No snow tyre fines in France this winter – but insurers may require them
Tyres are required in mountainous communes, but non-compliance will not be sanctioned
Vehicles should still be fitted with the tyres, to reduce the risk of accidents on mountainous and snowy roads.
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Fines for not using snow tyres or acceptable alternatives will not be issued this year, despite previous claims to the contrary.
Fines of €135 were set to be handed out from November 1 in mountainous communes, where snow tyres or snow socks / chains are mandatory for the winter season.
This stems from rules stated in the Loi Montagne 2, passed in 2021.
It comes after three years of ‘educational periods’ in winter, where drivers without the correct apparatus would be informed of the changes by authorities if caught with incorrect tyres.
Originally, the law said this period of tolerance would only last for three years, with fines handed out from the 2024/2025 season onwards.
However, no fines will be given this year, with the educational period set to continue for another winter.
This extension is due to France's political instability, which left the country without a government capable of signing off on the decree instituting the fines.
Snow tyres may still be required for insurance claims
Nonetheless, drivers should still fit snow tyres.
Alongside the fact police will still be checking vehicles for them (even if they cannot issue fines), insurers may require you use the tyres to be fully covered.
Under certain policies, you will not be covered in the event of an accident (not caused by a third-party) in an area where the snow tyres are required, but you do not have them on your car.
In other cases, you may still be covered, but excesses will rise or penalties for not using the correct tyres could be applied.
This is also the case for breakdowns which not having snow tyres may contribute to – it is best to check your personal policy.
If involved in an accident with a third-party – where your lack of snow tyres contributed to the incident – your insurer may not cover you at all.
This is only the case with incidents where you are at fault, and not when you cause damage to a third-party, in which case you should be systematically covered for it by your insurer.
Regardless of the type of incident, making a claim will impact your no-claims bonus, seeing your premium rise the following year.
It is important to note that some insurers, such as Axa, do not reference snow tyres in their policies, and therefore do not exclude drivers not using them if they make a claim.
However, insurers may stipulate snow tyres as necessary from next year, when – in theory – fines will be issued for non-compliance with the rules.
Read more: Can UK car insurance be extended to provide cover in France?
Rules on which tyres are accepted under the Loi Montagne 2 from 2024 onwards can be found in our article below.
Read more: Drivers face fines as France tyre ban comes into force
