Winter equipment obligation in several departments from November 1

From November 1, 2026, motorists in several departments, including Occitanie, Var, Isère, Alsace and Haute-Savoie, must have winter tires or chains in certain mountain municipalities, under the Mountain Law. Prefectures remind that these obligations, valid until March 31, apply to light vehicles, utility vehicles, camper vans and heavy goods vehicles. As the deadline approaches, auto centers in Loire and Haute-Loire see an influx of customers, then a rush is observed after November 1 with several hours of waiting. All-season tires are increasingly chosen in mid-mountain areas, while in Haute-Loire this purchase weighs on already tight budgets amid inflation.