Rental Car & Driving on the Left

A rental car is by far the best way to discover Ireland. The island is compact (Dublin to Galway: 2.5 hours, Dublin to Cork: 3 hours), the roads lead through breathtaking landscapes, and many of the most beautiful places are hardly accessible without a car. But: In Ireland, driving is on the left!

🚗 Driving on the Left — No Need to Panic

Yes, driving on the left sounds daunting. But most drivers get used to it within 30–60 minutes. The gear shift is on the left (or you book an automatic), the windshield wiper is where the indicator is in Germany (in the first few days, you'll wipe instead of indicating — this is completely normal and a running joke among Ireland travelers), and the roundabouts run clockwise. The most important phrase: “Stay left, overtake right."

• At the airport: Use the first kilometers on the airport grounds to get accustomed. Don't plunge into city traffic immediately!
• Roundabout: Clockwise! Those in the roundabout have the right of way
• Narrow roads: In the countryside, many roads are single-lane with passing places. The one closer to a bay yields — and greets with a hand signal
• Sheep: On country roads, sheep regularly stand on the roadway. Drive slowly, honk, wait

Prices & Booking

Rental cars in Ireland are unfortunately not cheap: From €35–50/day for a small car in the off-season, €60–100/day in summer. The peak season (July/August) can become brutally expensive — €100–150/day for a standard mid-size car. Book early! Through comparison portals (billiger-mietwagen.de, CHECK24) at least 6–8 weeks in advance. Recommended providers: Hertz, Enterprise, National. Tip: Automatic cars are significantly more expensive (often +50%), but recommended for driving on the left — shifting with the left hand is initially confusing.

Insurance & Deposit

Irish rental car companies are notorious for high insurance costs and deposits. At the counter, there is a massive push to sell expensive additional insurance. The best strategy: Book comprehensive insurance without excess in advance through the comparison portal and decline everything else at the counter. The deposit via credit card (often €1,000–2,000) is blocked as authorization and released after return.

Roads & Speed Limits

Ireland's roads range from excellent motorways (M roads, mostly toll-free) to adventurous narrow country roads where two cars can only pass by folding in the mirrors. Speed limits: 120 km/h motorway, 100 km/h national road, 80 km/h regional road, 50 km/h urban. The M50 around Dublin has an electronic toll (eFlow) — clarify with the rental car provider! In Northern Ireland, miles are used instead of kilometers.