Winter tires, chains: mandatory equipment in mountain areas from 1 November 2023

Which vehicles are involved?

All vehicles with four or more wheels are covered by this obligation: light vehicles, commercial vehicles, campers, coaches, buses and heavy goods vehicles.

Which areas are affected?

The prefects of the 34 departments located in mountainous massifs (Alps, Corsica, Central Massif, Jurassien Massif, Pyrenees, Vosges Massif) must draw up a list of municipalities in which vehicle equipment becomes compulsory during the winter period, i.e. 1^er November to March 31. This list shall be drawn up with and after consultation with the local elected representatives concerned.

You can consult the prefectural orders in the departments concerned.

See the list of municipalities concerned by the obligation of equipment during the winter period.

What signs to indicate mandatory equipment areas?

Road signs shall indicate to road users the entrances to and exits from mountainous areas where the winter equipment requirement applies. A sign indicates the winter period, reminding users that these obligations apply only to 1^er November to March 31. Signage is required for the measure to be enforceable.

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What equipment is required?

In areas established by the prefects, vehicles will be required to:

• have in their trunks metal snow chains or snow socks suitable for fitting at least two driving wheels; or
• or be equipped with 4 winter tires, mounted on at least 2 wheels of each axle. For the coming winters, from 2023 to 2024, the designation “winter tire” will cover all tires identified by one of the markings “M+S”, “M.S” or “M&S” or by the joint presence of the marking of the “alpine symbol” (recognized under the designation “3PMSF” (3 Peak Mountain Snow Flake)) and one of the markings “M+S”, “M.S” or “M&S”. From 1^er November 2024, it will only cover tires identified by the joint presence of the “Alpine symbol” marking (recognized under the name “3PMSF” (3 Peak Mountain Snow Flake) and one of the markings “M+S”, “M.S” or “M&S”.

This requirement does not apply to vehicles equipped with stud tires.

Coaches, buses and heavy goods vehicles without trailers or semi-trailers are also subject to these obligations with the choice between winter chains or tires. Heavy goods vehicles with trailers or semi-trailers must have snow chains capable of fitting at least two driving wheels, even if they are equipped with winter tires.