Loi Montagne: Where will winter tyres be mandatory from November 1?

Winter equipment rules will once again apply in France from November, requiring drivers in mountainous regions to have winter tyres fitted or carry snow chains or snow socks in their vehicles.

These rules, known as the Loi Montagne, apply from November 1 until March 31, and cover communes in 34 departments across the Alps, Pyrenees, Massif Central, Jura and Vosges mountain ranges.

However, not every commune in all 34 departments is affected, with individual prefectures determining which communes and roads are subject to the requirements.

At the same time, the government has offered contradictory information about whether drivers can be fined for breaking the rules. 

Which departments are affected?

Of the 34, five departments impose the rules in every commune. These are: 

• Cantal

• Haute-Loire

• Savoie

• Haute-Savoie

• Hautes-Alpes

In other departments, the rules apply only in designated communes or on certain roads.

These include Alpes-Maritimes, where some areas are subject to the requirements, as well as Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Isère, Drôme, Pyrénées-Atlantiques and Puy-de-Dôme.

Other affected departments include Ain, Allier, Ardèche, Ariège, Aude, Aveyron, Doubs, Haute-Garonne, Jura, Loire, Lozère, Moselle, Hautes-Pyrénées, Pyrénées-Orientales, Bas-Rhin, Haut-Rhin, Rhône, Haute-Saône, Tarn, Territoire de Belfort, Var, Vaucluse and Vosges.

You can search for your commune in our table below to see if the rules apply throughout the commune or only in part of the area. 

If your commune does not appear, you can assume that it is not subject to the Loi Montagne equipment requirements.

Drivers can also consult the official Sécurité routière website to find the relevant prefectural order applying to their department. 

Road signs also indicate when drivers enter and leave a zone where the requirements apply.

What equipment do drivers need?

Drivers can choose between winter tyres or snow chains or snow socks. 

If you prefer winter tyres, the car must have at least four of them carrying the 3PMSF symbol, which shows a mountain with three peaks and a snowflake.

Four-season tyres are also accepted if they carry this symbol. Tyres displaying only the M+S marking do not qualify on their own.

Otherwise, drivers can carry snow chains or textile snow socks in their vehicle, ready to fit when required. The equipment must be suitable for the vehicle and allow at least two driven wheels to be fitted.

Chains and snow socks are available from tyre centres, garages, car accessory shops and online retailers. Drivers should check their tyre size and the manufacturer's compatibility guidance before buying.

Can motorists be fined for breaking the rules?

In theory, drivers caught without the right equipment can be fined €135. However, even though this figure is mentioned on the interior ministry’s website in relation to the law, it is not clear that the fine is enforceable. 

In response to a request for clarification on the issue of fines posed by Haute-Savoie senator Sylviane Noël, the interior ministry admitted in February this year that the rules had been implemented in "an educational manner, without penalties."

The ministry added: "Implementing a penalty requires a decree. The government deemed it preferable to allow a grace period between the entry into force of the requirement and the application of the penalty."

Since there is no record of a decree for penalties having been published in the intervening months, it can be assumed that there are still no enforceable fines associated with breaking the rules. 

That said, if you have an accident and were found not to have complied with the law, it is possible that your insurance company may also refuse your claim.

This is why motorists planning journeys through mountain areas are advised to check their route and ensure they have the correct equipment before setting off.