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Austrian Winter Equipment Requirement

The Austrian Winter Equipment Requirement is a road traffic rule that obliges vehicles to use winter tyres or snow chains in wintry road conditions.

Austrian Winter Equipment Requirement operates in the Road traffic regulation segment.

Type: standard · Updated September 2026

Austrian Winter Equipment Requirement: Disambiguation

Austrian Winter Equipment Requirement is not a year-round tyre rule. Austrian Winter Equipment Requirement is not a duty to carry snow chains at all times. Austrian Winter Equipment Requirement is not the motorway vignette.

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Austrian Winter Equipment Requirement: Core Facts

Rule type
Road traffic regulation for wintry conditions (source, )
Period
1 November to 15 April (source, )
Trigger condition
Snow, slush or ice on the road (source, )
Cars up to 3.5 t
Winter tyres on all four wheels, or chains on at least two drive wheels (source, )
Minimum tread depth
Over 4 mm radial, 5 mm cross-ply (source, )
Accepted tyre markings
M+S, M.S., M&S or snowflake symbol (source, )
Goods vehicles over 3.5 t
Winter tyres for the entire period (source, )
Buses
1 November to 15 March (source, )
Snow chain use
Permitted only on largely snow-covered or icy roads (source, )
Carrying chains
Not mandatory, recommended for high-alpine routes (source, )
Verified
2026-09-15

Compare: Austrian Motorway VignetteEN 1077Avalanche.reportAlpenverein Weltweit ServiceChild Ski Helmet Obligation in Austria

Austrian Winter Equipment Requirement: Frequently Asked Questions

When does the rule bite?

The Austrian Winter Equipment Requirement applies between 1 November and 15 April, and only when snow, slush or ice is actually on the carriageway, so a dry motorway in March does not trigger it.

Are all-season tyres enough?

They can satisfy the Austrian Winter Equipment Requirement if they carry an M+S or snowflake marking and keep more than 4 millimetres of tread on a radial tyre.

Can chains replace winter tyres?

Yes for cars up to 3.5 tonnes: the Austrian Winter Equipment Requirement accepts chains on at least two drive wheels instead of four winter tyres, though chains are only legal on snow or ice.

Does it apply to hire cars from abroad?

The Austrian Winter Equipment Requirement follows the road, not the plate, so a car picked up in Munich or Verona still needs compliant tyres once it is on an Austrian road in wintry conditions.

What about motorhomes and vans?

Vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes follow the car rules under the Austrian Winter Equipment Requirement, while heavier goods vehicles must run winter tyres for the whole 1 November to 15 April window.

Austrian Winter Equipment Requirement: Related entities

Austrian Winter Equipment Requirement: Where this entity is mentioned

Austrian Winter Equipment Requirement: Further reading

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