalty is issued — which for hire cars is passed directly to the renter, often with an additional administration fee from the supplier on top. When collecting your hire car, ask your supplier about an electronic toll tag. It deducts tolls automatically as you drive through — no cash, no online payments, no missed deadlines. Tags are subject to availability so ask at collection rather than assuming one will be provided.

Ireland Car Hire Insurance & Border Rules

• Insurance: Every car hire booking through eCarBookers in Ireland is fully inclusive. Comprehensive damage cover, third-party liability, tyre and windscreen protection, and zero excess are all included in your rate — confirmed before you book, with nothing added at the desk. This is particularly important in Ireland. Narrow country lanes, stone walls, coastal gravel roads, and tight village streets make minor bodywork contact one of the most common car hire experiences on the island — regardless of how careful a driver you are. With eCarBookers fully inclusive coverage you are protected from collection to return, with no unexpected bills waiting for you at drop-off.
• Driving into Northern Ireland: Crossing from the Republic of Ireland into Northern Ireland is seamless on the road — no checkpoints, no border controls, no stops. The first thing you will notice is that speed limit signs switch from kilometres per hour to miles per hour. That difference is significant — adjust immediately and stay alert. What does change is your hire car agreement. The two territories are separate insurance jurisdictions and most standard car hire companies charge a cross-border fee — typically €20 to €100 depending on the supplier — to extend your coverage north of the border. With eCarBookers, cross-border travel into Northern Ireland is included in your fully inclusive car hire rate at no extra cost. Simply inform us at booking that you plan to travel north and your coverage is confirmed in writing before you collect the car.
• Taking the car to Great Britain: Most car hire suppliers in Ireland do not permit vehicles to be taken by ferry to mainland Great Britain. If this is part of your itinerary, contact us before booking and we will advise on the options available.