Hire cars · Winter kit
Winter kit in a hire car: the law and the rental contract are separate documents
Verdict
Winter kit is the driver's duty under the law, and an extra under the contract.
A hire car can legally be handed over on summer tyres. Ask for winter tyres or chains in the booking notes, then check the sidewall at the desk.
| Country | When | What the law asks for |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | 1 Nov – 15 Apr, wintry conditions only | M+S or snowflake tyres, or chains on two driven wheels |
| Germany | No dates at all | Alpine 3PMSF symbol only, since 1 Oct 2024 |
| Italy | Usually 15 Nov – 15 Apr, by ordinance and sign | Winter tyres fitted, or chains carried |
| France | 1 Nov – 31 Mar, designated communes | Four 3PMSF tyres, or chains or snow socks |
Germany's fines are €60 for the driver, €80 if you obstruct traffic and €75 for the keeper, which on a hire car is the company that will pass it on with a fee attached. Italy's obligation hangs on the road operator's sign, with fines the ACI quotes at €87 to €344 outside built-up areas. The full rules are on the winter driving page.
None of that obliges the rental company to supply anything. Chains are an extra almost everywhere, and a car booked in Munich for a February week in the Alps can legally be handed over on summer tyres unless you asked. I ask in the booking notes and check the sidewall anyway.
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Sources
- oesterreich.gv.at — Winter tyre obligation
- Gesetze im Internet — StVO § 2 (situational winter tyre rule)
- ADAC — Winterreifenpflicht in Deutschland
- ACI — Pneumatici invernali e catene: obbligo e sanzioni
- Ministère de la Transition écologique — Circulation en cas de neige ou de verglas
- Sécurité Routière — Nouveaux équipements hivernaux
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