Driving in Ireland: Licences, Rules, and What You Need to Know

DrivingTransportPractical Tips

If you’re planning to drive in Ireland, understanding the licensing system, road rules, and practical requirements is essential. This guide covers everything you need to know.

If you’re moving to Ireland and need a work permit, check our work permits and visas guide to understand the complete relocation process. Moving from abroad? See our guides for Americans, British citizens, or EU nationals.

Driving licence requirements

Using your foreign licence

EU/EEA licences:

  • Valid for driving in Ireland indefinitely
  • No need to exchange (but you can if you wish)
  • Must carry physical licence when driving
  • Must be valid and not suspended

UK licences:

  • Valid indefinitely (post-Brexit arrangement maintained)
  • No exchange required
  • Same rights as EU licences

Non-EU licences:

  • Valid for 12 months from date of becoming resident
  • Must exchange for Irish licence before 12 months expire
  • Some countries have exchange agreements (no test needed)
  • Others require full Irish driving test

Exchanging your licence

EU/EEA citizens (optional exchange):

  • No driving test required
  • Apply through NDLS (National Driver Licence Service)
  • Fee: approximately €55
  • Bring: current licence, passport, proof of address, eyesight report

Non-EU citizens (required after 12 months):

  • Check if your country has reciprocal agreement
  • Countries with agreements: includes USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, others
  • Without agreement: may need to complete full Irish driving test process
  • Check ndls.ie for full list of recognised countries

Getting an Irish driving licence from scratch

If starting from scratch:

  1. Apply for learner permit (theory test required)
  2. Complete minimum 12 essential driving lessons (EDT)
  3. Display L-plates and be accompanied by qualified driver
  4. Apply for driving test after minimum period
  5. Pass practical driving test
  6. Apply for full licence

Road rules in Ireland

Drive on the left

  • Cars drive on the left side of the road
  • Driver sits on the right side of the car
  • Roundabouts go clockwise
  • Give way to traffic from the right at roundabouts

Speed limits

Speed limits in kilometres per hour (km/h):

Urban areas:

  • 50 km/h (31 mph) in built-up areas
  • 30 km/h in some residential zones

Rural areas:

  • 80 km/h (50 mph) on regional roads
  • 100 km/h (62 mph) on national roads

Motorways:

  • 120 km/h (75 mph) on motorways

Important: Speed limits displayed in km/h, not mph

Key road rules

Seat belts:

  • Mandatory for all passengers
  • Children must use appropriate car seats
  • €60 fixed penalty for non-compliance

Mobile phones:

  • Using handheld phone while driving is illegal
  • €60 fine and 3 penalty points
  • Use hands-free only

Drink driving:

  • Legal limit: 50mg per 100ml of blood (0.05% BAC)
  • Lower for learner and novice drivers: 20mg (0.02% BAC)
  • Severe penalties including fines, penalty points, and driving bans
  • Random breath testing conducted

Penalty points:

  • Endorsements on licence for offences
  • 12 points in 3 years = automatic 6-month ban
  • Examples: speeding (3 points), no insurance (5 points)

Buying a car in Ireland

New vs used cars

  • Cars more expensive than UK or mainland Europe
  • High import duties and VRT (Vehicle Registration Tax)
  • Used car market active
  • Consider importing (but VRT and NCT required)

Where to buy

  • Dealerships (new and used)
  • Private sellers
  • Online platforms: DoneDeal.ie, CarsIreland.ie, Carzone.ie
  • UK imports (popular for better prices)

What to check when buying used

  • NCT certificate (if over 4 years old)
  • Service history
  • Check for outstanding finance: motorcheck.ie or cartell.ie
  • Test drive
  • Mechanic inspection recommended for private sales

Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT)

  • Paid when car first registered in Ireland
  • Based on CO2 emissions and market value
  • Can be significant (€1,000-€5,000+)
  • UK imports require VRT payment

Documentation needed

  • Proof of identity
  • Proof of address
  • Insurance certificate
  • Funds for purchase

Car insurance

  • Third-party insurance minimum legal requirement
  • Must have insurance before driving
  • Insurance disc must be displayed on windscreen
  • Driving without insurance: serious offence, heavy fines, penalty points

Types of cover

Third-party:

  • Cheapest option
  • Covers damage to other vehicles/property
  • Doesn’t cover your own car

Third-party, fire and theft:

  • Mid-level cover
  • Adds fire and theft protection for your car

Comprehensive:

  • Full coverage
  • Covers your car and others
  • Most expensive

Cost of insurance

Varies based on:

  • Age (young drivers pay more)
  • Driving experience
  • No-claims bonus history
  • Type of car
  • Location
  • Annual mileage

Typical costs:

  • Young driver, first time: €2,000-€5,000+
  • Experienced driver with no-claims: €600-€1,500
  • Significant discounts with no-claims history

No-claims bonus

  • Builds discount over years without claims
  • Can transfer from some countries (UK, EU)
  • Request no-claims letter from previous insurer
  • Can reduce premium by 60%+ after 5 years

Finding insurance

Compare quotes:

  • 123.ie
  • Chill Insurance
  • Liberty Insurance
  • AA Ireland
  • AIG
  • Aviva
  • Zurich

Tips:

  • Get multiple quotes
  • Consider black box insurance (young drivers)
  • Add experienced named driver to reduce cost
  • Increase voluntary excess to lower premium

Motor tax

What is motor tax?

Annual fee paid to drive on public roads.

Cost based on:

  • CO2 emissions (newer cars)
  • Engine size (older cars)
  • Ranges from €120 to €2,350+ per year

How to pay:

  • Online at motortax.ie
  • At Post Office
  • By direct debit (quarterly payments)

Disc:

  • Disc no longer issued
  • System is electronic
  • Gardaí (police) can check electronically

Important: Motor tax must be current. Driving without tax results in fines and penalty points.

NCT (National Car Test)

What is the NCT?

Safety and emissions test for vehicles (similar to UK MOT).

When required:

  • First test at 4 years old
  • Then every 2 years
  • From 10 years old: annual tests

Cost: Approximately €55

Where: Designated NCT centres around Ireland

Book online: nct.ie

What’s checked

  • Lights and electrics
  • Steering and suspension
  • Brakes
  • Tyres and wheels
  • Chassis and bodywork
  • Emissions

Pass, partial fail, or fail:

  • Full pass: Certificate issued
  • Fail: Must repair and retest (reduced retest fee if within 21 days)

Fuel costs

Fuel prices

More expensive than many other countries:

  • Petrol: €1.70-€2.00 per litre (approximately)
  • Diesel: €1.60-€1.90 per litre
  • Equivalent to $7-9 per gallon

Types of fuel

  • Unleaded petrol (95 and 98 octane)
  • Diesel
  • LPG (limited availability)
  • Electric charging (growing network)

Paying for fuel

  • Self-service pumps common
  • Pay after filling
  • Credit/debit cards accepted
  • Some stations offer loyalty cards

Total cost of running a car

Running a car in Ireland costs €300-€600 per month on average when you factor in insurance, fuel, tax, and maintenance. This is a significant expense—see our cost of living guide for how this fits into your overall budget.

Typical annual costs:

  • Insurance: €600-€1,500+
  • Motor tax: €120-€600
  • Fuel: €1,500-€3,000 (depending on usage)
  • NCT: €55 every 1-2 years
  • Servicing: €150-€300
  • Repairs and maintenance: €200-€500
  • Total: €3,500-€6,000+ per year

Parking

Rules

  • Park on left side in direction of traffic
  • No parking on double yellow lines
  • Single yellow lines: restrictions apply (check signage)
  • Disabled bays: Blue Badge holders only
  • Loading bays: time limits apply

Paying for parking

Disc parking:

  • Buy parking discs at shops
  • Display with arrival time
  • Common in smaller towns

Pay and display:

  • Parking meters
  • Pay by phone (RingGo, other apps)
  • Ticket on dashboard

Multi-storey and car parks:

  • Ticket on entry
  • Pay before leaving
  • Fees vary (€2-€5/hour in cities)

Clamping and fines

  • Illegal parking may result in clamping (€80 fee to release)
  • Parking fines: €40-€80 typically
  • Pay early for reduced fine

Motorways and tolls

Motorway network

Ireland has several motorways (M1, M3, M4, M7, M8, M9, M11, M50, etc.)

Rules:

  • 120 km/h speed limit
  • No stopping except emergencies
  • No learner drivers (unless accompanied)
  • Hard shoulder for emergencies only

Toll roads

Several routes have tolls:

  • M50 Dublin (barrier-free, pay online or automatic)
  • M1 Dublin-Belfast
  • M3 (Navan)
  • M4 (Enfield-Kilcock)
  • Dublin Tunnel
  • East Link Bridge

Costs: €1.90-€3.20 per journey typically

Payment:

  • Barrier tolls: Pay at booth (cash or card)
  • M50: No barriers, register online or pay within 24 hours
  • eFlow account: Electronic payment system
  • Fines for non-payment

Driving in Ireland: Practical tips

Road conditions

  • Roads narrower than US/Australia
  • Rural roads can be very narrow
  • Some roads poorly maintained
  • Potholes common on rural roads
  • Hedgerows reduce visibility
  • Be cautious on country lanes

Weather challenges

  • Rain frequent
  • Mist and fog common
  • Ice and snow in winter (less than UK/Northern Europe)
  • Reduce speed in wet conditions
  • Use dipped headlights in poor visibility

Roundabouts

  • Very common in Ireland
  • Give way to traffic from the right
  • Stay in left lane unless overtaking or turning right
  • Signal appropriately
  • Road signage in kilometres
  • Many signs bilingual (English and Irish)
  • GPS essential for unfamiliar areas
  • Some rural areas have confusing layouts
  • Townland names can be unclear

Rural driving

  • Narrow roads common
  • Pull in to let others pass
  • Tractors and farm vehicles frequent
  • Animals may be on roads
  • Drive defensively

City driving

  • Dublin traffic congested
  • Bus lanes monitored by camera (€60-€120 fines)
  • Parking expensive and limited
  • Consider Park and Ride
  • Public transport often faster than driving

Public transport alternatives

Before committing to a car, consider:

Dublin:

  • Extensive bus network (Dublin Bus)
  • DART (coastal rail)
  • Luas (tram system)
  • Integrated Leap Card payment

Other cities:

  • Bus networks in Cork, Galway, Limerick
  • Less frequent than Dublin
  • Car often more convenient

Intercity:

  • Bus Éireann (national bus service)
  • Irish Rail (train service)
  • Private coaches (Citylink, GoBus, etc.)

Cycling

Increasingly popular alternative:

  • Dublin Bikes scheme
  • Dedicated cycle lanes in cities
  • Must have working lights and reflectors
  • Helmets recommended but not mandatory

Electric vehicles

Growing infrastructure

  • Charging network expanding
  • ESB ecars charging points nationwide
  • Home charging possible
  • Government incentives for EV purchase

Breakdown cover

Consider joining:

  • AA Ireland
  • RAC Ireland
  • Insurance company breakdown cover

Cost: €80-€150 per year typically

Useful contacts

  • NDLS (Licence applications): ndls.ie
  • NCT bookings: nct.ie or 1890 200 670
  • Motor tax: motortax.ie
  • Road Safety Authority: rsa.ie
  • Gardaí (police): 999 or 112 (emergencies)

Summary

Driving in Ireland is straightforward once you understand the rules and requirements. Key points to remember:

  • Drive on the left
  • Speed limits in km/h
  • Insurance and motor tax mandatory
  • Exchange foreign licence if required
  • Allow time and budget for insurance (expensive for new drivers)
  • Roads can be narrow, especially in rural areas

With proper preparation and awareness of Irish driving conditions, you’ll navigate the roads safely and confidently.