To drive in Ireland, the driver must present a valid national driver's license that has been held for at least 2 years.
An International Driver's Permit (IDP) is recommended for anyone living outside from Ireland. If your domestic driver's license is printed with non Roman Alphabet (Arabic, Japanese, Cyrillic etc), an International Driving Permit (IDP/IDL) or an official translation in English is required when you drive in Ireland. Please note that an International Driving Permit (often referred to as an International Driver's License) cannot replace the requirement for a regular driver's license. And you must carry your current overseas driver’s license, IDP or translation with you all the time when driving in Ireland.
Tips
Some car rental companies require you to have a photo ID licence. If your foreign licence does not have a photo ID, you should get an IDP before travelling to Ireland if you intend to rent a car.
When renting in Ireland, drivers with a UK license (except Northern Ireland) will need to provide evidence of any driving endorsements. You can get and print the DVLA endorsement record in the DVLA* website.
Age Requirement
To rent a car in Ireland you must be at least 21 years old (age may vary by car category). Each car rental company has its own age requirements and a deviation from the minimum age is possible depending on the vehicle. If you're 21-25, you are likely to have to pay a young driver fee.
*Attention! Some car rental companies would have different requirements. Please check Terms and Conditions during the booking process.
To drive in Ireland, the driver must present a valid national driver's license that has been held for at least 2 years. The minimum age to drive in Ireland is 21 years old (age may vary by car category).
An International Driver's Permit (IDP) is recommended for anyone living outside from Ireland. If your domestic driver's license is printed with non Roman Alphabet (Arabic, Japanese, Cyrillic etc), an International Driving Permit (IDP/IDL) or an official translation in English must be required when you drive in Ireland. Please note that an International Driving Permit (often referred to as an International Driver's License) cannot replace the requirement for a regular driver's license. And you must carry your current overseas driver’s license, IDP or translation with you all the time when driving in Ireland.
*Attention! Some car rental companies would have different requirements. Please check Terms and Conditions during the booking process.
