When renting a car, when the regulations of the visited country require it, the cars will be equipped with snow tires. When this is not the case, you can always add the option 'snow tires' or even 'snow chain' by paying a few euros per day. Rates and availability vary depending on the renter and the location of the vehicle.
Peugeot and DS Automobiles car leasing offers snow chains as accessories.
If you plan to visit a country where snow tires may be required, the cost of winter tires and replacing the original tires will be your responsibility. We recommend contacting a local Peugeot or DS Automobiles agent. They will be able to help you choose the best suited tires for your vehicle. At the end of your contract, you are required to return the vehicle with its original tires. Peugeot and DS Automobiles shall not, under any circumstances, buy back the winter tires you have purchased.
Winter tires law in France
From November 1, 2021, winter tires become mandatory during the winter in certain mountainous areas in France. Indeed, to improve the safety of users on the road and limit traffic jams in mountain areas, the government published a decree no 2020-1264 of October 16, 2020 in the Official Journal of October 18, 2020.
Concretely, this means that if you are driving in a city affected by the decree between November 1 and March 31, you must equip your car (M1 category vehicle with a maximum of 8 seats):
- either metal snow chains on at least two driving wheels: they are recommended for frequent use because they are more effective, especially in heavy snow conditions, than textile chains;
- or textile chains, commonly called “snow socks” on two drive wheels: they are ideal for occasional use because they are very easy to install (but less effective than metal chains);
- or regulatory winter tires on your 4 wheels (more precisely on at least two wheels on each axle).
The department concerned are: Ain, Allier, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Alpes-Maritimes, Ardèche, Ariège, Aude, Aveyron, Bas-Rhin, Cantal, Corse du Sud, Côte-d’Or, Creuse, Doubs, Drôme, Eure-et-Loir, Gard, Haute-Corse, Haute-Garonne, Haute-Loire, Hautes-Alpes, Haute-Saône, Haute-Savoie, Hautes-Pyrénées, Haute-Vienne, Haut-Rhin, Hérault, Isère, Jura, Loire, Lot, Lozère, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Moselle, Nièvre, Puy-de-Dôme, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Pyrénées-Orientales, Rhône, Saône-et-Loire, Savoie, Tarn, Tarn-et-Garonne, Territoire de Belfort, Var, Vaucluse, Vosges, Yonne.
To learn more and to know the departments concerned click here.
| Country | Winter tires | Chain regulations |
|---|
| Germany | Drivers must equip their vehicles with tires suitable to weather conditions. In the case of snow, freezing rain, sleet, mud/melting snow, all 4 wheels of the vehicle must be armed with winter or all-season tires containing the inscription "M+S". Motorists driving with summer tires risk fines up to €40. If they impede traffic circulation, the fine is €80, or can go up to €100 if there is endangerment to others and €120 in the case of an accident in addition to the vehicle being seized. To avoid all fines, it is preferable to equip your vehicle with snow tires if driving in Germany during winter. Studded tires are prohibited. | The use of chains is authorized, however in such a case the speed limit is 50 km/h. The use of chains is required for motor vehicles with more than two wheels where indicated by road signs. |
|---|
| Andorra | Winter tires are not required. | Road signs indicate when chains are required. |
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| Austria | In Austria, snow tires are required from November 1st to April 15th and if the roads are covered in snow or ice. (All tires must have a minimum of 4-mm tread wear). | Chains are required in some places, indicated by road signs. In the case of a long journey & if the vehicle is equipped with summer tires, it is advisable to carry chains in the trunk. |
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| Belgium | Winter tires are not required. | Chains are not required: they are authorized when roads are covered with snow or ice, but cannot be used if they risk damaging the pavement. |
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| Bulgaria | Snow tires are required from November 1st to March 31st | Road signs indicated when chains are required from Nov. 1st to March 31st. |
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| Cyprus | Winter tires are not required. | Not applicable |
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| Denmark | Winter tires are not required. | Chain use is authorized. |
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| Spain | Winter tires are not required. | Road signs indicate when chains are required. |
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| Estonia | From December 1st to March 31st, snow tires are required. Outside this period, the law can be extended in the case of extreme road conditions. | Chains are not required, however motorists are authorized to use them. |
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| Finland | Snow tires are required from December 1st to March 31st. | Chains are not required, however motorists are authorized to use them. |
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| France | Snow tires are mandatory in some mountain area from November 1st to March 31. | Road signs indicate when chains are required. |
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| Great Britain | Winter tires are not required. | Chains are not required, however motorists are authorized to use them. |
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| Greece | Winter tires are not required. | Not applicable |
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| Hungary | Winter tires are not required. | Road signs indicate when chains are required. |
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| Ireland | Winter tires are not required. | Chains are not required, however motorists are authorized to use them. |
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| Iceland | Snow tires are required from November 1st to April 14th. | Not applicable |
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| Italy | Snow tires are recommended in Italy, however in certain areas road signs may indicate the required use of chains or snow tires. In the Aosta Valley, all vehicles must be equipped with snow tires or chains from October 15th to April 15th. | Road signs indicate when chains are required. |
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| Latvia | Snow tires are required from December 1st to March 15th if the vehicle weighs less than 3.5 tons. | Chains are not required, however motorists are authorized to use them. |
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| Liechtenstein | Winter tires are not required. | Chains are not required, however motorists are authorized to use them. |
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| Lithuania | Snow tires are required from November 10th to April 1st. | Chains are not required, however motorists are authorized to use them. |
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| Luxembourg | If Luxembourg roads are snowy or icy, snow tires are required. Non-conformity to this law will result in a fine. | Chains are not required in Luxembourg, however motorists are authorized to use them if the roads are snow or ice-covered. |
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| Norway | Snow tires are not required, however drivers must have tires suitable for weather conditions. Thus, we could say that winter tires are (more or less) required during winter in Norway. From November 1st (or October 15th in the north of the country), drivers must have studded tires to avoid penalties, and these tires must be removed one week after Easter Monday. | Chains are not required, but can be used during winter. |
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| Netherlands | Winter tires are not required. | Chains are not required, but can be used if the roads are covered in snow or freezing rain. |
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| Poland | Winter tires are not required. | Not applicable |
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| Portugal | Winter tires are not required. | Not applicable |
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| Czech Republic | From November 1st to April 1st, snow tires are required when indicated by road signs. | Road signs indicate when chains are required. |
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| Romania | Snow tires are required from November 1st to March 31st
if roads are covered in snow or freezing rain. | Road signs indicate when chains are required. |
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| Serbia | Winter tires are not required. | It is advisable to have chains in the vehicle at all times. |
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| Slovakia | Winter tires are not required. | Not applicable |
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| Slovenia | Snow tires or chains are required from November 15th to March 15th. All tires must have a minimum of 4-mm tread wear. | Road signs indicate when chains are required. It is advisable to have chains in the vehicle at all times. |
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| Sweden | Snow tires with one of the following inscriptions are required: "M&S", "MS", "M.S.", "M+S", "M-s" or "Mud and Snow". All tires must have a minimum of 4-mm tread wear. | Not applicable |
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| Switzerland | Winter tires are not required, but are recommended. | Road signs indicate when chains are required. |
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This information is made available for information purposes only and shall in no way bind Europ Auto as a contractual or non-contractual agreement. They are not meant to replace the official legal texts to which you should always refer.