Many people travel between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, whether for business or pleasure. But if you’re planning on driving in the ROI for the first time, you might wonder if you need to take out additional cover beforehand. In this blog, we tell you everything you need to know.
Driving in the Republic of Ireland
Following Brexit, driving in the Republic of Ireland is no longer as easy as it once was. Thankfully, your regular car insurance should still cover you to drive in Éire, though you might want to check your policy or talk to your insurance provider to make sure.
Insurance and green card cover
In order to prove you have valid insurance, you will need to ensure that your car insurance includes green card cover, which will allow you to travel in the EU, which the Republic of Ireland is a part of. Please note that you will need a physical copy of your green card, so you should carry this with you when you travel. Multiple green cards might be required if you’re towing a vehicle; please refer to the government website for further details.
If your car insurance doesn’t come with a green card, you’ll need to contact your insurance provider and request one. This can take up to a month to arrive, so it’s important that you apply for this ahead of time.
At Sterling NI, our car insurance comes with green card cover as standard, which can be printed at your leisure. If you don’t have access to a printer, we can send you the physical green card in the post.
Will I need anything else when I travel?
There are a number of other documents that you’ll need to take with you. This includes the following.
UK or Northern Ireland driving licence
Unlike other EU countries, you won’t need an international driving licence when you travel to the Republic of Ireland. However, you will need to take your valid driving licence with you. Either a UK driving licence or a Northern Ireland driving licence are acceptable.
Valid passport
When travelling in the Republic of Ireland and other countries within the European Union, you’ll need to carry a valid passport with you. Although you won’t need a full six months left on your passport to travel to ROI, it will still need to be valid for the duration of your trip.
Healthcare and travel insurance
It’s generally recommended that you take out travel insurance and a healthcare card when you travel to a country in the EU. You will be eligible for state healthcare when you travel, but you’ll need one of the following to use this:
- European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
- UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)
- Travel insurance with healthcare cover
Please note that you can use an EHIC until it expires but will then need to apply for a GHIC afterwards. This is the new version of the EHIC post-Brexit.
Get car insurance with Sterling NI
Whatever your situation, get tailored car insurance with Sterling NI. We can help you find quality cover at a reasonable price – all with green card cover included as standard. Speak to our knowledgeable experts for more information.
