Planning a winter highway journey to France with a automotive, motorhome, campervan or caravan? Involved concerning the French winter tyre regulation and in case you comply? Right here’s the whole lot it’s essential know.
Don’t overlook to seize your FREE France highway journey guidelines under that will help you keep organised.
*We work onerous to make this one of the best motorhome journey weblog and highway journey web site doable, stuffed with useful content material for you. The web site is supported by our readers, so in case you purchase by hyperlinks on this web site we could earn a commission- at no further price to you. All opinions stay our personal.
When you discover this submit helpful, you’ll be able to additionally deal with us to a espresso – we promise to take pleasure in it whereas creating extra helpful content material like this- we would even take pleasure in a biscuit (or two!)
The France winter obligatory tools regulation (usually name the French tyre regulation)
Since 01 November 2021, it has been a authorized requirement in lots of areas in France to both:
- have correct winter tyres fitted to your automobile or
- to hold and put on snow chains or snow socks the place directed.
The dates for this are between 01 November and 31 March every year, no matter climate situations.
Nevertheless, it’s a Mountain Legislation (Loi Montagn) and solely applies in 48 departments positioned in or close to the French mountains (Alps, Massif Central, Massif Jurassien, Pyrenees, Massif Vosges)- so in case you’re staying within the north of France in locations like Brittany or Bordeaux, you don’t want to fret about complying with the regulation, because it doesn’t have an effect on these areas.
Yow will discover a map under which exhibits the areas.
What’s the level of the French winter tyre regulation?
The French needed to “cut back highway congestion in mountainous areas and enhance highway security” when driving on snowy or icy roads.
Annually, unequipped autos block roads and trigger accidents on their winter highway journeys and so they wish to cut back these.
Earlier than 01 November 2021, you solely wanted winter tyres/ chains when roads marked « B26 obligatory particular tools » have been really coated with snow.
Now, you’ll want tyres fitted or to hold chains/ socks in case you’re winter motorhoming and planning to drive down an affected highway, no matter present climate situations.
The place are the affected areas?
The affected departments embrace:
Ain, Allier, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Hautes-Alpes, Alpes-Maritimes, Ardèche, Ariège, Aude, Aveyron, Cantal, Corrèze, Côte-d’Or, Creuse, Doubs, Drôme, Gard, Haute-Garonne, Hérault, l’Isère, Jura, Loire, Haute-Loire, Lot, Lozère, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Moselle, la Nièvre, Puy-de-Dôme, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Hautes-Pyrénées, Pyrénées-Orientales, Bas-Rhin, Haut-Rhin, Rhône, Haute-Saône, Saône-et-Loire, la Savoie, Haute-Savoie, Tarn, Tarn-et-Garonne, Var, Vaucluse, Haute-Vienne, Vosges, l’Yonne, and Territoire de Belfort.
Nevertheless, it’s doesn’t essentially imply each highway in each division is covered- the native council and prefecture decide which roads and areas are affected.
This map is taken from the French Connexion web site and exhibits all of the departments the place no less than one highway is included within the regulation.
How have you learnt which roads are affected in France?
Indicators will inform you while you’re about to enter a winter obligatory tools space. The dates which you have to adjust to are 01 November and 31 March every year- you’ll be able to ignore the indicators at different occasions.
One signal exhibits you the place the obligatory space begins, and one the place it finishes:
What do it’s essential adjust to the France winter regulation?
If driving or motorhoming in France one on of the obligatory roads in one of many affected areas between 01 November and 31 March every year, these are the foundations you have to adjust to:
- all 4+ wheeled autos and not using a trailer will need to have winter or 4-season tyres fitted and/or have non-slip snow chains or ‘socks’ mounted on the automobile (or at minimal current within the automobile)
- Heavy autos and not using a trailer can select between winter tyres or chains.
- If in case you have a trailer, you have to have winter tyres fitted AND snow chains fitted on two driving wheels
Winter Tyres France- what’s wanted?
Winter tyres have particular markings on them.
Till November 1, 2024, tyres solely marked “M + S” will likely be tolerated.
On and after 01 November 2024, tyres will have to be marked with “3PMSF” (3 Peak Mountain Snow Flake) and one of many “ M+” markings. S ” , “ MS ” or “ M&S ”. The acquisition and use of different “snow tyres” will stay doable, however on this case, customers can even need to have chains to drive from 1 November to 31 March within the areas involved by the measure.
Winter tyres should be mounted on no less than two steered wheels and no less than two driving wheels. If the automobile has a number of steered axles, these are the steered wheels of the principle steering system
4-season/ all season tyres are legitimate so long as they’re stamped “3PMSF” (or no less than “M + S” till November 2024)
Learn the official wording right here.
When you don’t have winter tyres fitted, you have to:
- carry snow chains or socks for no less than two driving wheels – bear in mind, it’s essential get snow chains which can be proper on your tyres/wheels. Not all snow chains are the identical dimension!
OR
In case you are a heavy automobile or have a trailer
Heavy autos with out trailers (I might counsel a motorhome over 3.5 tonnes counts as a heavy automobile) can select between chains or winter tyres.
Heavy items autos with trailers will likely be required to hold snow chains for no less than two driving wheels, even when they’re outfitted with winter tyres.
RELATED POST: How one can plan a winter motorhome journey & reside in a van throughout winter
Are snow socks allowed in France?
Snow socks are undeniably cheaper, simpler to suit and use, to not point out higher on your motorhome payload! And sure, they’re allowed underneath the French winter regulation.
Nevertheless, they aren’t as sturdy as chains and are designed for brief journeys, not a lot of journey in snow, so in case you’re planning on doing an extended journey or a number of brief ones, get chains.
No matter you select, ensure you apply becoming them in advance- we by accident order the improper dimension chains and didn’t realise till we have been within the mountains. Fortunately, it was all fantastic however might have been an enormous mistake.
Does the regulation apply to bikes?
The regulation solely applies to 4 wheeled autos, so it appears bikes are exempt (however, actually, do you wish to experience a bike in snowy situations with out correct tyres??!)
Is it regulation to have winter tyres in France?
In a phrase, no. When you carry chains or snow socks, you’re coated when it comes to the regulation. However in case you’re planning to take a motorhome snowboarding or journey into mountainous areas throughout winter, I like to recommend you get winter or on the very least all-season tyres fitted and carry chains or socks as well as.
Higher secure than sorry!
What if I’m not outfitted correctly?
In case you are wintering down in Spain or ‘popping by the Alps’ and drive by an space the place winter tyres or snow chains are obligatory with out complying with the above, chances are you’ll be stopped by the authorities and fined €135. You may additionally not have the ability to proceed your journey and the automobile immobilised.
B26 site visitors signal
The B26 site visitors signal (the one exhibiting snow chains) will proceed to imply that you have to WEAR (not simply carry) chains on these roads when snow is on the bottom, even exterior the winter interval. These are clearly marked on the roads and there will likely be an space of chainage so that you can pull in and match chains if wanted.
You may discover these associated posts helpful too:
Don’t overlook to seize your FREE France journey guidelines under:
