The UK has no winter tyre law, but a UK-registered car driven abroad must follow the rules of the country it is in. Several popular destinations now require winter tyres or chains in the cold months, and the standard increasingly demanded is the three-peak snowflake rather than plain M+S.
France: the Loi Montagne
France's mountain law (Loi Montagne II) applies from 1 November to 31 March in designated mountain areas spread across the Alps, Pyrenees, Massif Central, Vosges, Jura and Corsica. In those zones a car must either carry winter tyres on all four wheels or have snow chains or socks on board for at least two drive wheels.
Since 1 November 2024, only tyres bearing the 3PMSF snowflake count as the winter-tyre option. Other "snow" tyres can still be used, but the driver must then also carry chains. Non-compliance can bring a fine of around €135 and, if the police judge it necessary, immobilisation of the vehicle. Road signs mark where the zones begin and end.
Germany: whenever it is wintry
Germany has no fixed dates. Instead, winter tyres are required whenever conditions are wintry, snow, ice, slush or frost, at any time of year. The accepted standard is now the 3PMSF marking; M+S alone is no longer sufficient for newer vehicles.
Driving on summer tyres in winter conditions brings a fine from around €60, rising if it obstructs traffic or causes an accident, and insurance cover can be affected after a claim.
Austria, Italy and Switzerland
- Austria: from 1 November to 15 April, winter tyres are required when conditions demand, fitted to all wheels, with a minimum tread of 4mm (radial). The alternative is snow chains on the drive wheels where the road is snow or ice covered.
- Italy: rules are sign-based, generally enforced from 15 November to 15 April. Winter tyres or chains carried in the vehicle are required where signs indicate; Italy still accepts M+S tyres with at least 1.6mm tread.
- Switzerland: there is no blanket mandate, but a driver who causes an accident or obstructs traffic with unsuitable tyres in winter can be fined and held liable for the consequences.
Planning a trip
The safe approach is to equip for the strictest country on the route. For most UK drivers heading to the Alps, that means 3PMSF tyres on all four wheels, with chains carried for the final mountain roads where signs may still demand them whatever the tyres. Winter tyres can also carry a lower speed rating than the car, which some countries require to be shown on a small sticker in the driver's view. Fitting a set of snowflake-rated winter or all-season tyres before the journey is the simplest way to leave home already compliant; a good online tyre shop such as Tyres.co.uk lists the 3PMSF options by size.
From the workshop: the catch that bites British drivers is the M+S change. Tyres that were fine a few years ago no longer count in France or Germany. If a trip to the mountains is planned, check for the snowflake, not just the letters.
Sources and accuracy. Country rules, dates and fines change from year to year, and this guide is general information, not legal advice for a specific trip. Always confirm the current requirements for each country on the route with an official source before travelling. If anything here looks wrong, get in touch and we will check it and put it right.
Common questions
Do UK drivers need winter tyres to drive in Europe?+
It depends on the country and often the conditions. France, Germany, Austria, Italy and others each have their own rules, some tied to mountain zones, some to wintry conditions, some to dates. A UK-registered car must comply with the rules of the country it is driven in, so the requirements should be checked before travelling.
What is the Loi Montagne in France?+
It is France's mountain law. From 1 November to 31 March, designated mountain areas require either winter tyres on all four wheels or snow chains/socks carried for at least two drive wheels. Since 1 November 2024, only tyres carrying the 3PMSF snowflake count as the winter-tyre option; M+S-only tyres mean chains must also be carried.
Will my M+S tyres be accepted in Europe?+
Increasingly not. Germany and France now require the 3PMSF snowflake rather than M+S alone for the winter-tyre requirement, and others are moving the same way. Italy still accepts M+S with at least 1.6mm tread on signed roads. Where in doubt, 3PMSF is the marking that is accepted most widely.
What happens if I drive in Europe without the right winter equipment?+
Penalties vary. France issues fines of around €135 and can immobilise the vehicle; Germany fines from around €60, more if you obstruct traffic or cause an accident; Austria can fine heavily and you may be partly liable in a crash. Insurance cover can also be affected. The rules apply to foreign-registered cars too.