Ireland: What I Wish I Knew Before Renting a Car in Ireland
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- čas přidán 8. 06. 2024
- Hey there fellow travelers! Heading to Ireland or Northern Ireland and scared about driving on the "wrong side" of the road? Well here we give you all the advice you need to feel comfortable about drivining in Ireland, or at least a lot of great driving advice so you can get the most out of your visit to Ireland.
How to drive on the left. How to drive in Ireland. Renting a car in Ireland.
Filmed at Kinnity Castle in Ireland
Copyright Mark Wolters 2022
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I have driven in both left and right. The easiest and most practical way to remember either driving left or right is you will be seated always towards the middle/center of the road while driving. If you are driving and you are in the corner of the road you are on the driving on the wrong side.
Plain and simple.
Im irish and everything you said is spot on. Great video
I hate you but i laughed .... that pic of a hair had me for a minute trying to clear my screen ..... but then I realised and I laughed ... still hate you for it though 🤣
Hi Mark! My name is Mark too, but I just wanted to thank you for all your videos. We've used your videos a lot for tips to travel, and you've come out with yet another useful video. We 've watched so many videos, we feel like we know your family. Anyway, keep posting all that you post, and all the relevant info you provide. Thanks!
About GPS, you can download the offline maps on Google Maps and that works very well. With offline maps you don’t need phone signal/internet, just GPS, which is also what you need with a stand alone GPS anyway.
But you need a phone with the ability to handle that app..my cheapie would not
Google Maps is way better than a GPS , after driving you only need to put the building into the maps and switch to walking to get to your destination, if you are going to the trouble of buying a GPS then just buy a phone PrePay, no contract and have full coverage on the Island of Ireland.
Exactly what I was thinking. Download G maps for offline mode.
Thanks for this input, that was exactly what I was wondering if that would also work!
The best way to explore Ireland or any country for that matter.
Is to intentionally get completely lost, you Will see amazing sights by using this method.
Don't worry about getting back, the locals Will point you in the right direction.
That is a beautiful idea.
Very helpful, thanks! I'd been a bit nervous about driving while in Ireland but video has helped ease my doubts. Well done.
You know that Ireland has a huge tourism industry when they take all these measure to make sure you simply drive on the correct side.
Unlike the drunk locals.
I think it's more to do with how serious it is if people don't drive on the correct side. It doesn't take too many of those oopsies before there is a serious problem
Unlike the states, Ireland have a zero tolerance to drink driving@@gerardflynn3899
thank you for another great video about my country. thank you for promoting us ❤️ sending love from your fans in Ireland 🇮🇪
Hello! This isn't about driving, but maybe you will advise me. Is it worth going to Ireland in April? It will be difficult for me to go in the summer.
You are awesome. I've been prepping for a trip to Birr and your videos are great. Love that you're out here filling us in on euro travel tips. Thank you 🙏
Super helpful. Thank you so much for making this!
Great advice. Thanks for sharing
Just spent a week driving in southern Ireland. My thoughts as a US driver:
1. Most important thing... Always look right at roundabouts and intersections.
2. Waze worked perfectly everywhere we went.
3. Everyone else on the road was attentive, patient and courteous. (US drivers could lean a few things)
4. Have some coins for tolls.
5. You get to use new motoring terms such as lorry, bonnet, and petrol.
6. At intersections, it's not always clear who has a stop sign and who does not. Take it slow.
Great video! Was helpful to me.
Great to see the opening shots at Kinnitty Castle! Great spot!
Hey this was very helpful! Thank you
I'm so happy you keep coming back to Ireland! :)
I am Irish and years ago , I got lost in the mountains in Kerry, when I went way off the beaten track, I had no signal on my phone and diesel was getting low, so I really couldn’t afford to waste anymore gas getting more lost , so then we spotted a cottage up the side of the mountain it was such a steep gravel road up to it I didn’t fancy driving up , so we walked up to it looking for directions, though it looked almost derelict from a distance, it was beautiful, we ended up staying for lunch and a two and a half hour chat 😂 although TBH I could barely understand the elderly couples thick Kerry mountain brogue, 😂but thinking back it was pretty Irish and pretty special.💚
this was so awesome thank you thank you
I wish one day all of us who are watching and dreaming about traveling can actually travel more to learn about different cultures and end hate in this loving journey of life.
That takes a ton of work. The world is huge i know.
Cultures value different things and hate others.
It's worth it though
I’ve driven in Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, all as a tourist. Heartily agree with everything but would suggest a few additions… 1. Don’t forget to get the NON-DEDUCTIBLE DAMAGE insurance. (See left side mirror getting damaged from hitting a hedgerow. Just saying.) It’s more expensive but it’s worth it to not worry about it when you’re on vacation. Plus it saves you the time and aggravation of listing EVERY SINGLE scratch and ding when you pickup the car. Because there will be damage on it when you pick it up. 2. Don’t roll down the passenger (left) side car windows. (Again, see left side mirror hitting a hedgerow and all the debris coming into the open window.) 3. If you have to quickly change lanes in a panic, don’t think when you flip on the turn signal that it will work. More likely the windshield wipers will come on instead because your muscle memory will kick in and you will hit the wrong lever.
Thank you Sir,
Very informative and useful.
Big fan of this channel!
All great advice! Was just there a couple of weeks ago and everything you said is relevant and accurate. Cheers!
Awesome video.. first time finding walters world. Really like the structure of your practical advice and jolly delivery. All of a sudden I want to buy some tickets to Ireland and check it out myself..
Drove the back roads, and I mean goat path type back roads, in Ireland in a rental car for a week. This video is spot on with one exception. I used Google maps on my phone and it was spot on itself, including speed limits and warnings. The biggest challenge was the speeds on the back roads that have twists and turns every 50-100 meters with no shoulders and stone walls and berms right next to the road! Covered the whole west and south coasts. Driving a 6-speed stick left handed took an hour to get used to (in the rain), but it was a wonderful week!!
I'm going to be in Ireland in 2 weeks. This really helps. Thank you
I drove on the left in Scotland last year. It is true that after one hour of driving you het used to it. I was also helped by the rental car i was issued, a fantastic KIA X-Ceed, the electronic assist mode helped a lot in preventing mistakes, especially the road lane assist. While i only drove for 4 days in my return i frlt weird to now be driving on the right because i had gotten used so fast to drive on the left.
Thank you! Very Helpful! ☘☘☘
Awesome video and great tips
I’m Irish and only learning to drive now at old age of 30 (living away most of my 20s in cities with good transport). Honestly the roundabouts scare me and I’ve being going through them as a passager my entire life
If I as a Canadian can manage the roundabouts in the opposite direction to what we have in Canada..you should manage too. 😃
@@Nature_with_Peter_Kane Tbf I’ve dyspraxia so I think that doesn’t help. I am actually moving to Canada in the next year, so might have to pass a Canadian test (depending on province) to keep on driving
@@sams3015 If you're moving to Canada, getting English services in Quebec is a challenge...unless you're fluent in French, then you're ok.
@@Nature_with_Peter_Kane actually learning French was my pandemic hobby (paid apps and online tutors and lots of Netflix) and I’m hoping to move to Montreal. It’s my favourite city. I’m fairly intermediate but need to knuckle down harder
Being a passenger and being a driver are very different. its just practice. Jut dont start at the walkinstown roundabout
Well done... Thank you!
I’m Irish. Whenever I’m in country that drives on the right I make sure to have a couple of post it’s on the dash and windscreen to remind me to drive on the right 😊
We honeymooned in Ireland in 1998 and on my first day driving I came around the corner and sure enough clipped my mirror on a fruit stand on the edge of the road 🤣. My husband brings it up almost monthly!
Women Drivers
Driving on the left can be intimidating at first, but you're right after doing it for a short while you get used to it. Just take your time and be patient with yourself. I drove on the left for the first time in St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands. If I can do you can too! 👍😊
Nice video with good tips for first timers
I drove for the first time on the other side from Edinburgh to Kilkady. I counted 32 roundabouts. After those, Ireland was a breeze and I actually enjoyed them. It is so smooth and quick. The one lane roads were tricky but mostly people cooperated and it was fine. I actually loved driving after a bit. I did have to put Adblue in my Diesel because it was low...not fun.
Here's a few tips-Stick a post it on your dash or steering wheel to STAY LEFT! And Be Extra careful at T junctions, pull out into the LEFT LANE! On country country roads slow down and stay as close to the LEFT ditch as possible. The local lauds think they're rally drivers and there's a lot of farm tractors also. Avoid Driving at night and very heavy rain if possible!
Nice to see the sign for Cloughmills (my home village) making an appearance. 🤣
Thanks for sharing; take care 🔥
Great information. Going over next summer to play golf in the south east. This was just what I needed as I don’t drink and will be the dd. 😂
Great video
The last point is especially important because there are so many roadside sights to stop and see n Ireland (one of the best parts of renting a car in Ireland tbh for the flexibility of stopping off at these places..whether old castles, churches, graveyards, pubs, etc.) and its notorious winding roads in the countryside(most countryside roads are one lane in each direction) will almost always extend your ETA :)
Thanks for the video ...
The advice about expecting things to take longer is a really good one that nobody talks about, and can be a surprise especially for someone from the US or Canada who hasn't driven in that region before. A lot of roads off the main highways are incredibly narrow, winding roads with stone walls on one side. Places like Google give you time estimates for your route based on driving at exactly the speed limit but in real life those turns sometimes feel treacherous going at half that speed. It also can make driving more tiring because of that.
Meanwhile, as you said, you kind of just get used to driving on the left pretty quickly.
Just a reminder for the people from America.
Our fuel stations sell Diesel and Petrol (gasoline).
If your phone has GPS.
As long as you have coverage use your phone as the Sat-Nav's have maps that can be anything up to 12yrs out of date.
Thank you for the helpful tips! I really want to rent a car and drive when I visit the UK and Ireland because I really want to see the coast and the countryside. I'm personally not too scared at the idea of driving on the other side or using manual transmission but I will say the roundabouts do freak me out a tad 😂Also thanks for the warning about blinkers, I live in MT currently and nobody here uses them either except me haha! We also have a lot of dirt roads that can only fit about one car at a time. Safe travels! 🍀
Mark is right about driving on the left. You will acclimate quickly so don't worry about it. Reserve your car in advance so that you can get an automatic.
OMG! Timing could not be better. We’re going in one week!
A tip for any Americans anxious of driving in Ireland, just follow the traffic in front of your car, the rest will sort itself out, drive as slow as you want except on the Motorway/Freeway., we are used to beginner drivers and inexperienced drivers on the roads and in the cities so take your time and enjoy your trip.
Thanks for the very nice comment.
If your slow or hesitate they will eat you alive
turns out front car is also driven by an american
I just returned from Ireland. I was very intimidated about driving, but I got in the car and tooled around the parking lot a bit. Once I pulled out into the road, I was good to go. It was fine. If you want an automatic, you have to specifically request it, which I did. And I agree, rental cars are a must have. Uber does not exist outside Dublin, and in the city, Uber works, but will only bring you a cab, which is fine. And yes, don't drive in the city.
Also for filling up with gas, when you see the prices at the gas stations, they'll be listed 1.88 for unleaded, or 1.96 for premium. Don't think that you've hit the way-back machine in gas prices. Remember those prices are for a LITRE of gas, not per gallon! So it's more like $7.00 for a gallon of gas! As we get close or are at those prices here in the US, it may not be as much of a shock as it would have been before 2021, but it's still good to keep in mind.
It's so easy. Especially on busy streets where it's impossible to drive on the right . But on the highway it took a minute to realize the right lane was the passing lane
Thanks a lot!
Love your comment on breaking a mirror. I hit a chuckhole /culvert near Loch Ness and jarred my teeth. It was a prespective thing from the left. But it was a fun challenge! Can't wait to give it a go in Ireland.
My first time there I sat in the rental car for about 10 minutes with engine off practicing going thru the gears and clutch.any cars back home were always manual shifts so I was use to that. I met a couple at a B & B that solved the problem by whoever was passenger did the shifting,that took some teamwork.I also did what you said by turning car in at end of trip,stayed at B & B in town of Sword and took buses into Dublin
I LOVE driving in the UK! It was a bit nervy at first, but literally wishing 30 to 60 minutes I was having a blast!!! Also, if you have American Express cards, you can get great insurance that automatically activates when you rent a car. Did this for Scotland and Iceland and it was a big money saver!
Great. Just remember that the Republic of Ireland isn't in the UK.
Just was in Ireland early April, took 45 minutes to adjust to Left, Recommend the Insurance because one thing I noticed and dealt with myself is flat tires are common. I got a Flat 25 minutes into renting a car and the rest of the trip I saw people getting flats all over. The insurance covered the charge of the new tire I had to get. ALSO some tolls you need to pay online BEFORE or AFTER usage. N50 near Dublin is one of those tolls that the local had to give me a heads up about. It is easy to avoid the toll but still.
Consider buying an 'On Line' Collision Damage Waiver Access cover Policy [ C.D.W.] BEFORE you get a Rental Car at in any Irish Airport, otherwise you shall pay dearly at the Desk. better still just Pre - Book and then you and your car are sorted... hitting the ground running, and you won't be stuck with the only Brain Surgeon in Town...
M50 (M stands for Motorway = freeway), not N50.
@@duhusker4383 The Dublin Tunnel and the M50 between junctions 6 & 7 (from my own research, going over in October)
The M50 is the online toll that requires online payment.
Thank you ☺️
This was GREAT! Another good thing to mention is the toll road that goes across Ireland (from like Doolin to Dublin). You don’t pay AT the toll, you have to actually log in to a computer at your hotel & pay the toll. Apparently, it really racks up per day that you don’t pay it.
Wow that almost sounds like a way to scam the tourists!
You're talking about the M50 motorway which is in Dublin. There are signs everywhere on that motorway to remind you to pay although I can understand as a tourist you wold have brain overload while driving on a different side of the road and you might miss them or not take them in. It used to have toll booths way back but obviously that was a bottleneck and now there are cameras that record the car registration number. That's the only road in Ireland though with that system, all others have toll booths.
LMAO - The way you totally judged a "Small Bronco". Loved it and your videos!
My first left driving was in Australia. I was scared a bit and after getting the rental car I nearly put myself on the wrong lane but it was 7am in the morning on a Saturday with nearly no traffic.
Had the car the whole weekend, nothing happend at all - and then, 300 meters before the rental car agency to return the car I hit a (thanks god plastic!) trashcan - which spread its contents on the street. No dent or scratch on the car...
Thank you Sir :)
Some of that footage is on the N52 Dundalk to Ardee road, not far from where I live!
Easy we also drive left side
Cheers from South Africa
Thanks!
Don't trust the GPS to get you there with the "shortest route" option. We had some adventures on roads which barely qualify as roads...more like two ruts in the dirt between two massive hedgerows, with zero viability on turns and no room to meet another car. Getting stuck on one of those roads for an hour is a nightmare. Sometimes the longer route is the faster route.
Same for any country. We were going to Vegas and it sent us through a dirt road / reservation with bullet holes in the few signs that were on the route.
@@dcar There are stories of Google maps getting people lost in the middle of Death Valley, where the “roads” gradually disappear into nothing, leaving people without enough fuel and water to get out again.
I live in the US and I've been driving stick for years. I call it my built-in anti-theft device.
Thanks for the great vid. I'm hoping to make it to Ireland and definitely want to travel to those far out places. The idea of driving on the left has me really nervous. This vid helped a bit. Thanks!!!
Keep in mind too that driving on the left means you also will need to use your left hand to change gears so even if you drive stick at home it can be daunting!
When i lived up north we used to thumb it / hitch hike,along the coast rd.Your vlogs kool mo cara,nice one.Cead Mile Failte and Haste Ye Back.
When driving out on the country roads, raise one finger from the steering wheel and 'salute' oncoming drivers. They will often do the same automatically but look a bit confused as they wonder who you are. Try it! ☺️
To be clear, only the index finger! 😂
Loved driving in Ireland. Country roads are narrow. Roundabouts are same as the states. Ireland is gorgeous ☘️
Don't forget to pay the e-toll if you use the M50 coming from or going to Dublin Airport. Pay it online within 24 hours of travelling.
Thanks a lot, ❤
Make sure you are heading into the Ring of Kerry hugging the inside.. (not the water side) you'll be in less peril! White knuckle when the tour buses come by!
True..we drove on the ocean side and got amazing pictures .don't forget your passenger has an unobtrusive view from the left side of the car.
I think the phone gps is a better route, as long as you predownload the maps! Plus, nowadays you can enable high accuracy gps so it's instantly updating.
Thanks ❤
I experienced a custom on “two lane” secondary roads. When someone wants to pass, they will flash their lights. Move over to the left, oncoming traffic will move over as well. The passing vehicle splits the lane and goes up the middle. After a few passes I wasn’t as terrified as the first one.
Haha so much emphasis on driving on the left. For those of us coming from Australia to America , nobody had to say anything about driving on the right. We were treated like adults, to which I thank my American brothers and sisters for trusting I was quite capable of handling it.
i still drive and have been most of my adult life driving manual transmission cars mostly volkswagen golfs and gtis and am really looking forward to driving a manual european hatchback when i eventually make my way over to the land of most of my ancestors.
If you are going to ireland im not sure how easy it would be to get a hatchback anymore, most hatchbacks in ireland have been replaced by crossover suvs, especially the manual ones
For non-motorway roads add 50% to what google says for road conditions, add anouther 50% for stopping to look at scenery.
Run through a roundabout or two on google maps, odds are the one outside your airport will be the worse, figure that out and you'll be ok.
Driving in Ireland is half the point, dont rush, get a little lost.
And don't expect the gps to always be right! We ended up on some non road roads!
Always get the insurance in Ireland , and in fact you can’t rent a car without it . I had damage on my car when I returned it , someone put a big dent in it with their door or kicked it .
You easily get used to driving on the left , and freedom of mobility is the best way to experience Ireland. Other drivers seem to be more courteous to motorists making driving there a positive experience. I didn’t go into Belfast on our visit , but with the proper instructions I would certainly do so when I go back there .
100%. driving in the UK/Ireland is a lot of fun.
After living in Japan for a few years, I found that driving on the left and manual transmissions are actually pretty easy. Problematic was repatriation to the US and not driving on the left for a couple of weeks!
We rented a car in Ireland for 10 days and once I got used to it I loved it. My biggest challenge was the first day, getting out of the airport in Dublin, driving on the left and shifting with my left hand. Otherwise I had no problems.
Love the part about the reverse gear. I discovered that on an Opel in RSA once. I drove fine from the airport to the hotel. Next morning I had to reverse out of parking and ...what the heck??? Actually had to check the owner's manual 😕😆
I’ll never drive in Dublin again!
Round-a-bouts.. I quickly found out that if you’re in the outside lane you’re expected to exit to the nearest road!
Note at least with Enterprise car rental. We had USAA credit card which covers it. We actually had to provide a form from USSA saying they will cover in Ireland.
Having used a rental car in Ireland and Northern Ireland on many occasions, we have had mixed experiences with rental agencies. One insisted that we had to have a letter, no more than 3 months old, from our credit card company stating that the insurance they provide is relevant in Ireland. Other companies didn't seem to care. Our best rental was when we were told not to worry about scratches low down on the passenger side of the car, as scraping along the hedgerows was just accepted as normal wear.
Driving on the left side of the road with the wheel on the right side of the car would definitely take some getting used to, especially using my left hand to shift as I'm a righty. Probaly wouldn't be as difficult if the wheel were on the left side of the car like I'm used to. Eh, that's why I'm taking the train/bus everywhere my first Ireland trip the end of May.
Reverse! I once spent most of a French lunch hour in the rental car parking lot due to not knowing how to get the car into reverse.
Back in the US , my work truck was a Ford F250 5- speed---- I knew how to drive a manual, just did not know the trick of getting a Fiat into reverse.
00:48 No way! Haha I had to do a double take.
I drive that road every week! The N52 between ardee and Kells!
Yes, get insurance. But don't get just liability insurance. Get full coverage - liability, comprehensive, collision and uninsured/underinsured motorist. And get zero deductible. Yes, it will cost more but it will cost less if you end up needing it. The roads are narrow, people drive fast in Ireland, people park very close to the edge of the roadway and there are lots of roads lined with hedgerows that grow right on the edge of the roadway.
My wife and I are in Ireland for our honeymoon, we're from IN so it's definitely a huge culture shock. After being here for a few days (we spent time in Dublin but renting a car today to explore the countryside for a few days) I'm less worried about "driving on the left" and more worried about how the actual roads are designed, walking through Dublin people drive so fast and carelessly that I'm scared I won't have time to think about my next move before I get hit, and definitely a little worried about the highways and junctions lol wish me luck everyone
How did it go?
@@Paulhartrocks Pretty well actually, it's not much harder than driving in the US, but you have to remember that everything is backwards. I only struggled with the roundabouts, but after a short while It got easier.
It is a little weird at first when people pass you on the right because that’s opposite from USA
How much the GPS system? I was also told by Avis that insurance comes with the rental by default because I'm international. Should I do more research on this? Going in March of this year and so excited the video was helpful
I am paying the extra $17 a day to get an automatic. Just one less thing to worry about as I drive.
Check to see if your credit card provider gives you rental car insurance coverage overseas too, you may save the rental company Insurance fees which can add quite a bit to the tab.
regarding gas/petrol: They charge by the liter, not gallon so while it may look the same as in the US, it takes twice as much to fill the tank! Also, you fill up then go in and pay, not pay first.
If you are going to drive the same "loop" thru the country like all the tour busses do, go in the same direction as the busses do. The roads are narrow, and you don't really want to share corners with the oncoming busses (or semi trucks).
Joke from the bus drivers: Ireland is known for its musicians and poets, not for its engineers.
Never a truer word was spoken.
When I used to live with my family in Rural Ireland, I used to drive motorcycles between 1993 - 1998 and driving into Dublin City Centre was scary especially with roundabouts on the motorways - you must keep clear and well back of especially large vehicles like trucks and buses, especially if turning left and at roundabouts and you must never attempt to pass/overtake on the left, especially at roundabouts - now when I come home to family in Ireland on visits from Manchester U.K., I’m totally reliant on public transport and seeing the driving antics from the bus or coach it’s almost comical to watch once off the ferry from Holyhead and once onto the Navan Rd, around Blanchardstown past the M50 heading for Clonee and Dunshaughlin where my family lives in Co. Meath
A tip from a friend that traveled to Ireland and rented a car is to take copious pictures of the car beforehand. In his case it became a fairly significant scam, where the car rental place tried to charge him $2500 for every small cosmetic mark or dent that already existed when he picked it up. I have heard the same scam happen to travelers to Hawaii that rented cars.
I'm sure many people have heard about the American woman who left the RAF base in England and drove on the wrong side of the road and killed someone.
She was the wife of someone in the USAF or something and claimed diplomatic immunity (she wasn't entitled to) and ran back to the US. To my knowledge she still hasn't paid for her actions and the US government has protected her.
Don't be like this woman.