France's winter tyre rule is back on 1 November: what drivers need

What applies from 1 November

France's winter equipment rule, part of its mountain law, applies again from 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027. It covers communes in 34 departments across six mountain ranges: the Alps, Corsica, the Massif Central, the Jura, the Pyrenees and the Vosges.

It doesn't cover whole departments. Each prefect sets the list of communes, and road signs mark where the zones begin. It applies to vehicles with four or more wheels, so cars, vans and campervans. Motorcycles aren't covered.

What counts

Any one of these keeps you legal inside a zone:

• Four winter tyres marked 3PMSF, the three-peak mountain and snowflake symbol. Tyres marked only M+S no longer count on their own.
• Snow chains or textile snow socks in the boot, enough for at least two driven wheels, ready to fit.
• Studded tyres.

Fines: still not in force

A €135 fine was planned, but the decree needed to issue it still hasn't been published, so police can't fine drivers for missing equipment. That was still the position at the end of September 2026.

That doesn't make the rule toothless. During snowfall, prefects can close roads or require chains on a particular route regardless of the seasonal rule. French sources also warn that being caught unequipped can count against you in an insurance claim after an accident.

What to do before you go

• On UK summer tyres, carry snow socks or chains for the driven wheels and practise fitting them at home, not on a dark hairpin.
• Check your car's handbook for what it allows. If you need chains, buy them for your exact tyre size.
• If your route crosses mountain areas between November and March, assume you'll be in a zone and look out for the signs. The commune lists are published by each department's prefect.
• Riding? The rule doesn't apply to motorcycles, but snow and ice do, and many high passes close for the winter anyway.