Discovering Ireland - Guide for Daily Living

Child Safety Regulations Only EU-approved car seats can be used in Ireland. Car seats can be chosen based on a child’s height or weight. For height-based seats, children must be over 15 months-old before they can be in a forward-facing position. Weight based car seats are as follows: + 0 kg to 25 kg: Rear-facing baby carrier/seat with a harness + 9 kg to 18 kg: Rear- or forward-facing baby seat using a harness or safety shield + 15 kg to 36 kg: Forward-facing child seat using a seatbelt + Over 22 kg: Booster cushion Parking Irish roads do not tend to be as wide as those in other countries. The parking regulations are made locally and vary hugely in different parts of the country. The signs on the left indicate, respectively, areas where parking is and is not permitted. A total ban on parking is indicated by a double yellow line on the side of the road, a single yellow line indicates that parking may be permitted at sometimes, usually at weekends or out of business hours. Parking on the street is severely restricted in most towns and cities in Ireland, and around busy tourist areas. Helpful Hint: Parking difficulty is directly related to size proportion of the town you are parking in. While parking in the cities can cost up to €3 per hour, many small towns offer free parking. Expenses Car ownership in Ireland is expensive, there are numerous taxes that must be paid. In addition, taxes are legally required to have motor vehicle insurance when driving in Ireland. If you fail to do so, you may incur fines and penalty points and could be disqualified from driving. Value Added Tax You are liable to pay the standard Value Added Tax (VAT) when you purchase a vehicle in Ireland, also be liable to pay VAT for new vehicles that you import into Ireland, even if you paid VAT in the country that you purchased it from. However, if you can provide evidence that the car has been used for at least six months and the vehicle has travelled over 6,000 kilometers when you register it, then you may be able to avoid paying VAT. Motor Tax The Irish Government imposes motor tax on all vehicles. Once your car has been registered, you will receive the Form RF100 Motor Tax Application which you will need to complete in order to pay the required motor tax.

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Discovering Ireland