tips for renting a car and traveling around Ireland

Traveling by car around Ireland is an excellent way to get to know the country at your own pace, with independence and freedom. Think it might be complicated? It’s not, believe me! In the following lines, I will give you some tips for renting a car and traveling around the Emerald Isle!

Ireland is the third-largest island in Europe, covering an area of 81,638 square kilometers, and it shares a land border with Northern Ireland. If you want, you can take a route starting from Dublin and passing through the main cities of Ireland and Northern Ireland. If you'd like to cross from Belfast to Scotland, just take a ferry from the capital and continue your journey by land.

Let’s get to the tips for renting a car?

Tips for Renting a Car in Ireland

Required Documents

• Valid Passport

• International credit card - it is essential for blocking the deposit.

• Brazilian driver's license (CNH) - to rent a car in Ireland, you do not need an International Driving Permit (IDP), as Ireland is not a signatory of the Road Traffic Convention, so the document is not valid in the country. However, if you plan to drive in Northern Ireland, you can get the IDP, as it is valid there.

  
  

Note: usually, car rental companies accept the CNH. If you want to get the IDP "just in case," visit the website of your state's Detran.

In addition to the documents mentioned above, you must be at least 21 years old and have held your license for more than 1 year. To make the vehicle pickup easier, bring a printed copy of your reservation or have the code on your phone. This is a great tip for those who are not very fluent in English and might get confused at the time of pickup.

Know the Roads

The second tip for renting a car in Ireland is to research the roads. Find out if there are tolls, what cities will be on your route, and whether there are fuel stations and restaurants along the way. It’s also a good idea to familiarize yourself with the main road signs, understand the meaning of the symbols, etc.

Regarding the types of roads, there are 3. National Roads have a speed limit of 100 km/h and usually provide access to medium and small cities. Motorways have a higher speed limit of 120 km/h. Finally, Regional Roads are smaller roads, with a speed limit of 80 km/h.

If you will be passing through any tolls, check with the vehicle rental company about their policy regarding toll charges, as some companies provide a "free pass" type card, allowing you to go through without stopping. If you need to stop at the tolls, make sure to carry change to make your life and the staff's job easier.

Driving on the left side of the road 

It is a very interesting experience! In the beginning, it can be a bit nerve-wracking since it’s so different, but over time, you’ll get used to it. Make sure to be extra attentive while driving, as it’s common to forget and end up going the wrong way.

When you rent a car in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, or England, you'll notice that the steering wheel is on the opposite side. Instead of being on the left, it’s on the right side. Also, you will drive on the left side of the road.

A few basic rules can help you avoid problems. For example, roundabouts (or roundabouts) turn clockwise; leave the right lane open for overtaking on highways; when turning right, you won’t have the right of way. Another tip is to rent a car with an automatic transmission so that you can focus solely on the driving.

Be mindful of additional services

When renting a car, you may also need additional items such as GPS, Wi-Fi, booster seat, child car seat, etc. Check what you need before picking up the vehicle at the rental agency.

Also, be aware of insurance and other extra fees. Since you'll be in a country with left-hand driving, I always recommend booking with insurance. This way, you'll have peace of mind and enjoy the trip better.

The most common insurances are Collision Damage Waiver / Loss Damage Waiver / Theft Protection (which cover damage to the vehicle in case of collision, fire, or theft) and Third-Party Insurance (which covers damage involving other vehicles).

Pay attention to the vehicle inspection

Another great tip for renting a car in Ireland is to carefully observe the vehicle inspection. If you’ve never rented a car before, know that before handing over the keys, the rental agency will check the vehicle for any scratches, marks, and issues. Ask the employee to note everything that’s different, it’s better to err on the side of caution than to be held responsible for something you didn’t do, right?!

Return the car with a full tank

Generally, this is the rule at car rental companies. If you don't refuel, it's not a problem, you can return the car, but they will charge you for the refueling. Most of the time, the price per liter at the rental company is more expensive.

So, to save money, return the car with a full tank. Oh, and don't worry about finding a place to refuel, it's nearly impossible not to have a gas station near the vehicle pickup/return locations.

Now that you've checked out the tips for renting a car in Ireland, gather 3 or 4 friends and embark on this experience! Not only is it a lot of fun to take a trip like this with a group, but it's also cheaper! This way, you can split the costs for rental, fuel, tolls, and multiply the fun.

So, which tip for renting a car in Ireland did you find most useful? Any questions, leave a comment below and follow me on Instagram too =)

Kisses and see you in the next post!