Living in downtown Toronto, I barely ever drive. Between the TTC, Uber, Lyft, and now even Hopp, I've managed to outsource most of my transportation needs.
But every now and then — whether it's a road trip, errands, or Gaelic football practice — I find myself driving in Ontario. And let me tell you, driving in Canada is a completely different experience compared to back home in Ireland.
Indeed, the big stuff hits you first: Canadians drive on the right, we drive on the left. That takes a bit of getting used to, but your brain eventually rewires.
What really surprised me, though, were the rules, the habits, and the general driving culture on the road here in Canada. From how people use their horns to how insurance works, the differences kept piling up — and some of them totally blew my Irish mind.
From road etiquette to understanding the various laws, here are eight things that gave me a bit of culture shock as an Irishman driving in Canada for the first time.
Drivers turn on a red light
One of the first driving rules in Canada that caught me off guard was the ability to turn right at a red light. Even before I got behind the wheel, I noticed drivers doing it and thought, "Wait — is that allowed?"
Turns out, it absolutely is. In most parts of Canada, including Ontario, you're allowed to make a right turn on a red light — as long as you come to a complete stop and the way is clear of oncoming traffic and pedestrians.
This rule doesn't exist in Ireland. There, a red light is a red light. If a turn is permitted, it's typically indicated with a green arrow. The idea of turning right on red still feels a bit rebellious to me — like I'm breaking the rules. I always double-check for pedestrians, glance again at the light, and proceed with extra caution.
And honestly, that's how everyone should approach it. I've had a few close calls while walking, where drivers treated the turn like a green light and barely slowed down. In Ontario, the Highway Traffic Act states that drivers must wait until the crosswalk is completely clear before making that turn — and for good reason. It's meant to protect pedestrians and prevent those too-close-for-comfort moments.
Carpool lanes exist
High-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes in Ontario might just be one of the smartest traffic solutions I've ever seen.
They encourage carpooling by allowing vehicles with multiple passengers to use a designated fast lane, helping drivers bypass heavy traffic, which is especially useful on the often-congested routes into Toronto.
Back in Ireland, there's really no equivalent. We have bus and taxi lanes in major cities, but they're strictly off-limits to regular drivers — even if you're carpooling.
HOV lanes make a lot of sense in a place like Ontario, where traffic congestion is a daily struggle. They encourage ride-sharing, reduce emissions and make you feel like a bit of a VIP when you cruise past a sea of brake lights.
That said, this setup wouldn't be feasible in Ireland. Most of our motorways only have two lanes, so carving out one just for carpoolers isn't practical. But a driver can dream.
Insurance is so much simpler
One thing that really stood out to me when I started driving in Canada was how car insurance works. Unlike in Ireland, where the insurance follows the driver, in Canada, it's usually the car that's covered.
That means if you have a valid licence and permission to drive someone's vehicle, you're generally covered under their insurance — unless you're specifically excluded or considered a regular user who should be listed on the policy.
This system really came into focus for me when I rented a car from Enterprise or used a car-sharing service like Communauto. The ease of just hopping into a vehicle without having to worry about adjusting an insurance policy was a pleasant surprise.
In Ireland, insurance tends to be far more restrictive. Your coverage is tied to a specific vehicle, and typically only the named drivers on your policy are allowed to get behind the wheel. You can pay extra to add other drivers or opt for "open driving," which allows any licensed driver over a certain age to use your car with permission — but even then, it's not as common or seamless.
I did used to have an open driving policy in Ireland and found it incredibly useful, especially when I was the designated driver for nights out.
Canada's approach makes a lot of sense for long road trips too — it allows others to share the driving load without having to jump through hoops. It's a small detail, but one that makes a big difference in how flexible and stress-free travel can be.
Drivers are very horn-happy
One of the first things I noticed while driving in Toronto is that a lot of drivers here seem to love keeping their hands hovering over the horn.
In Ireland, "beeping" is more of a last resort — something you'd do if someone was genuinely driving recklessly, or occasionally to say a quick hello to a friend on the footpath (our word for sidewalk). It's rare and usually meant to communicate something important or friendly.
But in Canada? Some drivers are trigger-happy! Just this week, I was on my way to Gaelic football training, riding shotgun while a friend drove. We were waiting at a red light, and the moment it turned green — I mean, immediately — the driver behind us laid on the horn.
I'm sorry to that driver that we didn't teleport through the intersection the moment the light changed!
Licence plates are way better
One of the quirks I've come to appreciate about driving in Ontario is how licence plates work. Here, the plate belongs to you — not the car. I love that idea.
Back in Ireland, it's the complete opposite. Plates are tied to the vehicle itself and generally stay with it for life. You don't get to choose what they say — the combination is automatically generated based on the year and county of registration.
For example, if I bought a car in Galway that was the third one registered in early 2025, the plate would read: 251-G-3.
And here's a very Irish twist: In 2013, the government actually changed the plate system due to superstition. Under the old format, a car registered in 2013 might have had "13-G-14" on the plate — but since 13 is considered unlucky, the auto industry worried that people might avoid buying new cars that year.
So, in true Irish fashion, we added a workaround. In 2013, the format was adjusted to reflect which half of the year the car was registered in:
- 131 = January to June 2013
- 132 = July to December 2013
The split-year format is still used today — all because of one little "unlucky" number.
Four-way stops are wild
Four-way stop junctions are much more common in Canada than in Ireland.
The first time I pulled up to a four-way stop in Canada, I had no idea what to do. It honestly felt like that scene from The Office where Michael, Dwight, and Andy are locked in a three-way standoff. No one moves. Everyone hesitates. It's chaos.
In Ireland, intersections like that would almost always have a roundabout. Once you get used to them, they're incredibly efficient — traffic just keeps flowing. There's no need to stop if no one's coming, and the right of way is pretty intuitive.
But here in Canada, roundabouts are surprisingly rare. But at some intersections, it feels like you guys need more of them! Cars often spend more time waiting than actually moving. A well-placed roundabout could make a huge difference in keeping things flowing — and maybe even reduce some of that aggressive honking I mentioned earlier.
After that first awkward encounter at a four-way stop, I looked up the rules, and I mostly get them now.
Automatics are so good
We do have automatic cars in Ireland, but they're nowhere near as common as manuals.
Switching to an automatic in Canada genuinely changed my life. In Ireland, especially in heavy traffic, your left foot would be in pain from constantly working the clutch.
Automatics are an absolute breeze. No stalling on hills, no worrying about the wrong gear, just smooth driving. It's lovely being able to keep your left foot planted while your right does all the work.
When I returned to Ireland last Christmas and drove a manual car again, I really struggled at first. Once you get used to an automatic, it's so hard to go back.
Tire-changing is serious business
After spending my first winter here, I was surprised to learn that Canadians actually change their tires for the colder months.
It really highlights the differences in the climates. In Ireland, we use the same tires, or tyres, as we spell it, all year round.
We don't get nearly as much cold or icy weather, but when we do, our tyres aren't actually up to the task. You end up driving extra cautiously and just hoping for the best.
Canadians, on the other hand, are built for winter. Snow tires, snow brushes, block heaters. You guys don't just survive winter, you're ready for it!
So, if you ever find yourself driving in Ireland, here's a warning: don't turn right at a red light!
The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
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