In Ireland you can only get unleaded petrol with octane number 95 (Regular/Premium Unleaded); there is no Super Plus 98. Diesel is widely available and LPG is only available to a limited extent. To fill up your LPG tank, you use a Europa connection (ACME). Petrol stations are open from 7:30 am to 8:00 pm. In larger cities and along motorways they are usually open all day and night. Make sure you have enough fuel in your tank when driving on the motorways, as the petrol stations can be quite far apart.
If your car has an LPG tank, you will not be allowed to drive your car through the Channel Tunnel. Special requirements apply to built-in gas containers in motorhomes and caravans. Portable gas containers are allowed but must be reported. More information: eurotunnel.com.

The network of charging points doesn't cover the entire island yet, so remember to plan your journey well.

Information on ferry times, departures and fares are available from ferry service companies such as brittanyferries.com, irishferries.com, poferries.com and stenaline.com. Fares vary according to season and the departure time. We advise booking early to guarantee a spot.
Check with the operator whether gas bottles can be taken on board.
It is prohibited to take fuel in a reserve tank on the ferry.

In Ireland you drive on the left-hand side of the road. Low beam headlights are compulsory in poor visibility, after dark and in tunnels. Traffic coming from the right has the right of way at an equal intersection. Watch out! When approaching a T-junction, traffic on the main road always has the right of way. Vehicles on roundabouts (coming from the right!) have the right of way over approaching traffic, unless otherwise indicated.
It is prohibited to hold a telephone while behind the wheel, not even when standing still at the lights (hands-free calling is permitted). Children who are under 1.50 metres and weigh less than 36 kilos must sit in a child seat. Winter tyres are not compulsory.

National roads (indicated by the letter ‘N’) and secondary roads (‘R’) generally have a good road surface, but are narrower than most of our roads. The countryside has many narrow roads and lanes lined with hedges or stone walls with special passing places every few kilometres. You have to drive in a counter-clockwise direction on the Ring of Kerry tourist route with its narrow roads. Please note that even though Ireland uses kilometres, distances on signposts are still often given in miles: 1 mile = about 1.6 kilometres.

If you're driving a left-hand drive car, i.e. your steering on the left, you need to adjust the headlights so that they don't shine up at oncoming traffic, or cover them partially (e.g. with headlight stickers from visitbritainshop.com).
You may only drive onto an intersection with a box junction (diagonal stripes) if you can pass it without stopping. Smoking inside vehicles with passengers under the age of 18 is prohibited. Parking is forbidden along a yellow line, among other things.
There are level train crossings in Ireland with a gate, which you need to open and close yourself (read the instructions carefully and keep paying attention).

You are advised to carry a reflecting warning triangle, at least two high-vis vests, a first-aid kit, a fire extinguisher, a torch and spare bulbs for your vehicle.

A motorhome or car-caravan combination may not be higher than 4.65 metres, more than 2.55 metres wide and over 18.75 metres long (the caravan itself may not be longer than 12 metres).

Wearing a bicycle helmet is not compulsory.

Toll is payable on a number of bridges and roads. You can pay in cash on most toll roads. On the M50 around Dublin, you can only pay the toll electronically (cameras register your licence plate). You are required to pay the M50 toll at a service station (Payzone) or online at eflow.ie by 8:00 pm the following day. More information: tii.ie, payzone.ie.

You are advised to place your warning triangle at a safe distance behind the car. All passengers should wear hi-visibility safety vests for extra safety. Watch out! Don't set up a warning triangle on motorways.
If your car or motorhome breaks down, call the emergency number of your breakdown service provider. Alternatively, you can call the Irish roadside assistance (AA Ireland) on +353 1 649 7460. You can also call for roadside assistance on motorways using an orange emergency phone on your side of the carriageway. It is illegal to repair your car on the hard shoulder.

Most campsites are in the countryside and in coastal areas. Most of the campgrounds are small, straightforward and relatively cheap. Irish campsites often have well-maintained grassy areas and hard-surfaced pitches for caravans, campervans and motorhomes. Camping for free outside campsites is in most cases prohibited in Ireland, except when a landowner specifically grants permission to camp on his or her private property.