With the start of the Alpes du Sud’s ski season mere weeks away, now is the perfect time to review drivers’ legal obligations when travelling through France’s more mountainous regions, from the correct types of tyres to the rules on snow socks and chains, as well as where exactly the winter road rules apply.
Between 1st November 2024 and 31st March 2025, all passenger vehicles travelling through the mountainous backcountry of the French Riviera must either be fitted with appropriate winter tyres or carry correctly sized snow chains or socks for at least two tyres.
France’s winter road rules cover large parts of the country – 34 departments in total.
In the Alpes-Maritimes, the following communes require drivers to ensure their vehicles are safe for road use: Amirat, Andon, Ascros, Auvare, Bairols, Belvédère, Beuil, Bézaudun-les-Alpes, Bonson, Breil-sur-Roya, Briançonnet, Caille, Caussols, Châteauneuf-d’Entraunes, Clans, Coaraze, Coursegoules, Daluis, Duranus, Entraunes, Escragnolles, Fontan, Gars, Gilette, Gorbio, Gourdon, Gréolières, Guillaumes, Ilonse, Isola, La Bollène-Vésubie, La Brigue, La Croix-sur-Roudoule, La Penne, La Tour, Lantosque, Le Mas, Les Mujouls, Levens, Lieuche, Lucéram, Malaussène, Marie, Massoins, Moulinet, Peille, Péone, Pierlas, Pierrefeu, Puget-Rostang, Puget-Théniers, Revest-les-Roches, Rigaud, Rimplas, Roquebillière, Roubion, Roure, Saint-Antonin, Saint-Auban, Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage, Sainte-Agnès, Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée, Saint-Léger, Saint-Martin-d’Entraunes, Saint-Martin-Vésubie, Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinée, Saint-Vallier-de-Thiey, Saorge, Sauze, Séranon, Sospel, Tende, Thiéry, Toudon, Touët-sur-Var, Tourette-du-Château, Tournefort, Utelle, Valdeblore, Valderoure, Venanson, Villars-sur-Var and Villeneuve-d’Entraunes.
In the Var, the communes affected include: Aiguines, Ampus, Artignosc, Aups, Baudinard, Bauduen, Bargemon, Bargème, Brenon, Châteaudouble, Chateauvieux, Comps-sur-Artuby, La Bastide, La Martre, La Roque-Esclapon, La Verdière, Le Bourguet, Les Salles-sur-Verdon, Moissac-Bellevue, Montferrat, Montmeyan, Régusse, Seillans, St Julien-le-Montagnier, Tourtour, Trigance and Vérignon.
A complete list of communes across France requiring specific winter equipment can be found here.
Rule change for the 2024/25 season
From 1st November, only tyres with the 3PMSF symbol (Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake) are legally accepted as winter tyres. Previously, tyres marked M+S, M.S or M&S had been permitted, but these tyres are no longer valid. Additionally, all-season or four-weather tyres are not considered to be true winter tyres under the new regulations.
For further details, click here to access the French government’s official winter road rules page.
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Photo credit: Irina Sshishkina, Unsplash
* Adapted from a Monaco Life article published on 27th February 2024