From 15 November 2026 to 15 April 2027 every vehicle on Croatia's designated winter roads needs winter tyres, or summer tyres with chains on board, whatever the weather. The list covers the A1 as far as Maslenica, the A6 to Rijeka and all motorways around Zagreb, but not the Istrian motorways or the coast road. The fine for a driver is 130 euros.
Checked: 10 September 2026
The rule comes from the Decision on the mandatory use of winter equipment on winter sections of public roads, published in the Official Gazette 121/2020 and amended in issue 36/2025. It applies from 15 November to 15 April, on the listed roads only, and regardless of weather or road surface: dry asphalt in Lika at plus ten degrees still counts. The only vehicles exempt are those of the armed forces.
What counts as winter equipment
- Cars and vans up to 3.5 tonnes: winter tyres marked M+S, M.S., M&S or 3PMSF on all wheels, or summer tyres with at least 4 mm of tread on all wheels plus snow chains or other traction devices for the drive wheels carried in the vehicle.
- Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes and buses: winter tyres on the drive wheels, or chains or traction devices for the drive wheels.
- Chains and traction devices must be type-approved, and studded tyres are prohibited. Both points were added by the 2025 amendment.
- All-season tyres pass if they carry the M+S or the snowflake marking: the decision names markings, not tyre types.
Which roads: the winter sections
The decision lists 839.2 km of motorway, 1,863.3 km of state and county roads and 68.1 km of transit roads to the ports of Vukovar, Osijek and Sisak. Six motorways are on the list, in full or in part.
| Motorway | Section | km |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Zagreb (Lučko) to Karlovac, Bosiljevo and the Maslenica junction | 242.4 |
| A2 | Macelj border crossing to Krapina and Zagreb (Jankomir) | 61.0 |
| A3 | Bregana border crossing to Zagreb, Slavonski Brod and Bajakovo | 306.0 |
| A4 | Goričan border crossing to Varaždin and Zagreb (Ivanja Reka) | 97.0 |
| A5 | Osijek to Đakovo and the Sredanci junction | 51.8 |
| A6 | Bosiljevo 2 junction to Delnice and Rijeka (Orehovica) | 81.0 |
Not on the list: the A1 south of the Maslenica junction towards Zadar, Šibenik, Split and Ploče, the A7 around Rijeka, the Istrian A8 and A9, and the coastal road D8. Among the 42 listed state roads are the D1 from Zagreb through Karlovac, Plitvice and Knin, the D23 over the Vratnik pass to Senj and the D25 from Korenica over Gospić to Karlobag, the old routes to the sea from before the motorway.
Fines and what the police may do
- Driver without winter equipment on a winter section: 130 euros.
- Owner or operator of the vehicle, for example a company or a rental firm: 660 to 1,990 euros, and 190 to 660 euros for the responsible person in the company.
- Ignoring a police order to stop, to fit the equipment or to turn back: 390 to 920 euros, three penalty points and a driving ban.
- The police may stop the vehicle on the spot, order chains to be fitted, send you to a road where the vehicle is allowed, or remove the number plates.
For visitors: do I need winter tyres for the coast?
If you drive to Advent in Zagreb from Slovenia, Austria or Hungary, you are on a winter section from the border: the A3 from Bregana, the A2 from Macelj and the A4 from Goričan are all listed, as is every motorway leaving Zagreb. A winter trip to the coast on the A1 to Zadar or the A6 to Rijeka crosses Lika and Gorski kotar, where snow is normal from December. The obligation ends only past Maslenica or on the Istrian motorways: the coast in December is rarely the problem, the road to it is. With a hire car, have the rental company confirm winter tyres or chains in the boot, because the fine goes to the driver and the car stays put until the equipment is fitted.
The neighbouring countries
| Country | Period | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Slovenia | 15 November to 15 March | winter tyres, or summer tyres with at least 4 mm and chains on board |
| Austria | 1 November to 15 April | in winter conditions M+S tyres with at least 4 mm or chains; fines from 35 to 5,000 euros |
| Germany | in winter conditions | only tyres with the Alpine symbol since 2024; M+S alone no longer counts |
| Italy | by region | Aosta Valley 15 October to 15 April; elsewhere set locally |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1 November to 1 April | winter tyres, or summer tyres with 4 mm and chains for the drive wheels |
| Serbia | 1 November to 1 April | M+S tyres on the drive wheels, at least 4 mm |
| Hungary | none | no winter equipment obligation |
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need winter tyres on the Croatian coast in December?
- Not on the coast road D8, the A1 south of Maslenica or the Istrian motorways, which are not winter sections. You do need them on the way there: the A1 from Zagreb to Maslenica, the A6 to Rijeka and the D1 through Lika are listed.
- Are all-season tyres accepted in Croatia?
- Yes, if they carry the M+S, M.S., M&S or 3PMSF marking on all wheels. The decision lists markings, not tyre categories.
- Are summer tyres with chains in the boot enough?
- Yes for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes, provided the summer tyres have at least 4 mm of tread on all wheels and the chains or traction devices are type-approved and fitted to the drive wheels when the police or the conditions require it.
- Does the rule apply to foreign cars?
- Yes. The decision covers all motor vehicles on the winter sections; the only exemption is for vehicles of the Croatian armed forces.
- How much is the fine?
- 130 euros for the driver. The owner or operator of the vehicle can be fined 660 to 1,990 euros, and ignoring a police order costs 390 to 920 euros plus penalty points and a driving ban.
Official sources
- Official Gazette 121/2020: Decision on the mandatory use of winter equipment on winter sections of public roads
- Official Gazette 36/2025: amendment to the decision
- Ministry of the Interior, 14 November 2025: winter conditions and the obligation to use winter equipment
- Hrvatske autoceste: winter equipment mandatory from 15 November
- Revija HAK, 14 November 2025: winter equipment in Croatia and Europe
Make Croatia Atlas a preferred source
One click and Google shows you our stories more often in Top Stories and in AI answers. It changes your own results only.
