Ireland
Driving Abroad
Last verified August 7, 2026
Written for U.S. passport holders
License Requirements
- As a visitor, you can drive on a current, valid license from outside the EU/EEA, including a U.S. license, for up to 12 months, no International Driving Permit required.
If You Take Up Residence
- Once you take up normal residence in Ireland rather than just visiting, you must exchange your U.S. license for an Irish one or apply for a new one through the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS). The 12-month tourist allowance doesn't apply once you're a resident.
Road Basics for Americans
- Ireland drives on the left side of the road, the opposite of the U.S., with the steering wheel on the right side of the vehicle. Roundabouts flow clockwise, and it's worth consciously looking right first when crossing a street on foot, since that instinct doesn't come naturally.
- Speed limits and distances are posted in kilometers (km/h), not miles. A 100 km/h limit is about 62 mph; a 50 km/h limit, common in towns, is about 31 mph.
The Gotcha
Ireland's 12-month visitor allowance for a U.S. license is generous by comparison to most of Europe, and doesn't need an IDP, but the moment your stay shifts from 'visiting' to 'residing' (a lease, a job, that sort of thing), that allowance stops applying, regardless of how much of the 12 months you have left.
Sources
This page was drafted from the primary sources below. Rules change, so check the linked page directly before relying on any of this.
- Driving in Ireland (U.S. Mission Ireland)
- Foreign driving licences in Ireland (Citizens Information (Government of Ireland))