Home Guides Taking your car to Europe from Ireland
Car ownership · IrelandTaking your car to Europe from Ireland
Direct ferries put France within a night’s sail of Ireland, and the paperwork is lighter than people fear — the trip succeeds or fails on preparation: the car checked over, the required kit per country aboard, and documents that would satisfy a roadside stop.
Getting there
Direct routes run from Ireland to France — Dublin and Rosslare to Cherbourg, Cork to Roscoff among them — landing you on the continent without touching Britain, which post-Brexit is the simpler play. Book cabins early for summer, and plan the first day’s drive short: you disembark into right-hand traffic on the wrong side of the car, and the first hour is where Irish drivers make their continental mistakes.
The kit and the car
Continental rules expect equipment Irish law never asked of you: warning triangle, high-visibility vests reachable from the seats (France expects one per occupant within reach, not in the boot), headlamp beam adaptation for right-hand traffic, and a country identifier — the IRL on modern Irish plates generally serves within the EU. Some countries add seasonal or local requirements, so check the current rules for each country you will cross, not just the destination. Before any of it: a pre-trip check at your local garage — cooling system, tyres including the spare, brakes — because the M-road breakdown that is annoying at home is a different animal on a French autoroute.
Documents and if it goes wrong
Carry your full licence, the Vehicle Registration Certificate, insurance certificate and NCT disc; EU driving needs no green card or international permit for Irish licence holders. Ring your insurer before you sail and confirm exactly what cover level travels with you and for how long — policies differ on foreign-use duration and on whether cover abroad drops to third-party. European breakdown cover is its own decision, covered in its own guide: on the continent, motorway recovery is often state-franchised and self-arranged help may not be permitted on the carriageway itself.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need a green card or international permit in the EU?
No — an Irish licence and Irish insurance serve across the EU; the green-card requirement does not apply to EU travel. Confirm your policy’s foreign-cover LEVEL and duration with your insurer before you go, which is a different question.
What must be in the car for France?
The continental basics: warning triangle, high-vis within reach of occupants, headlamp adaptation, country identifier. Requirements evolve — check the current French rules before travelling, and the rules of any country you transit.
Which ferry route should I take?
Direct to France (Cherbourg or Roscoff from Dublin, Rosslare or Cork) avoids Britain entirely — usually the simplest post-Brexit. The landbridge through Britain can be faster to book but adds two crossings and UK transit to think about.
Written and reviewed by the Escargo team · Updated 9 August 2026 · Escargo shows real local businesses only — where none is listed yet, the page says so honestly.