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Special safety requirements for cars in european countries

You're here: Tests & Advice Advice Cars Road trafic regulations International Special safety requirements for cars in european countries

Special safety requirements for cars in european countries

 

 

Country

Headlights use in daytime

First aid kit

Fire extinguisher

Warning triangles

Reflective jacket

AUSTRIA​

Compulsory in case of bad visibility.

Compulsory: must be in a strong, dirt-proof box.

Not compulsory.

Compulsory for all vehicles with more than 2 wheels.

Car drivers have to wear one if they have to leave their vehicle in case of breakdown outside builtup areas or on motorways.

BELARUS​

Compulsory for vehicles towing another one and special vehicles1 .

All vehicles must have a first-aid kit on board.

Compulsory.

Compulsory.

 

BELGIUM

Not compulsory for cars.

Compulsory for vehicles registered in Belgium.2

Compulsory for vehicles registered in Belgium.2

Compulsory for all vehicles with more than 2 wheels.

Car drivers have to wear one if they have to leave their vehicle in case of breakdown outside builtup areas or motorways, except in places where parking is allowed. Compulsory for vehicles registered in Belgium.

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA​

Compulsory for all vehicles.

Compulsory.

Compulsory for heavy good vehicles and buses

Compulsory.

 

BULGARIA​

Compulsory for cars all year around.

Compulsory.

Compulsory for all vehicles with more than 2 wheels.

Compulsory for all vehicles with more than 2 wheels.

Compulsory for any person leaving a car, day or night, on a motorway.

CROATIA​

Compulsory for all vehicles from the last Sunday in October to the last Sunday in March3.

Compulsory for all vehicles with more than 2 wheels.

Compulsory for commercial vehicles.

Compulsory for all vehicles with more than 2 wheels4 .

Compulsory on board all vehicles, except mopeds and motorcycles with sidecars.

CYPRUS​

If necessary.

Not compulsory. 

Not compulsory on board private vehicles.

All motor vehicles must carry 2 warning triangles.

Optional. 

CZECH REPUBLIC​

Compulsory for all vehicles at all times.

Compulsory.

Not compulsory on board private vehicles.

Compulsory for all vehicles with more than 2 wheels.

Compulsory on board all motor vehicles.

DENMARK​5​

Use of passing lights or driving lights compulsory.

Recommended.

Recommended.

Compulsory to carry a red warning triangle.

Not compulsory. 

ESTONIA6​

Compulsory for all vehicles.

Compulsory.

Compulsory.

Compulsory

A motorist or passenger, whose vehicle with more than 2 wheels is immobilised on the carriageway outside a built-up area at night, or in poor visibility, must wear one.

FINLAND​

Compulsory for all vehicles.

Not compulsory.

Not compulsory.

Compulsory for all vehicles weighing more than 500 kg.

Use of a reflector recommended for pedestrians and drivers stepping out of their car in hours of darkness.

FRANCE​7​

Recommended outside built-up areas8 .

Not compulsory.

Not compulsory.

Compulsory. Hazard warning lights must also be used.

Compulsory in 4-wheeled vehicles. In case of emergency stop, the driver must wear the jacket before stepping out of the vehicle.

GERMANY

Recommended.

Compulsory.

Not compulsory.

Compulsory for all vehicles with more than 2 wheels9 (except vehicles for disabled registered in Germany10).

Compulsory for cars registered in Germany.

GRÈCE

Not compulsory for cars.

Compulsory.

Compulsory.

Compulsory.

Not compulsory. 

HUNGARY​

Compulsory outside builtup areas.

Compulsory.

Not compulsory.

Compulsory.

Compulsory for all pedestrians walking on roads outside built-up areas at night or in bad visibility.

ICELAND​

Compulsory for all vehicles.

Compulsory for buses and recommended for other vehicles.

Compulsory for buses and recommended for other vehicles.

Compulsory.

 

IRELAND​

Not applicable.

Not compulsory.

Not compulsory.

Not compulsory.11

 

ITALY​

Compulsory outside builtup areas.

Not compulsory.

Not compulsory.

Compulsory for all vehicles with more than 2 wheels.

A motorist or passenger, whose vehicle with more than 2 wheels is immobilised on the carriageway outside a builtup area at night, or in poor visibility, must wear one.

LATVIA​

Compulsory for all vehicles.

Compulsory12.

Compulsory13.

Compulsory.

Compulsory for all drivers stepping out of their cars on all roads at night, or in poor visibility.

LITHUANIA​

Compulsory for all vehicles.

Compulsory. 

Compulsory.

Triangle and hazard warning lights compulsory.

Compulsory in all vehicles.

LUXEMBOURG

Recommended.

Not compulsory.

Not compulsory.

Compulsory for all motor vehicles with 4 wheels or more.

Must be worn by any person stepping out a the vehicle onto a motorway. Also by any person walking on a road outside a built-up area at night or in case of bad visibility.

MACEDONIA (FYROM)14

Compulsory for all vehicles15.

Compulsory for all vehicles with more than 2 wheels.

Recommended.

Compulsory for all vehicles with more than 2 wheels16.

Car drivers stepping out of their cars on all roads, at night or in case of bad visibility, must wear one.

MALTA​

Not applicable.

Not compulsory.

Not compulsory.

Compulsory.

 

MOLDOVA​

Compulsory for minibuses and buses transporting children and vehicles towing another vehicles. Other vehicles : November to March only.

Compulsory.

Compulsory.

Compulsory.

Compulsory for drivers if they need to get out of their vehicle while stopped on a carriageway (e.g. in case of breakdown).

MONTENEGRO

Compulsory for all vehicles.17

Compulsory.

Not compulsory.

Compulsory18.

Compulsory for car drivers stepping out of their cars on all roads.

NETHERLANDS

Not applicable.

Not compulsory.

Not compulsory.

Not compulsory to carry – however, the use of a warning triangle is compulsory under certain circumstances (e.g. when parked at night in poor light).

Not compulsory. 

NORWAY​19

Compulsory for all vehicles.

Recommended.

Recommended.

Compulsory for all vehicles with more than 2 wheels.

Compulsory for vehicles registered in Norway – must be used on expressways and motorways.

POLAND​20

Compulsory for all vehicles.

Recommended in private cars and compulsory in vehicles for the commercial transport of passengers.

Compulsory.

Compulsory for all vehicles with more than 2 wheels and capable of exceeding 25 km/h.

Compulsory for pedestrians on the road outside built-up areas in hours of darkness or in case of bad visibility.

PORTUGAL​

Not compulsory for cars.

Not compulsory.

Not compulsory.

Compulsory for all vehicles with more than 2 wheels (not compulsory for vehicles registered abroad).

Car drivers have to wear one if they get out of their vehicle while stopped on a carriageway, and also in any other situation when a warning triangle must be used (only applies to cars registered in Portugal).

ROMANIA​

Compulsory outside builtup areas..

Compulsory.

Compulsory on board private vehicles.

Compulsory for all vehicles with more than 2 wheels.

Compulsory for cars registered in Romania and abroad. Must be worn by any person stepping out the vehicle, day and night.

RUSSIA​

Compulsory outside builtup areas21.

Compulsory.

Compulsory.

Compulsory.

 

SERBIA22​

Compulsory.

Compulsory (type B for cars).

Not compulsory.

Compulsory for all vehicles with more than 2 wheels23.

Compulsory. Must be worn when stepping out of the vehicle onto the road.

SLOVAKIA​

Compulsory for all vehicles all year round.

Compulsory.

Not compulsory.

Compulsory for all vehicles with more than 2 wheels.

Compulsory outside builtup areas, day and night, for both driver and passengers.

SLOVENIA​

Compulsory for all vehicles24.

Compulsory for vehicles registered in Slovenia. Recommended for others.

Compulsory for drivers of coaches and lorries.

Compulsory for all vehicles with more than 2 wheels25.

Must be worn by any person stepping out of the vehicle on a motorway, day and night.

SPAIN

Not compulsory for cars.

Not compulsory.

Not compulsory.

Compulsory for all vehicles with more than 2 wheels.

Compulsory for drivers stepping out of their vehicles on all roads, at all times.

SWEDEN​

Compulsory for all vehicles.

Recommended.

Recommended.

Compulsory for vehicles registered in Sweden, and also for vehicles registered abroad if required in the country of registration.

 

SWITZERLAND

Compulsory.

Not compulsory.

Not compulsory.

Compulsory. Must be kept within easy reach (not in the boot).

 

TURKEY

Not applicable.

Compulsory for all vehicles with more than 2 wheels.

Compulsory.

Two red warning triangles are compulsory for all types of vehicles.

 

UKRAINE

Compulsory during the day between 01.10. and 30.04.

Compulsory.

Compulsory.

Compulsory.

 

UNITED KINGDOM

Not compulsory.

Recommended.

Not compulsory.

Recommended.

Not compulsory. 


1 Vehicles for the transport of children, dangerous goods, or large/heavy loads.
2 Not compulsory for vehicles registered abroad.
3 Vehicles must also carry a spare set of bulbs, unless fitted with xenon, neon or LED lights.
4 A vehicle with a trailer must carry two triangles.
5 Vehicles towing caravans and commercial vehicles must be equipped with two exterior side mirrors.
6 Cars towing a caravan must be equipped with two side rear-view mirrors.
7 Breathalyser compulsory on all motor vehicles (except mopeds).
8 It is recommended that drivers carry a spare set of bulbs in the vehicle at all times.
9 Vehicles weighing more than 3.5 t must also carry a yellow portable flashing light.
10 Highly recommended for foreign vehicles.
11 All commercial goods vehicles exceeding 1,524 kg unladen weight must carry a reflectorised equilateral triangle at all times.
12 Two first aid kits for buses with over 25 seats.
13 Two fire extinguishers for buses over 5 t.
14 A tow rope is compulsory on board all vehicles, including vehicles registered abroad.
15 It is recommended that drivers carry a spare set of bulbs in the vehicle at all times.
16 A vehicle with a trailer must carry two triangles.
17 Vehicles must carry a spare set of bulbs at all times.
18 Two triangles for a vehicle + trailer/caravan combination.
19 A vehicle towing a caravan must be equipped with special rear view mirrors, and snow chains are compulsory on board vehicles weighing more than 3.5 t.
20 Cars registered in Poland must have rear mud flaps and an anti-theft device.
21 Fine of up to 200 EUR in case of non use of headlights. Vehicles must also carry a spare set of bulbs at all times.
22 Passenger cars must have a tow rope or a tow bar.
23 A vehicle with a trailer must carry two triangles. A tow rope is compulsory for all vehicles.
24 Private cars registered in Slovenia must also carry a spare bulb for headlights (recommended for foreign vehicles as well).
25 A vehicle with a trailer must carry two triangles.

Last updated in February 2019.

Disclaimer. This information has been compiled from a variety of sources and, whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, the AIT/FIA accepts no responsibility for any loss caused by the use of this information.

Source: FIA