Which side of the road does Ireland drive on, and what else changes for a North American driver?
Ireland drives on the left, in the Republic and the North alike, and the car itself puts you on the right hand side of it. For a North American driver the other changes stack up: speed limits and distances are in kilometres in the Republic and miles in the North; most rental cars are manual unless you book an automatic on purpose; roundabouts run clockwise and you give way to traffic coming from your right; and rural roads are far narrower than the map suggests, with stone walls where the shoulder should be. Give the first day short distances and no fixed dinner reservation. By day two it feels normal. Our driving guide covers the rental desk, the tolls and narrow road etiquette in full.
Useful pages: Driving in Ireland: the full guide · An Ireland road trip · Dublin · County Kerry · Scenic drives in Ireland · Killarney · Healthcare and emergencies · Plan your journey · Northern Ireland
Sources
- Road Safety Authority: speed limits and driving rules, rsa.ie
More in Driving in Ireland
- Do I need an international driving permit to rent a car in Ireland?
- Why is Irish car rental insurance so confusing, and what do CDW and excess mean?
- What speed limits apply on motorways, national roads, regional roads and in towns?
- How do toll roads work in Ireland, especially the M50 barrier free toll?
- Can I drive a rental car between the Republic and Northern Ireland?