Ireland Road Trip Guide

Introduction

Ireland, known as the Emerald Isle, is renowned for its lush green landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture. The country offers a diverse range of attractions, from ancient castles and historic sites to stunning coastal cliffs and charming villages. Ireland is ideal for a road trip due to its well-maintained roads, scenic routes, and compact size, allowing travelers to explore its beauty at their own pace. Driving through Ireland provides the freedom to discover hidden gems, enjoy breathtaking views, and experience the warm hospitality of the Irish people. Whether it’s the Wild Atlantic Way, the Ring of Kerry, or the Causeway Coastal Route, Ireland’s picturesque landscapes make it a perfect destination for a memorable self-drive adventure.

Car Rental Tips

Book in Advance

Generally, we recommend that you make your reservation one month in advance so that you could choose the desired vehicle and date.

If you proceed directly to the car rental store without an appointment, it is likely that the car you need might be unavailable.

*If you are already a QEEQ diamond member, you only need 1$ to freeze your booking and make the rest of the payment before pick-up, which does not affect your credit card limit.

Required Documents

Passport, Driver’s License, IDP(Optimal), Credit Card

International Driving Permit (IDP) is highly recommended, which allows you to drive legally in countries that need one.

If it is inconvenient for you to apply an IDP, generate a free driver’s license translation on QEEQ.com (Japanese site only).

Car Choices

The choice of your car depend largely on the duration of your trip, passenger number, luggage amount and road conditions.

City Driving for small groups (1-3 passengers)

If you are a couple, or travel with a friend or two, or if you travel alone, a reasonably priced small car would be a good choice.

Compact size cars have 4 to 5 seats. We recommend sparing one passenger capacity so you could relax and have more space.

4 to 5 passengers including children and elderly

Medium and large size cars are recommended. These models could still possess a fair mount of space with 2 to 3 suitcases. SUVs are suitable for hybrid road conditions. Eco-friendly cars such as the Prius could save your spend on gasoline. Choose what you need giving you peace of mind on long trips.

Traveling in a group of 6 or more

It would be a wonderful experience to choose a van for everyone to have his or her own seat. These models accommodate a passenger capacity from 7 to 12 people. While it is noticeable that large cars cannot make quick and sharp turns. So we recommend renting two small or medium-sized cars if you spend a lot of time driving through towns.

Online Booking Process

We are endeavoring to make your appointment as convenient as possible. Enter our website QEEQ.com, log in, enter the required information, and follow the instructions, you are free to rent your desired car.

Insurance

What Insurances Are Available?

*For Autopilot Cars:

1. Insured: Protection for the person renting the car, including passenger accident insurance and personal accident insurance (PAI). This includes the personal safety of the driver, passengers, and their personal belongings.
2. Automobile Insurance: protection for the vehicle of the renter. Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) is one example.
3. Third-party Insurance: insurance that protects third parties other than the renter and the car rental company. Basic Third Party Liability (BTL) insurance, etc.

International car rental orders will include the basic insurance required for car rentals: Vehicle Damage Coverage, Theft Protection, and Third Party Liability Insurance.

The deductible is the maximum amount of money you’re liable for in the event your rental car is damaged or stolen as long as you follow the conditions of your rental agreement. For example, the deductible is 1000 dollars, if the damage to the rented car is less than 1000 dollars, the customer pays; if the damage is more than 1000 dollars, the customer pays up to 1000 dollars; and the store’s insurance company pays for the part exceeding 1000 dollars.

Many travelers want more comprehensive coverage and purchase additional insurance. Personnel, vehicle and third-party coverage varies by insurance type. Here are some examples of common types of insurance (note: more checks means more coverage):

When and How to Purchase Insurance

There are two ways to obtain insurance: one is to purchase insurance when booking the car online; the other is to purchase insurance at the local store where the car is rented when picking up the car.

Generally, insurances provided by rental car companies usually has narrower coverage, higher premiums, so purchasing insurance online when booking the car is highly recommended.

How to Choose Insurance

If you are traveling with limited budget, it is better to choose the kind of insurance policy with the most comprehensive coverage. The main reasons are:

1. Repairing fee for the car would probably be higher abroad.
2. In case of an accident, the medical cost and compensation are very high.
3. The wider the coverage, the less the troubles you would deal with, which saves tons of time and energy.

Taking automobile insurance as an instance, comparing to common insurance policies, the most comprehensive insurance coverage, including glasses, tires, chassis protection, and considerations for special road conditions such as sand and rocks, is very necessary, but basic insurance of car rental companies usually does not include full coverage as such.

Picking Up the Car

Check Before Departure

Before proceeding to the car rental shop, make sure you have brought with you all necessary documents for picking up the vehicle, and two international credit cards is recommended to ensure that there is enough credit limit for the pre-authorization.

Proceed to the Car Rentals

If there is a pickup store nearby, you could just walk there, following signs for airport rental cars.

If the rental car center is far away, there is usually a free shuttle bus bound for the rental car center. Shuttle buses run every 10 minutes approximately, so take the bus when you see the logo of your car rental company.

If the shuttle is not available, you can contact the car rental company and wait for staff member to pick you up at designated location. In case you have difficulty communicating with the store staff, please call QEEQ and we will assist you in English or other languages.

Inspect the Car

When you receive your reserved vehicle, inspect the bodywork for damage. At that time, it’s a good idea to document the entire process with your smartphone camera or take a picture of the dashboard. Because if you forgot to check the condition of your vehicle before departure, you may be charged for wronged damage repairs when you return it.

Payment

Payment is due on the day of the rental unless you are paying online or purchasing a tour package.

Insurance is usually included in the rental price, but some car rental companies offer paid options for more comprehensive coverage.

Last but not least, keep all contracts and documents safe for possible further usage. Once you have received your keys, check the seat heights, mirror positions, secure child seats, and then you are ready to go!

Cautions for Cross-border

European countries are close to each other, so if you got time, you may want to consider a cross-country drive. There are two things you need to be sure of when cross-country drive in Ireland: the car rental company and the regulations of each country.

Car Rental Company Regulations

It has concerns to the validity of insurances while you are crossing each country. Different car rental companies have different rules for corresponding car choices and countries:

1. Free pass
2. Cross-border fee needed (per rental/per rental day)
3. Cross-border prohibited

We will let you notice before your order on the view deal page:

Select the country you are going to head for and you’ll see the requirings below.

Please inform the staff of your cross border plan at pickup to confirm the validity of insurances in other countries or any other restrictions should apply.

Regulations of Each Country

When crossing the border, there may be border controls (rare in the Schengen area), which need you to show all documents on request and answer the questions (just like airport border control). Within the European Union, items are duty-free. In addition, if you are carrying cigarettes, alcohol or valuables above the duty-free limit, you must keep a receipt to prove that they are purchased within the European Union, failure to do so will result in taxes.

Traffic Rules and Signs

Drive on the Left

In Ireland vehicles drive on the left side of the road. Please pay attention and spend some time to adjust if your country differs from that. Mind for overtaking on the left side and keep left when you are turning, entering or exiting traffic circles.

Pedestrians Priority

Pedestrians have absolute priority. Vehicles must yield to pedestrians.

Safety Belt and Child Seat

Seat belts must be worn by the driver and passengers (including) in the rear. Children under 150cm in height and 36kg in weight need to use child seat and sit in the rear.

Do Not Use Your Phone when Driving

Do not use your phone while driving for your own safety. And it is strictly forbidden to use a cellphone while driving in Ireland.

Right of Way

The right of way is very important when driving in Ireland. Sometimes there are no signs to remind you of that. The main two right-of-way rules of unmarked roads in Ireland are: the car from the right has right of way; the car in a roundabout has right of way. The vehicle with the right of way may drive pretty fast and would not yield, so keep the rules in mind and avoid in time in case of an accident.

Honk Restrained

Please do not honk between 23:30 p. m. to 7:00 a. m. in residential areas. It might annoy neighboring residents.

Low Beam on in Daylight

Even in the day time, please turn on your low beam light. It is required to turn on the low beam light in Ireland during the day time for the maximum visibility and safety of drivers.

Stop Sign

The stop sign functions as a red light in countries such as Ireland. All vehicles must come to a complete stop of at least 3 seconds when seeing the sign, even there are no pedestrians and vehicle close by.

Yield Sign

If you saw a inverted triangle showing “GEILL SLI” it means that you need to slow down and be ready for a complete stop when the pedestrians and other vehicles have passed safely.

Roundabout Sign

There are many roundabouts in Ireland. As indicated by the sign, cars in a roundabout in Ireland should drive clockwise, which if your country differs from that you need to pay special attention.

If there are cars in the roundabout you need to stop and let them go first before entering, at the same time yielding to vehicles from the right.

Speed Limits

In the Republic of Ireland, the speed limits are: 50 kph (30 mph) in urban areas; 80kph (50 mph) on single open roads; 100kph (60 mph) on national roads (marked by a green sign); and 120 kph (74.5 mph) on motorways.

In Northern Ireland, the speed limits are: 45 kph (30 mph) in urban areas; 95 kph (60 mph) in rural areas; 110 kph (70 mph) on dual carriageways. (Note: a single carriageway is a smaller road with one lane in each direction, whereas a dual carriageway has some kind of divider between the traffic going in opposite directions and usually has at least two lanes in each direction).

Other Common Road Signs

Highway Regulations

Road Conditions

1. Ireland has absolutely gorgeous scenery. Please be careful as you drive and admiring the landscape.
2. Compared with other European countries, the country roads in Ireland are narrower, Please drive with caution.

Toll Roads

There are no toll roads in Northern Ireland, but they do exist in Ireland and often cut down travel time significantly when compared to older, country roads.

You will stop at toll booths to pay when entering toll roads in Ireland, with the important exception of the M50 around Dublin, which uses the eFlow Barrier System.

You will pass through this system if you are traveling to or from Dublin Airport, but there are no physical toll booths. Your car’s license plate will be photographed and you must remember to pay the toll online or at a designated kiosk before 8 p.m. the next day. Payments can be made at https://www.eflow.ie/ or by calling 1890 50 10 50.

Refueling

Types of Fuel

Fuel price in Ireland is about 1.5 euros per liter. Diesel is 10% to 15% cheaper than gasoline (in Ireland called petrol). The green pump is for petrol and the black is diesel.

Gas stations can be few and far between in rural areas, and almost none of them offer 24/7-service. It is a good idea to refill once your tank is half empty. Remember that not all gas stations will take credit cards, so you should have plenty of cash. That means euros in the Republic of Ireland and pounds in Northern Ireland. As you go to fill the tank, make sure you double-check what kind of gas the car needs and what kind of gas the pumps offer.

And if you make the mistake of filling up with the wrong fuel, do not start the car; push it to the side and contact your car rental company immediately. They’ll put you into contact with a mobile tank-cleaner which is costly, but cheaper than losing the engine.

Refuel Steps

Both self-service and manual refueling are available in Spain, and can be paid by credit card or cash.

Cash:

1. Remember the gas gun number
2. Pay at the cashier
3. Choose the gas at the dispenser
4. Refuel your car
5. Change at the cashier

Credit Card:

1. Put in the card
2. Enter information as required
3. Take out the card
4. Choose the gas number
5. Refuel your car

Parking

Where can you park

• Public Parking Lot

Shopping centers and malls usually have free parking lots around them. Parking lots in scenic spots and busy district are usually with fees.

• Roadside Parking

Parking site beside the streets are designated by signs, on which there are specific time limit. This website could inform you some of the parking lots:

Dublin parking – Car Parks, Street Parking, Private Garages

Parking Restricted Areas

• You cannot park at the spaces for the disabled, building entrances and exits, by the fire hydrant and beside a bus station, as the picture below shows.

• You cannot park at spaces where there is a no-parking sign. Some of these places have words like “Loading” or “Taxi (Coach)” on the ground.

How to Pay the Bill

• Pay at the Pay and Display machine:

Self serve: Parking—Choose the time period—Pay—Print the tag—Put the tag on the windshield

• Pay online through websites or Apps

Some car park management companies have their own apps for online payment.

Accident Handling

If you are involved in a traffic accident, do not panic. Check whether the passengers are injured, help yourself and seek help from passersby. Emergency contacts are available at any time.

• Police, Fire & Ambulance: 112 or 999
• This website provides access to multiple embassies of each country in Ireland:https://www.embassypages.com/ireland

Scratch

Ensure the safety of personnel→Move the vehicle to the side of the road without obstructing the traffic→Call 999→Take photos or videos of the condition of the vehicle →Register the accident by police and keep a proper record of the accident→Contact the rental car company and insurance company.

Theft

Call 999 → Police take notes → Insurance report → Verify information → Payment

Malfunction

Call the rental car company → They will send someone nearby to tow your car or change a tire.

If the rental car company is unable to help you, contact a towing service with the help of the police. Car repairs are very expensive sometimes, so it is important to have insurance.

Roadside Assistance

When renting a car and driving in Ireland, if a traffic accident occurs, in addition to calling 999, you can also contact the following emergency contact numbers:

• Roadside Assistance Number in Ireland:

MBS Recovery: 086 265 29 45

East Coast Recovery: 087 698 6474

Irish Towing Services: 01 429 8482

• You can also contact your car rental company:

AVIS: 1-800-352-7900

SIXT: 1 (888) 749 8227

Budget: 800-218-7992

Thrifty: 1-800-283-0898

Hertz: 1-800-654-5060

ACE: (877) 822-3872

Dollar: 800-235-9393

Yesaway: 1 424-800-4990

Returning the Rental Car

To return the car, just drive back to the rental car company, but pay attention to the following things:

Refuel Before Returning

Usually, the basic rule for returning a car is to refuel the gas before returning it to the rental car company.

Even if the time is up, and there may not be a convenient gas station, it’s okay to drive for a while (about 5 kilometers or so) after refueling.

If you tried to return the car after the due time without refueling, or if you drove an excessive long distance after refueling, we will calculate the remaining time and charge you an additional fee.

Inspect the Car

When you arrive, we will have a representative inspect your vehicle for damage. If it had any damage, additional payment would be made.

Reconcile the Fee

When you return the car, the staff will check and record the vehicle and print the settlement list on site. Please check the list carefully, and if you have any unknown charges, you can raise them in person or call customer service to solve the problem.

Keep the Contract and Document

After returning the car, it is recommended to keep the contract and receipts in a safe place in case of needs.

Help after Trip

Traffic Citation

How to Pay Fine Ticket:

There are two main methods to pay a fine: ATM transfer or manual payment.

We recommend you to pay the fine as soon as possible, otherwise you may have to pay a late fee. If you can’t deal with it right away, tell the car rental company when you return the car, and you can let the company charge your credit card directly, but it usually requires a service fee.

Insurance Claim

If you bought a full coverage insurance, you would receive a fast claim settlement. The following documents should be prepared:

1. Passport
2. Driver’s License
3. Credit Card Checkback History
4. The Car Rental Contract
5. Car Damage Deduction Bill

For more detailed information, check the terms and conditions of insurance company:

https://www.qeeq.com/term?info=axa_policy&browser_open=1

Unknown Charges after Trip

If you received an unexpected deduction when you return to your home country, it might be that your violation fee is paid by the car rental company, but usually the deduction amount will be more expensive than the violation fee because that includes the management fee charged by the car rental company. If you don’t know what the violation was, you can contact our customer service for help.

Penalties of traffic offences in Ireland are expensive. Here are some common offences and the corresponding penalties:

Classic Routes

The North

• Causeway Coastal Route

The Causeway Coastal Route in Northern Ireland is a stunning 212-kilometer drive that typically takes about 3 to 5 days to fully explore. Starting in Belfast, the route winds along the coast through picturesque towns and landmarks such as Carrickfergus, the Glens of Antrim, and the iconic Giant’s Causeway. Travelers can also visit the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and the historic Dunluce Castle. The journey concludes in Derry/Londonderry, offering breathtaking views and a rich blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage along the way.

• Games of Thrones Epic Route

The Game of Thrones driving route in Northern Ireland spans approximately 250 kilometers and can be explored over 2 to 3 days. Starting in Belfast, the journey takes you through iconic filming locations such as the Dark Hedges in Ballymoney, Ballintoy Harbour, and Cushendun Caves. Travelers can also visit Castle Ward, which served as Winterfell, and the picturesque Downhill Beach. The route offers fans of the series a chance to immerse themselves in the dramatic landscapes and settings that brought the world of Westeros to life.

The Southwest

• Ring of Kerry

The Ring of Kerry is a scenic driving route approximately 179 kilometers long, typically taking a day to explore, though many choose to extend their visit to fully enjoy the sights. Starting and ending in Killarney, this circular route takes you through the stunning landscapes of County Kerry, including the towns of Kenmare, Sneem, Waterville, Cahersiveen, and Killorglin. Along the way, travelers can experience breathtaking coastal views, lush green mountains, and historical sites such as Muckross House and Ross Castle. The Ring of Kerry offers a quintessential Irish experience, showcasing the natural beauty and cultural richness of the region.

The East

• Ireland’s Ancient East

The Ireland’s Ancient East driving route covers approximately 500 kilometers and can be explored over 5 to 7 days. Starting in Dublin, the journey takes you through a rich tapestry of history and culture, with key stops including the ancient monastic site of Glendalough, the medieval town of Kilkenny, and the historic Rock of Cashel. Travelers can also explore the Viking city of Waterford and the prehistoric tombs of Newgrange. This route offers a deep dive into Ireland’s storied past, with stunning landscapes and historical landmarks at every turn.

The West

• Wild Atlantic Way

The Wild Atlantic Way is a breathtaking coastal driving route stretching approximately 2,500 kilometers along Ireland’s west coast, from the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal to Kinsale in County Cork. This journey can take about 1 to 2 weeks to fully experience, depending on stops and activities. The route passes through dramatic landscapes and charming towns, including Galway, the Cliffs of Moher, the Ring of Kerry, and the Dingle Peninsula. Travelers will encounter rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, and vibrant cultural experiences, making it a perfect adventure for those seeking Ireland’s natural beauty and rich heritage.

Useful Websites and Numbers

• Emergency Numbers:

Police, fire and ambulance: 999; 999/112 in Republic of Ireland

• Roadside Assistance, Embassies, Tourist Supports:

Republic of Ireland:

the Automobile Association (AA) Breakdown Service: 1800 66 77 88

Embassies： https://www.dfa.ie/embassies/irish-embassies-abroad/

https://www.dfa.ie/embassies/embassies-in-ireland

Those who become victims of a crime while in Ireland can contact Tourist SOS – We’re Here to Help | Tourist SOS.

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm; Sundays and public holidays from 12pm-6pm

Contact details: Tel: +353 1 661 0562; WhatsApp: +353 87 47 69 402; email: info@touristsos.ie

Tourist SOS, Pearse Street Garda Station, Pearse Street, Dublin 2, D02 W289

Tourist SOS, O’Connell Street Garda Station, Dublin 1 D01 W773

• Northern Ireland:

the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) Breakdown Service: 0333 2000 999

https://www.rac.co.uk

Embassies：

https://www.gov.uk/world/embassies

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/foreign-embassies-in-the-uk

Those who are victims of a crime in Northern Ireland can contact https://www.victimsupportni.com/

Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday from 9am-5pm, Thursday 9am-8pm

Contact details: Victim Support NI, Central office, 1st floor Albany House, 73-75 Gt Victoria St, Belfast, BT2 7AF. Tel: +44 (0) 28 90 244039; email: info@victimsupportni.org.uk