Are there any special requirements for driving or hiring a car in Ireland?
You may think that driving in Ireland would be exactly the same as driving in the UK but there are many subtle differences. You need to be aware of them to prevent yourself falling foul of the Gardai, the Irish police. In Ireland, as in the UK (and Northern Ireland), all traffic drives on the left hand side of the road. That means that you give way to the right and this includes at roundabouts. You must by law give way to any emergency services vehicles such as ambulances and police cars with flashing lights. Most cars are manuals although you can rent automatics if you are willing to pay a little bit extra. If you are driving in rural areas then watch out for potholes or livestock crossing the road. It can be a good idea to
rent a 4x4 in Dublin. Rush hour in Dublin is very busy and chaotic - best avoided!