Winter driving · 2026/27 season
Winter Driving in the Alps: What Each Country Actually Requires
Austria, Germany, Italy, France and Switzerland each write their own winter rules — and they disagree on dates, on markings and on whether chains count. Here is the whole picture in one table, with the fines.
Last checked 24 August 2026. Rules and operating conditions can change; official sources are linked below and should be checked before travel.
Compare prices before you go
Driving the Alps this winter? Start with the right car.
Winter equipment and pricing vary by pickup country, supplier and rate. Compare rentals, confirm the tyre specification in writing, request correctly sized chains where your route may need them, and check hotel cancellation terms while dates are flexible.
Quick answer
- ✓Five countries, five different rules — there is no single “Alpine” winter law.
- ✓Austria has a dated winter window with a conditions test; Germany is conditions-based; Italy and France use signed roads or zones with seasonal periods; Switzerland has no seasonal tyre mandate.
- ✓Germany's old M+S transition ended on 30 September 2024, and France now requires 3PMSF for the tyre option in mountain zones. Austria still legally recognises M+S, M.S., M&S or the snowflake marking.
- ✓Switzerland has no winter-tyre law, which is the single most misread fact in Alpine driving.
- ✓Rental equipment varies by country, supplier and rate: confirm compliant tyres in the booking terms, and request correctly sized chains rather than assuming they are in the boot.
The rules, country by country
Nearly every “winter tyres in Europe” article blurs the five Alpine countries into one paragraph. They are genuinely different, and the difference decides whether you get fined. This is the table we wish existed when we were planning our own winter drives.
| Country | When the rule bites | What you must have | Typical fine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 1 Nov – 15 Apr, only in wintry conditions | Winter tyres on all wheels, min. 4 mm tread (radial). Austrian law accepts M+S, M.S., M&S or snowflake markings. Chains may replace tyres only on roads continuously or almost continuously covered by snow or ice. | €35 on the spot; up to €5,000 if you endanger others |
| Germany | No fixed dates — whenever the road is icy or snowy | 3PMSF (snowflake) tyres. Applies to foreign-registered cars too. | €60, rising to €80/€100/€120 for obstruction, endangerment or a crash, plus a licence point |
| Italy | Road-specific orders; commonly 15 Nov – 15 Apr | Winter tyres or chains carried in the car. Regions and motorway operators may impose stricter local rules. | Penalties vary by the road order and authority; police may prevent onward travel until the vehicle is compliant |
| France | 1 Nov – 31 Mar in signed municipalities and zones across 34 mountain departments | 3PMSF winter tyres on four wheels, or approved removable anti-skid devices for at least two driven wheels. Current official advice conflicts on textile socks, so metal chains are the safer carry option. | €135, and police may turn you back from the pass |
| Switzerland | No seasonal law at all | No winter-tyre mandate — but the driver is legally responsible for a roadworthy car, and chains are compulsory where the round blue sign says so. | Police may stop or turn back an unfit vehicle; crash liability and insurance consequences can follow |
Fines are the commonly published figures and vary by canton, Land, region and severity. Treat them as the floor, not the ceiling.
The one change that catches people out
Germany's transition for older M+S-only tyres ended on 30 September 2024: in wintry conditions the tyre must now carry the 3PMSF three-peak mountain snowflake. France also requires 3PMSF for the winter-tyre option in signed mountain zones. Austria is different: its current law still accepts M+S, M.S., M&S or the snowflake marking, with at least 4 mm tread on radial tyres. Whether the car is hired or your own, check the sidewall and the booking specification before you go.
Switzerland is the exception — and not in the way people think
Switzerland has no seasonal winter-tyre obligation. That sounds relaxed, and it regularly gets visitors into trouble, because the duty is simply moved onto the driver: your vehicle must be fit for the conditions you are driving in. If you crash on summer tyres in February, the fact that no law named a date does not help you — liability and your insurance position both get worse.
Chains are the part that is black and white. Where you see the round blue sign showing a tyre with a chain, approved anti-skid equipment is compulsory on that stretch, normally on at least two driven wheels on the same axle. Police can stop or turn back a non-compliant vehicle, and crash liability can worsen. Those signs appear on steep mountain and pass approaches, and restrictions can change overnight.
What this means if you are hiring a car
Winter equipment varies by pickup country, supplier and booked rate. Many Alpine rentals use season-appropriate tyres, but Switzerland has no calendar mandate and some suppliers charge a separate winter-equipment fee. Before paying, get the tyre specification and every cross-border restriction in writing. Two checks remain essential:
- Chains are an extra. They are rarely in the boot by default. If your route includes a pass or a high resort approach, add them at booking — renting them at the counter on a snowy morning is where the queues are.
- Cross-border rules follow the road, not the plate. A German-plated hire car driven into France must still satisfy the French rule, and a Swiss-plated one entering Austria must satisfy Austria's. Check the rental terms allow the countries you plan to cross.
We cover the fine print separately in our winter car rental guide, including what to check at the desk before you drive off.
Which roads are shut anyway
No amount of correct equipment opens a closed pass. Most of the famous high crossings — Furka, Grimsel, Susten, Klausen, the Grossglockner — are gated for the winter and reopen between late May and late June. Main valley routes, motorway tunnels and resort access roads are maintained as winter links, but temporary closures and chain controls are still possible during severe weather, which is why winter itineraries look completely different from summer ones. Our pass opening dates page tracks which are currently open, including the handful that stay open year-round.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need winter tyres to drive in Switzerland?
There is no Swiss law requiring winter tyres on a set date. The driver must keep control of a vehicle that is fit for the conditions, so unsuitable tyres can still lead to obstruction, liability and insurance consequences after a crash. Approved anti-skid equipment is separately compulsory on any stretch carrying the round blue chains sign; police may stop a non-compliant vehicle.
When are winter tyres compulsory in Austria?
Austria applies a situational rule between 1 November and 15 April: if the road is snowy, slushy or icy, passenger cars must be on winter tyres on all wheels with at least 4 mm of tread on radial tyres. Snow chains may be used instead of winter tyres only where the road is more or less permanently covered in snow or ice. Driving without the right equipment in winter conditions costs 35 euros on the spot, and up to 5,000 euros if you endanger other road users.
Is the M+S marking still accepted?
It depends on the country. Germany's transition ended on 30 September 2024, so M+S alone is no longer sufficient in wintry conditions; France also requires 3PMSF for the tyre option in signed mountain zones. Austria still accepts M+S, M.S., M&S or the snowflake marking under its current rule, with the required tread depth.
Does my rental car come with winter tyres?
Often, but not under every supplier, rate or pickup-country rule. Check that the booking explicitly states the winter tyre specification and any separate fee; at pickup, look for the required sidewall marking. Chains are normally a paid extra and must match the fitted tyre size, so never assume they are in the boot.
Do I need snow chains, or are winter tyres enough?
Compliant winter tyres cover most motorway and valley driving, but a chain or anti-skid-device sign can still require equipment to be fitted. On Italian roads covered by a winter order and in French mountain zones, carrying approved devices is the principal alternative to the qualifying winter-tyre option. If your route includes a high approach, carry equipment approved for the country and matched to the car.
Are the mountain passes open in winter?
Most of the famous high passes are closed. Furka, Grimsel, Susten, Klausen and the Grossglockner are gated through the winter and typically reopen between late May and late June. Main valley roads, motorway tunnels and resort approaches are maintained as winter links, but temporary weather closures and chain controls remain possible. Winter routes therefore rely on tunnels and lower roads rather than seasonal pass crossings.
Official sources
Rules change. These are the authorities to re-check before you drive — we link them so you never have to trust us on a fine.
- Austrian Ministry (BMIMI) — winter tyres and snow chains
- ch.ch — the Swiss authorities' portal
- European Consumer Centre — winter tyres by country
- European Consumer Centre Germany — winter tyres in Europe
- TCS — live Swiss road and pass status
- German StVZO §36 — required winter-tyre marking
- German StVO §2 — situational winter-equipment rule
- French Highway Code D314-8 — signed mountain-zone equipment
- French Interior Ministry — current winter mountain safety advice
- Autostrade per l'Italia — current road-specific winter orders
- TCS — Swiss snow-chain rules and fitting guidance