Page 23 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Ireland

Driving in Ireland 21

Above Farmer driving cattle along an Irish country lane Above right Bikers stopping for a break at a café in Kinvarra, Co Galway
especially during peak season, and Further information about car hire is DIRECTORY
you will often get a better rate. Most available from the Car Rental Council
rental cars in Ireland are standard in the Republic and the British DISABLED DRIVERS
(manual) shift. Automatic cars are Vehicle and Leasing Association Disabled Drivers’ Association
available but they cost more and in Northern Ireland. For information of Ireland
must always be booked in advance. on motorhome hire, contact the Irish 094 936 4054; www.ddai.ie
Consider renting a smaller car than Caravan and Camping Council. Irish Wheelchair Association
you may be used to at home, as they 01 818 6400; www.iwa.ie
are much easier to handle on narrow Driving in Rain and Fog CAR AND MOTORHOME/RV HIRE
country roads. If you require a child When rain, mist, fog or cloudy
seat, this should be booked well in conditions reduce light levels, British Vehicle Renting and Leasing
Association
advance as well. dipped headlights should be used. www.bvrla.co.uk
Always let the rental company Turn on fog lights whenever visibility
know, for insurance purposes, if you is less than 100 m (328 ft). If you Car Rental Council
www.carrentalcouncil.ie
plan to drive between the Republic bring a left-hand-drive vehicle over
and Northern Ireland. Third party for your trip round Ireland, you will Dan Dooley Car Rentals
062 53103; www.dan-dooley.ie
insurance is compulsory and is need to deflect the beam of your
included in the rate. Some rental headlights. Beam-adjusters are Irish Caravan and Camping Council
agreements also include Collision simple to use; you can buy them at www.camping-ireland.ie
Damage Waiver (CDW), which limits ferry terminals, or check with your Irish Horse Drawn Caravans
your liability for damages to the rented motoring organization. Snow and ice www.irishhorsedrawncaravans.com
car, theft/loss cover and personal are rare in Ireland, but you still may
injury insurance; others charge encounter them in mountain areas in
additional fees for these items. Read winter. Reduce your speed in adverse
the agreement carefully if you are at conditions, as you will need a far
all unsure about what your coverage greater braking distance, and poor
and liabilities are. Some drivers may visibility gives you less time to react
be able to use insurance from a to sudden hazards.
personal credit card to claim CDW,
but check carefully with your card Below far left Mountain road near Portsalon,
company to make sure that they Fanad Peninsula Below left Main Street,
cover your trip to Ireland (many Cushendall Below centre Traditional horse-
don’t) and be prepared to show drawn caravan from Tralee Below Sheep crossing
proof of cover. the road at the foot of Slievemore, Co Mayo

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