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 punished this winter
Vehicles should still be fitted with the tyres, to reduce the risk of accidents on mountainous and snowy roads.
Copyright (StLynx / Shutterstock
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 came 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 the educational periods 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 continuing for another winter, French media outlet La Dépêche reports.
This was due to summer’s political instability, as there was no official government to sign off on the decree instituting the fines.
Tyres may still be required for insurance claims
This does not mean drivers do not need the tyres, however.
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 do not exclude drivers not using them if they make a claim, as reported by BFMTV.
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: French snow tyre ban – what are the rules?
