Driving in Winter conditions - What to know before your rental

 

Driving in winter conditions can be challenging for all of us, to better prepare drivers for travelling in winter conditions, legally some countries will have restrictions on the equipment a vehicle should carry or have fitted, including in particular, snow tires.

Whilst driving abroad it's important to adhere to the driving laws in that country.  Failure to do so could result in a fine or temporary loss of your vehicle.

Snow tires and snow chains are available to hire from Europcar for an additional fee and must be requested at time of booking. Snow tires can be booked online or via our Call Centre.

 

We have set out the below legal requirements for information purposes only.

We strongly recommend you check The  European Commission which has additional information on international traffic rules concerning winter tires.

We cannot be held liable for any loss howsoever arising as a result of any errors or omissions in the information below.

Country Snow Tires Snow Chains
Andorra There is no legal requirement for the use of snow tires. You should carry snow chains when travelling in Andorra. Road signs across Andorra indicate when snow chains are compulsory.
Austria Whilst travelling in Austria between 1 November and 15 April and if roads are covered with ice or snow, it is a legal requirement to use snow tires. All tires should have a minimum tread depth of 4mm. You should carry snow chains when travelling in Austria. Road signs across Austria indicate when snow chains are compulsory. Snow chains on the driving wheels will only be allowed as an alternative to snow tires where the road is fully covered by snow and/or ice and the road surface will not be damaged by the snow chains. Failure to comply with the legislation can result in fines or the temporary loss of your vehicle.
Belgium There is no legal requirement for the use of snow tires. You are permitted to use snow chains where there is ice or snow, but this is not a mandatory requirement.
Bulgaria There is no legal requirement for the use of snow tires. You should carry snow chains when travelling in Bulgaria during 1 November and 31 March as road signs across Bulgaria indicate when a snow chain is compulsory.
Cyprus There is no legal requirement for the use of snow tires.  
Czech Republic There is no legal requirement for the use of snow tires. However, during the 1 November and 1 April you must carry snow tires when travelling in the Czech Republic as road signs indicate when snow tires are compulsory. You should carry snow chains when travelling in Czech Republic. Road signs across Czech Republic indicate when a snow chain is compulsory.
Denmark There is no legal requirement for the use of snow tires. You are permitted to use snow chains.
Estonia Whilst travelling in Estonia between 1 December and 1 March, it is a legal requirement to use snow tires. If there are sever weather conditions outside of these dates the requirements for snow tires during this time may be extended. You are permitted to use snow chains but this is not mandatory.
Finland Whilst travelling in Finland between 1 December and 31 March it is a legal requirement to use snow tires. You are permitted to use snow chains but this is not a mandatory requirement.
France There is no legal requirement for the use of snow tires. You should carry snow chains when travelling in France. Road signs across France indicate when a snow chain is compulsory.
Germany Whilst travelling in Germany it is compulsory to use snow tires. Failure to comply with the legislation can result in a fine, and if you cause an accident then the fine can be increased, and mean the level of your insurance could be reduced by up to 20 - 30%. You should carry snow chains when travelling in Germany. In Germany it is compulsory that snow chains are fitted to vehicles.
Greece There is no legal requirement for the use of snow tires.  
Hungary There is no legal requirement for the use of snow tires. There is a legal requirement to carry snow chains when travelling in Hungary. If you fail to do so your vehicle will not be permitted to travel in Hungary.
Iceland Between 1 November and 14 April and it is a legal requirement to use snow tires.  
Ireland There is no legal requirement for the use of snow tires. You are permitted to use snow chains but this is not a mandatory requirement.
Italy There is no legal requirement for the use of snow tires, but it is recommended that they are used. However, some road signs across Italy indicate when a snow chain or snow tires are compulsory. In the Val d'Aosta area from 15 October to 15 April all vehicles must be either fitted with winter tires or snow chains. You should carry snow chains when travelling in Italy. Road signs across Italy indicate when snow chains are compulsory.
Latvia If your vehicle weighs less than 3.5 tons, then between 1 December and 1 March it is a legal requirement to use snow tires. You are permitted to use snow chains but this is not a legal requirement.
Liechtenstein There is no legal requirement for the use of snow tires. You are permitted to use snow chains, but this is not a legal requirement.
Lithuania Whilst travelling in Lithuania between 10 November and 1 April it is a legal requirement to use snow tires. You are permitted to use snow chains but this is not a legal requirement.
Luxembourg There is no legal requirement for the use of snow tires in Luxembourg There is no legal requirement for the use of snow tires.
Montenegro In Montenegro, whilst travelling between 1 November and  31  March it is compulsory to use either snow tires and  snow chains. All tires should have a minimum tread depth of 4mm. You should carry snow chains when travelling in Montenegro. Road signs across Montenegro indicate when a snow chain is compulsory to be on tires.
Netherlands, the There is no legal requirement for the use of snow tires. You are permitted to use snow chains where there is ice or snow, but this is not a mandatory requirement.
Norway

It is not mandatory to use studded tires or winter tires in Norway, but it is the norm and highly recommended.

The driver is always responsible for correctly equipping the vehicle according to the weather conditions.
For South and Central Norway it is forbidden to drive with studded tires or chains from the first Monday after the 2nd Day of Easter to October 31st. For Nordland, Troms and Finnmark it is forbidden from May 1st  to October 15th.

While renting with Europcar in Norway, all our cars will be equipped with snow tires. This is covered by a "winterfee" always included in the rate, from Nov 1st  to April 15th.

You are permitted to use snow chains during winter, but this is not a mandatory requirement.
Poland There is no legal requirement for the use of snow tires.  
Portugal There is no legal requirement for the use of snow tires. You should carry snow chains when travelling in Portugal. Road signs across Portugal indicate when a snow chain is compulsory.
Romania

Whilst travelling in Romania between 1 November and 31 March and if roads are covered with ice or snow, it is a legal requirement to use snow tires.

 You should carry snow chains when travelling in Romania because even thought this is not compulsory, weather conditions can cause this to become compulsory at any point in time.
Serbia In Serbia , whilst travelling between 1 November and  31  March it is compulsory to use either snow tires and  snow chains. All tires should have a minimum tread depth of 4mm. You should carry snow chains when travelling in Serbia. Road signs across Serbia  indicate when a snow chain is compulsory to be on tires.
Slovakia There is no legal requirement for the use of snow tires.  
Slovenia In Slovenia, whilst travelling between 1 November and  31  March it is compulsory to use either snow tires and  snow chains. All tires should have a minimum tread depth of 4mm. You should carry snow chains when travelling in Slovenia. Road signs across Slovania indicate when a snow chain is compulsory to be on tires.
Spain There is no legal requirement for the use of snow tires. You should carry snow chains when travelling in Spain. Road signs across Spain indicate when a snow chain is compulsory.
Switzerland There is no legal requirement for the use of snow tires. You should carry snow chains when travelling in Switzerland. Road signs across Switzerland indicate when a snow chain is compulsory.
Sweden In Sweden, whilst travelling between 1 December and 31 March it is compulsory to use snow tires which should be marked ‘M&S', ‘MS, ‘M.S', ‘M+S', ‘M-s' or ‘Mud and Snow'. All tires should have a minimum tread depth of 3mm.  
United Kingdom There is no legislation requiring the use of snow tires. You are permitted to use snow chains but this is not a mandatory requirement

 

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