When traveling around Ireland, you need to take into account the fact that some local “back roads” can be quite narrow. Sometimes you even get the feeling that the road is one-way, but this is not so: traffic goes in both directions.
Of course, there are also highways on the Emerald Isle, but it is not always possible to get to the attractions along them, so sometimes you will have to drive along narrow “paths”. It’s understandable that a vacationer would want to rent an SUV, minivan or motorhome: everyone wants to travel in comfort. But in Ireland, “more” does not mean “better”.
Choose the smallest car you can fit in! This way, you will get rid of the headache of driving around with tourist buses and finding parking.
Read the fine print carefully!
Rent a car – what could be easier? Book a car online, pay and pick up the keys. But there are nuances in Ireland that are best learned about before traveling. Typically, rental cars come with “basic collision damage coverage” (CDW), but this is not comprehensive coverage. It covers the amount of damage up to 1000–3000 euros, and even then with reservations. For example, you will have to pay for a broken windshield out of your own pocket.
Before you get behind the wheel, it would be a good idea to take pictures and video of any damage to the car. This will help avoid landlord claims in the future. It would also be a good idea to clarify whether insurance is valid in Northern Ireland. Please note: there is one island, but two countries! At the same time, there is, de facto, no border between them. And although, as a rule, you do not need to purchase anything additional (the entire island is included in the coverage), for your own peace of mind it is worth clarifying this point. And one more piece of advice: it’s better to pay for insurance online – it’s cheaper than in a local office.