More and more motorists in our country exchange their car tires for winter tires in winter. It has been found that its use at low temperatures and snow or icy conditions is safer. However, Dutch motorists are not obliged to use these special car tires, also known as snow tires. However, in some European countries it is mandatory to drive with winter tires during the season. Failure to comply with this obligation can be costly for the motorist
With regard to the obligation to drive in the season with winter tires, there are three options in Europe:
- Countries in which winter tires obligated to be,
- Countries in which winter tires not required to be,
- Countries in which the obligation to use winter tires becomes indicated with a sign.
Mandatory winter tires
The use of winter tires in season is mandatory in the countries:
- Bosnia and Herzegovina,
- Germany,
- Estonia,
- Finland,
- Italy (regionally in Aosta Valley and Milan),
- Croatia,
- Latvia,
- Lithuania,
- Luxembourg,
- Norway,
- Austria,
- Serbia *,
- Slovenia*,
- Slovakia,
- Iceland,
- Sweden.
* In Serbia and Slovenia you can also suffice with snow chains, these must then be standard in the car in the winter period.
Special road sign
The countries in which the obligation to use winter tires can be indicated with a sign are:
- France,
- Italy (for mandatory regions see above),
- Czech Republic,
- and Switzerland.
Main winter sports countries
In Germany It has been compulsory to use winter tires during winter conditions since 2010. This duty has been in place for some time Italy and France, but only where indicated by a special road sign. However, if a motorist who drives without winter tires in a certain period of time gets into a collision there, even if there was no sign, the blame can be attributed to this motorist. Austria goes one step further: here winter tires are not only mandatory at a certain time of the year; motorists who do not abide here can be fined with a fine of up to 5000 euros!
Snow chains
In addition to the use of winter tires, in some countries the presence in the car or in some cases also the use of snow chains is mandatory. In Germany, the compulsory use of snow chains is indicated with a sign. The snow chains must then be fitted at least on the driving wheels. This is also the case in France, Greece, Hungary and Italy, as well as in Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Switzerland.In Austria, as in Albania, snow chains should always be in the car between November 2 and 15 of April. Turkey has no obligation on the use of winter tires, but it does require the presence of snow chains in the car. The Netherlands also has one prohibition on the use of snow chains on public roads.
Please note: this publication is based on the rules applicable from 1 September 2011 and no rights and obligations can be derived from it. Each driver is responsible for complying with the correct recent rules.