Taking the car to Ireland

MancBrel

After many years light packing and booking hire cars at our destination, we've decided to load up our car and take it with us this year on our trip to Ireland. Basically, I'm putting together a list of things that I think we need to do in preparation, so would appreciate a bit of input of any glaring omissions etc...

1. Ring up Car Insurance Co, to check on cover.
2. Ring up Breakdown Company, to check on cover.
3. Bring Insurance Docs, licence, and V5 form.
4. Have bought GB magnets.


Apart from general holiday insurance, healthcare etc, have I forgot anything? Seem to recall someone mentioning a "green card" but assume that's just something that the car insurance company cover?

Thanks

eezer

Euro's to pay for the road tolls depending on where you're going. Don't think they accept £'s at the toll booth. And take as much food as possible with you as the cost of living seems very expensive currently.

[Deleted User]

MancBrel wrote: »

After many years light packing and booking hire cars at our destination, we've decided to load up our car and take it with us this year on our trip to Ireland. Basically, I'm putting together a list of things that I think we need to do in preparation, so would appreciate a bit of input of any glaring omissions etc...

1. Ring up Car Insurance Co, to check on cover.
2. Ring up Breakdown Company, to check on cover.
3. Bring Insurance Docs, licence, and V5 form.
4. Have bought GB magnets.


Apart from general holiday insurance, healthcare etc, have I forgot anything? Seem to recall someone mentioning a "green card" but assume that's just something that the car insurance company cover?

Thanks

Irish police are lazy,innefficient and largely invisible in Ireland - certainly for motorists.
You could drive all day on motorways and never see one and even on local roads apart from the occasional drink-drive check-point you won't come across them.
And even if you do they'll take one look at your English plates and wave you on.
There just isn't the same number of officers out patrolling as there is in the UK - economic cuts have affected police wages and morale and there isn't a great appetite among them for nicking people unless they have to.
Personally I'd be tempted not to put a GB magnet on your car - there's still a residual dislike of the English in certain areas and while a Paddy will quite happily chance his arm driving round in an English-reg car he simply wouldn't put a GB plate on it.And the police really don't give a toss if you don't have a GB plate or sticker on.
But you will stand out and could attract vandalism to your car.

holidaysforme

Deleted_User wrote: »

Irish police are lazy,innefficient and largely invisible in Ireland - certainly for motorists.
You could drive all day on motorways and never see one and even on local roads apart from the occasional drink-drive check-point you won't come across them.
And even if you do they'll take one look at your English plates and wave you on.
There just isn't the same number of officers out patrolling as there is in the UK - economic cuts have affected police wages and morale and there isn't a great appetite among them for nicking people unless they have to.
Personally I'd be tempted not to put a GB magnet on your car - there's still a residual dislike of the English in certain areas and while a Paddy will quite happily chance his arm driving round in an English-reg car he simply wouldn't put a GB plate on it.And the police really don't give a toss if you don't have a GB plate or sticker on.
But you will stand out and could attract vandalism to your car.

Ah bless, you sound like you have a million and one chips on your shoulder about ireland the irish.
Lots of similar posts like this from you.
I see you're at it again ,- using racist and offensive language in an attempt to get a rise.
It was the scots you were racially abusing a few weeks ago.
Bet you're sick as a parrot that a scot has won wimbledon:rotfl:
You sound rather bitter. It's not good for you you know:D.

MancBrel

Deleted_User wrote: »

Irish police are lazy,innefficient and largely invisible in Ireland - certainly for motorists.
You could drive all day on motorways and never see one and even on local roads apart from the occasional drink-drive check-point you won't come across them.
And even if you do they'll take one look at your English plates and wave you on.
There just isn't the same number of officers out patrolling as there is in the UK - economic cuts have affected police wages and morale and there isn't a great appetite among them for nicking people unless they have to.
Personally I'd be tempted not to put a GB magnet on your car - there's still a residual dislike of the English in certain areas and while a Paddy will quite happily chance his arm driving round in an English-reg car he simply wouldn't put a GB plate on it.And the police really don't give a toss if you don't have a GB plate or sticker on.
But you will stand out and could attract vandalism to your car.

I'll pass on your comments to my uncle who recently retired from the Guards in Ireland. I'm no stranger to the country, as most of my family live there. I just haven't taken the car over before, always hiring at the airport. In all my years, I have only ever experienced one single issue over GB stickers, and that was when I had to stand over my Dads car as an 11 year old to block the sticker from the view of an old lady who's son had been shot dead by British Soldiers. A simple act of kindness, that in all probability wasn't really required.

MancBrel

eezer wrote: »

Euro's to pay for the road tolls depending on where you're going. Don't think they accept £'s at the toll booth. And take as much food as possible with you as the cost of living seems very expensive currently.

I always have a decent float of euros! I remember, at the tail end of the punt era, driving a hire car out of Dublin Airport and heading west onto that bridge with its toll booths. My wife and I just looked at each other! Then I remembered that my Dad had put some Irish coins into my hand just before I set off. He clearly knew that I needed them, but didn't bother to mention it. I could very easily have bought something on the plane with them!

By the way, when I refer to "driving" I actually should point out that my wife is the driver. But in all other regaurds, I am involved in the whole process!

Ireland has never been a cheap place to visit. I'm only planning to bring some food to eat on the ferry and a couple of bottles of wine for later in the week, just in case.

holidaysforme

Have fab time OP. We're heading to Galway soon. Also have family in ireland. We tend to fly, and have only taken the car a couple of times.
Cant wait.:)

[Deleted User]

MancBrel wrote: »

I'll pass on your comments to my uncle who recently retired from the Guards in Ireland. I'm no stranger to the country, as most of my family live there. I just haven't taken the car over before, always hiring at the airport. In all my years, I have only ever experienced one single issue over GB stickers, and that was when I had to stand over my Dads car as an 11 year old to block the sticker from the view of an old lady who's son had been shot dead by British Soldiers. A simple act of kindness, that in all probability wasn't really required.

Perhaps your uncle knows some of my chums in An Garda Siochana.The ones I drink with most days and travel to sporting events and go on holiday with.
Some of their stories would make your hair stand on end.

MancBrel

holidaysforme wrote: »

Have fab time OP. We're heading to Galway soon. Also have family in ireland. We tend to fly, and have only taken the car a couple of times.
Cant wait.:)

We'll also be in Galway, for the races!! I used to practically live at the races as a kid during festival week, but haven't been for over 20 years. I've promised my wife a trip to the festival for donkeys years now, so am making good on that. My family live mainly in Mayo, so we'll be staying with them for a few days before heading off to Galway. We've paid a little extra on the return crossing, so that we can extend our stay if needed. So who knows where we'll end up? My wife also has family in Mayo, but has never met them. I don't think she'll be knocking on unsuspecting doors! Cemetery maybe?

Like yourself we tend to fly. We have relied on trains etc, but that's been when we've been in/around Dublin. As my family live on a farm, we've hired in the past when heading west, apart from when we were much younger.

Have fun!

MancBrel

Deleted_User wrote: »

Perhaps your uncle knows some of my chums in An Garda Siochana.The ones I drink with most days and travel to sporting events and go on holiday with.
Some of their stories would make your hair stand on end.

I remember one night in the late 80's. Another uncle was driving me back from the pub and we passed a drunken man on the main road out of town, wandering all over the place. My Tea Total uncle, on returning home, rang the Guards. The conversation went something like this...

"This fella's all over the place...some poor innocent driver could hit him, and if they've had a drink...you know?"

Everybody that he spoke to the next day used the same logic and rationale. Drink driving was pretty standard then, as it was in rural England to be fair. But the idea that the poor !!!!!! who'd left the car behind was the one in the wrong, that really baffled me!

[Deleted User]

MancBrel wrote: »

I remember one night in the late 80's. Another uncle was driving me back from the pub and we passed a drunken man on the main road out of town, wandering all over the place. My Tea Total uncle, on returning home, rang the Guards. The conversation went something like this...

"This fella's all over the place...some poor innocent driver could hit him, and if they've had a drink...you know?"

Everybody that he spoke to the next day used the same logic and rationale. Drink driving was pretty standard then, as it was in rural England to be fair. But the idea that the poor !!!!!! who'd left the car behind was the one in the wrong, that really baffled me!

Indeed, much has changed since I first moved to Ireland 25 years ago and, like every other EU country, Ireland has cracked down heavily on drink-driving.

However there still isn't the same level and intensity of policing that there is in the UK - and austerity cuts to the police budget and public sector wages has made this situation even worse.

That's not to say Ireland is lawless - just different.

On the upside, Irish tourism is now pulling its finger out to chase every euro it can and thankfully the days of tourists being ripped off are mostly over - although eating out in the few pubs that provide food is still very expensive.