Winter tire rules in Macedonia: what foreign drivers need to know

Winter rules in Macedonia are stricter than they appear on paper. Between **November 15 and March 15**, you cannot legally drive here without M+S (mud and snow) tires or all-season tires with the M+S mark. Police checks are routine on the A1 motorway, the road to Mavrovo and Galičica, and around the exits of Tetovo and Bitola. Fines for foreigners start from €50, and the car can be impounded until the problem is resolved.

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

Law November 15 – March 15

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

• •**M+S (or "M.S." / "Mud + Snow") marked tires** on all four wheels — minimum
• •**OR** tires with the official **3PMSF** snow symbol (alpine pictogram) — even better, accepted throughout the EU
• •**AND** chains in the trunk (mandatory to carry during the period; mandatory to put on in some mountain roads when there is snow)

The minimum tread depth is 4 mm — double the summer minimum. Your rental partner is responsible for delivering the car in compliance; this is checked upon pickup.

What mkrent.mk winter rentals include

Every Mkrent partner renting in winter must, by contract:

• •Deliver the car with M+S tires fitted
• •Provide a set of functional chains in the trunk (size matched to the wheels)
• •Ensure the windshield washer fluid is winter-grade (antifreeze down to −20 °C)
• •Check that the spare tire is also M+S

If you arrive at pickup and any of these are 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 chains are mandatory

The rule for chains in the trunk is universal Nov 15 – Mar 15. The rule for chains on wheels applies only on certain roads, marked with a white circle indicating a tire with chains:

• •**R29 from Mavrovi Anovi to Debar** — the snowiest road in Macedonia
• •**R1102 to Popova Shapka ski center** above the lower gondola station
• •**R1106 over Galičica pass** when there is snow on the road
• •**A2 through the Babuna section** (Veles-Prilep) during heavy snow

Signs are removed when conditions are dry. If you've never fitted chains, the partner agent will demonstrate at pickup. AMSM (the Macedonian automobile club) has free roadside assistance that helps with fitting 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 entrance) checkpoints. Fines:

• •Without M+S tires: **€50–€150** depending on the month (higher in January and February)
• •Without chains in the trunk during the period: **€30**
• •Insufficient tread depth: **€100** plus the possibility of the car being impounded until tires are replaced
• •Driving without chains where marked: **€200** plus the car may be turned back

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

What to do if it snows mid-rental

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

If your route that day includes a mandatory chain section:

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

2. Park in a covered or sunny spot to remove ice

3. Fit chains before you reach the marked section, not at the sign — stop earlier

4. Drive a maximum of 50 km/h with chains; avoid sudden braking

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

Driving in snow: the basics

Even with M+S tires and chains, driving in snow in the Balkans has customs that surprise visitors from flatter countries:

• •**Following distance is double summer's** — minimum 5 seconds on motorways
• •**Black ice** is common in Mavrovo and Galičica between 04:00 and 09:00 — drive 30 km/h slower than the limit until 09:00 in winter
• •**Sudden steering corrections** cause spinning with all-season tires in real snow; commit to the line and brake early
• •**Low beam headlights are mandatory by law all year round** in Macedonia — keep them always on

What car works

For winter rentals, priority:

• •**AWD/4WD SUV** if driving Mavrovo, Galičica or to Popova Shapka — adds €15-25/day but often saves you the hassle of chains
• •**Front-wheel drive sedan** only for city + motorway — fine 80% of the time, with chains in the trunk for the other 20%
• •**Avoid rear-wheel drive coupes** in winter unless you have prior snow driving experience

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

[Browse our winter-ready fleet](/cars) or [book a chauffeur](/chauffeur) if you want a local driver to manage winter roads.

Macedonian winter is short but real. The November 15 – March 15 rules exist because mountain roads are no joke when it snows. Choose a partner who delivers 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.