Driver Jobs in Ireland (2026 Guide)

If you’re interested in driver jobs in Ireland, you’re looking at a diverse field — from van and delivery driving to truck, bus, and coach driver roles. Driving work is one of the most accessible employment categories because it doesn’t always require a university degree, and the demand for drivers remains steady as logistics, delivery, transport, and services continue to grow.

However, expectations differ sharply depending on the exact type of driver job you want, whether you’re already in Ireland, and if you’re a non‑EU worker looking at visa sponsorship. Let’s break it down honestly.

Types of Driver Jobs in Ireland

🚚 Delivery Drivers

These drivers transport goods — parcels, food, groceries, furniture — to homes and businesses. Positions range from part‑time food couriers to full‑time van delivery roles.

🚐 Van / Light Commercial Vehicle Drivers

Often involve scheduled deliveries for retailers or distributors. These are among the most common “driver” vacancies listed on Irish job boards.

🚛 Truck / HGV Drivers

For larger freight transport, often regional or long‑haul. These require commercial driving licences and sometimes additional certifications.

🚌 Bus / Coach Drivers

Public or private passenger transport — including school buses, city and regional services.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Taxi / Rideshare Drivers

Independent or company‑contracted drivers operating passenger vehicles. Rates vary based on location, shift, and passenger demand.

Realistic Pay in Ireland for Drivers

Driver pay in Ireland varies widely depending on role, experience, and vehicle type — but here are realistic figures as of 2026:

💶 Delivery & Van Drivers

• Typical annual pay: €30,000 – €33,000 for full‑time van drivers.

• Many part‑time delivery gigs pay €17–€21 per hour.

• Independent contract drivers may make €18–€20/hr with allowances.

🚛 Truck / HGV Drivers

• Annual salaries often range from €27,000 – €38,000+, with higher pay for regional or long‑haul routes.

🚌 Bus / Coach Drivers

• Average around €30,870 – €36,592 per year (~€600–€780/week).

📊 General “Driver” Roles

• Data shows average driver income around €31,000–€43,000 per year (~€18/hr).

Summary: A typical full‑time driving job in Ireland pays around €30,000–€40,000 per year, with variation based on experience, type of driving work, and employer.

Licensing & Qualification Requirements

✔ Car / Van Drivers (Category B) – A full Irish/EU driving licence is required. Most delivery and van positions require this as a minimum.
✔ Truck / HGV Drivers (Category C/CE) – A commercial licence and often a Driver CPC card (Driver Certificate of Professional Competence) are essential for heavy goods vehicles.
✔ Bus / Coach Drivers – Require specific passenger vehicle licences and training, and some employers prioritize experience.

For many logistics firms, clean driving records and transport documentation checks are mandatory.

Can Foreign Workers Get Driver Jobs in Ireland? (Visa Reality)

Here’s the honest part:

✅ EU / EEA Citizens

You can work as a driver in Ireland without a work permit — just apply directly and meet the licensing requirements.

❌ Non‑EU Citizens

You can work, but you must have the right to work legally in Ireland before you start. Most driving roles require an employer to sponsor a General Employment Permit (GEP) — and that typically means:

• Your job offer must meet a minimum salary threshold (about €39,000+ for many permits).

• The employer must prove they couldn’t find a local hire.

For many entry‑level delivery or van roles that pay below the permit salary threshold, visa sponsorship is rare — employers usually don’t do LMIA‑style recruitment for those.

In practice:
❗ You cannot just come to Ireland as a tourist and start working legally as a driver.
❗ Visa sponsorship tends to occur only if the employer goes through the formal work permit process and your salary meets the requirements.

Many foreigners instead enter legally via student visas or family permits first, then transition to work — but that’s process‑heavy and not guaranteed.

Work Conditions & Typical Duties

Driver jobs vary, but common tasks include:

📦 Delivery Drivers

✔ Load and unload goods
✔ Follow delivery schedules
✔ Customer drop‑offs and pickups
✔ Navigation and planning

🚛 Truck Drivers

✔ Long‑distance routes
✔ Safety checks and logbooks
✔ Freight handling and documentation

🚌 Bus / Coach Drivers

✔ Follow timetables
✔ Ensure passenger safety
✔ Assist customers

Driving work often involves:

• Early starts

• Variable weather

• Shift flexibility (weekends and nights)

• Time on the road

It’s not a comfortable office job — it’s work on the move.

Where Driver Jobs Are Most Common

Driver job ads are most frequent in:

📍 Dublin – logistics, deliveries, and bus services
📍 Cork, Galway – delivery and regional routes
📍 Limerick, Waterford, Kilkenny – goods transport and courier jobs

Rural areas also have demand, especially for home‑delivery roles and regional freight.

Where to Find Driver Jobs (Practical)

📱 Job Boards

• Indeed Ireland

• IrishJobs.ie

• LinkedIn

These sites list daily driver jobs across types — van, truck, coach, delivery, and logistics.

🚚 Company Careers Pages

Transport firms and logistics companies post roles directly. Family‑run businesses often recruit locally and advertise regional driving vacancies.

🤝 Temp & Staffing Agencies

Some drivers are placed through agencies that specialize in logistics and warehousing roles.

📣 Network Locally

Especially for truck and bus driving roles, local referral and in‑person applications often work better than random online submissions.

Pros & Cons — Honest Snapshot

Pros

✔ Many driving roles exist — delivery, van, truck, bus.
✔ No degree required for most jobs.
✔ Reasonable pay compared with other entry jobs (€30k–€40k average).
✔ Experience and longer routes tend to pay better.

Cons

✘ Visa sponsorship is not common for all roles — especially entry delivery jobs below the permit salary threshold.
✘ Work can involve long hours and unsocial shifts.
✘ Licensing requirements (commercial licences) take time and money for truck roles.
✘ Traffic and weather can make the job stressful.

Ireland Driver Jobs

Driver jobs in Ireland are real and abundant across several categories — from delivery and van work to buses and trucks. They pay reasonably well relative to many other entry jobs and don’t require advanced degrees.

But if you’re a non‑EU worker, the visa situation is the key hurdle — employers will only sponsor if the job and salary fit the permit criteria, and small delivery gigs rarely do. The more skilled or regulated the driving role (e.g., HGV or bus), the better your chances if the employer is willing to navigate work permit processes.

Approach it like a career: get the right licence, build experience, and secure legitimate work authorisation before planning around relocation.