7 October 2024

French winter tyres law will be fully enforced this winter

How can you ensure your rental car has the correct tyres to avoid a fine?

In 2021 France passed a new law, Loi Montagne 2, which requires cars in 48 different departements to have either winter tyres, all-season tyres, snow chains or snow socks fitted during the winter season. It came into force at the start of the winter season on November 1st and with it came a three-year grace period for those who only had Mud and Snow tyres.

Three years on and the grace period has ended so, if no chains or snow socks are fitted, tyres must now be in the 3PMSF category (3 peaks mountain snowflake) . Mud and Snow tyres - which will be marked on the side of the tyre with M and S) will no longer be acceptable.

Police can pull cars over to check they comply with the law and if yours does not, you could see yourself with a €135 fine.

So how can you ensure your tyres are correct?

Our sister site Clarify Car Hire are specialists in tailored car hire and you can filter your search results in France to guarantee your car will come provided with the appropriate winter tyres. The winter season in France runs from the 1st November until the 31st March so, if you are hiring a car within that period you will want to ensure you have selected a hire with winter tyres included.

The 48 departements concerned are in the mountainous regions of the Alps, the Pyrenees and the Massif Central.