Rules of the road
Driving in Ireland
Every value below links to the official source it was checked against, with the date it was checked. What is not verified yet says so.
Which side of the road
Speed limits
Speed limit on country roads
80 km/h
Regional (R-numbered) roads. National (N) roads are 100. Small local (L-numbered) roads dropped to 60 in February 2025 — older guidance still says 80.
Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source
Speed limit in towns and cities
50 km/h
More and more town cores and housing areas are signed 30.
Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source
Alcohol
How much alcohol you may have in your blood
50 mg/100ml
Much stricter than Great Britain's 80 — a pint can put you over here.
Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source
Alcohol limit for drivers who passed their test recently
20 mg/100ml
Learners and drivers in their first two years — effectively zero.
Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source
Your licence and age
Whether you need an International Driving Permit
Not required
A valid licence in English or Latin script is enough for visits. Licences in other scripts should be carried with an International Driving Permit.
Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source
How long you may drive on your own licence
12 months
As a visitor, on your own country's licence.
Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source
Phones at the wheel
Holding a phone while driving
Not allowed
Court fines can reach 2,000 euros.
Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source
Seatbelts and children
Height below which a child needs a child seat
150 cm
Or under 36 kg. Licensed taxis are exempt.
Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source
Tolls and city charges
How you pay for motorways
- Toll booths
- Electronic tolls with no barriers
Most tolls are barriers taking cards or cash. The big exception is Dublin's M50: no barriers, cameras only — pay online or at a Payzone shop by 8pm the NEXT day, or penalties go to the rental company. Rental cars often carry a tag; ask when you collect the car.
Checked 6 Aug 2026 · official source
32 rules not yet verified for Ireland
These rules exist, but no value has been checked against an official source yet. Missing beats wrong.
- Which side you overtake on
- Speed limit on a dual carriageway
- Speed limit in living and residential zones
- Speed limit in rain or snow
- Speed limit for drivers who passed their test recently
- Speed limit when towing a trailer or caravan
- Alcohol limit for professional drivers
- Youngest age you may drive
- Youngest age you may rent a car
- What you must carry in the car
- What you should carry, but do not have to
- When you must switch your headlights on
- Headlights in tunnels
- Turning at a red light
- Who has priority at a roundabout
- Priority to traffic coming from the right
- Age below which a child needs a child seat
- Youngest age a child may sit in the front
- What the lines and painted kerbs mean
- How you pay to park
- Parking on the pavement
- Parking facing against the traffic
- How far you must park from a junction or crossing
- What happens if you park wrongly
- Winter tyres
- When winter tyre rules apply
- Snow chains
- Low-emission zones
- Congestion charges
- Emergency number
- Typical fines
- Whether police can fine you on the spot