Winter tire rules in Macedonia: what foreign drivers must know

Macedonia's winter driving rules are stricter than they look on paper. Between **15 November and 15 March** you cannot legally drive a car here without M+S (mud and snow) tyres or all-season tyres carrying the M+S marking. Police checks are routine on the A1 motorway, the road to Mavrovo and Galichica, and around the Tetovo and Bitola exits. Fines for foreigners start at €50 and the car can be impounded until the issue is fixed.

Here's exactly what you need to know if you're picking up a rental car in Macedonia between mid-November and mid-March.

The 15 Nov – 15 Mar law

Article 235 of the Macedonian Law on Road Traffic Safety requires winter equipment on all vehicles for those four months, regardless of weather on a given day. "Winter equipment" means:

• •**Tyres marked M+S (or "M.S." / "Mud + Snow")** on all four wheels — this is the minimum
• •**OR** tyres with the official **3PMSF** snowflake symbol (alpine pictogram) — even better, accepted across the EU
• •**AND** snow chains in the trunk (mandatory storage during the period; required to be fitted on certain mountain roads when snow is on the road)

The minimum tread depth is 4 mm — twice the summer-tyre minimum. Your rental partner is responsible for delivering the car compliant; this is checked at handover.

What mkrent.mk includes in winter rentals

Every Mkrent partner that rents in winter must, by contract:

• •Hand over the car with M+S tyres already fitted
• •Provide a working set of snow chains in the trunk (size matched to the wheels)
• •Ensure the windshield washer fluid is winter-grade (anti-freeze to −20 °C)
• •Check that the spare tyre is also M+S

If you arrive at pickup and any of these is missing, refuse the car and call the partner number — Mkrent's policy is to provide a compliant replacement within 90 minutes or refund the full rental.

Where snow chains are mandatory

The chains-in-the-trunk rule is universal Nov 15 – Mar 15. Chains-on-the-wheels rule kicks in only on certain roads, signposted with a white circle showing a tyre with chains:

• •**R29 from Mavrovi Anovi to Debar** — Macedonia's snowiest road
• •**R1102 to Popova Šapka ski resort** above the gondola lower station
• •**R1106 over Galichica pass** when snow is on the road
• •**A2 motorway through the Babuna section** (Veles to Prilep) during heavy snow events

The signs are removed when conditions are dry. If you've never put on chains before, the partner agent will demonstrate at pickup. AMSM (the Macedonian auto club) also has free roadside assistance to help fit chains — call **196**, English-speaking dispatcher available.

Fines for non-compliance

Police checks are common at the Tetovo (A1 km 32), Bitola (A3 km 8) and Ohrid (R1101 entry) checkpoints. The fines:

• •No M+S tyres: **€50–€150** depending on month (higher fines January and February)
• •No chains in trunk during the period: **€30**
• •Insufficient tread depth: **€100** plus possible vehicle impound until tyres replaced
• •Driving without chains where signposted: **€200** plus the car may be turned around

Foreigners pay these fines on the spot in cash (Macedonian denars only) or get a 30-day pay slip. Unpaid fines are enforced at exit borders.

What to do if it snows mid-rental

You wake up at your hotel and there's snow on the cars. Don't panic — Macedonian highways are cleared aggressively. The A1 and A2 motorways are usually clean by 7:00 even after overnight snow. Mountain roads (Mavrovo, Galichica) take longer.

If your route includes a chains-mandatory section that day:

1. Call AMSM (196) for road status — free service, English available

2. Park in a covered or sunny spot to clear ice off the windshield

3. Fit chains before reaching the signposted section, not at the sign — pull over earlier

4. Drive at 50 km/h max with chains; avoid sudden braking

Rental contracts allow you to delay departure due to weather without penalty, as long as you call the partner before the original handover end time.

Driving in snow: the basics

Even with M+S tyres and chains, snow driving in the Balkans has habits that surprise visitors used to flatter countries:

• •**Following distance is double summer** — minimum 5 seconds gap on highways
• •**Black ice** is common at Mavrovo and Galichica between 04:00 and 09:00 — drive 30 km/h slower than the limit until 09:00 in winter
• •**Sudden steering corrections trigger spins** with all-season tyres on real snow; commit to the lane and brake early
• •**Lower headlights are required by law year-round** in Macedonia — leave them on always

What kind of car works

For winter rentals, prioritise:

• •**AWD/4WD SUV** if you're driving Mavrovo, Galichica or going to Popova Šapka — adds €15-25/day to the rental but often saves you the chains hassle
• •**Front-wheel-drive sedan** for city + motorway only — fine 80% of the time, with chains in the trunk for the other 20%
• •**Avoid rear-wheel-drive coupes** in winter unless you've driven snow before

Mkrent's most-rented winter cars: **Hyundai Tucson AWD** (€42/day) and **VW Tiguan** (€48/day) — both come with all M+S equipment standard.

[Browse our winter-ready fleet](/cars) or [book a chauffeur](/chauffeur) if you'd rather have a local driver handle the winter roads.

Macedonia's winter is short but real. The 15 November to 15 March rules exist because mountain roads are no joke when snow hits. Pick a partner who hands over the car with everything fitted, do a 60-second check at pickup, and you'll be the safest driver on the road — most rental companies still get this wrong.