When hiring a car in Europe, some items such as warning triangles, reflective vests, or first aid kits, are compulsory in certain destinations. They’ll usually be supplied by the rental company when require by local law but it’s worth checking before you drive away.
With our country checker below, you can see what equipment is required when you’re travelling and what to double check is included when collecting your rental car.
What Country Are You Driving In?
Country Equipment Requirements
🇧🇪Belgium
✅Legally Required
- Warning triangle
- Hi-vis vest
- Required for the driver when leaving a broken-down vehicle on a motorway or road where stopping is prohibited
❄️Seasonal or Situation-Specific Requirements
- Snow chains to be used in snowy or icy conditions
- Winter tyres generally not mandatory but vehicle must remain sensible for the conditions
👍Recommended to Carry
- Hi-vis for every passenger
- First aid kit
- Fire extinguisher
- Spare bulbs if they can be changed safely
- Torch, gloves and other emergency supplies
💡Top Tip: Ask your rental provider to show you where the fire extinguisher and first aid kit are located before leaving the cark park.
🇫🇷France
✅Legally Required
- Warning triangle
- Hi-vis
- Must be accessible from inside the vehicle
❄️Seasonal or Situation-Specific Requirements
- Winter tyres or snow chains in designated mountain areas between 1st November and 31st March
- Snow chains where required by road signs or conditions
- Headlamp converters may be needed
👍Recommended to Carry
- First aid kit
- Fire extinguisher
- Spare bulbs
- Torch, gloves and emergency supplies
💡Top Tip: If you’re travelling through the Alps or mountain ranges, check whether snow chains are included with hire car.
🇩🇪Germany
✅Legally Required
- Warning triangle
- Hi-vis
- First aid kit that meets local requirements
❄️Seasonal or Situation-Specific Requirements
- Winter tyres whenever roads are affected by snow, frost, ice, slush or similar wintry conditions
- Snow chains where blue snow-chains are displayed
- Headlamp converters may be needed
👍Recommended to Carry
- Fire extinguisher
- Spare bulbs
- Torch, gloves and emergency supplies
💡Top Tip: Check the first aid kit is complete and within date before you start your journey.
🇮🇹Italy
✅Legally Required
- Warning triangle
- Hi-vis
❄️Seasonal or Situation-Specific Requirements
- Winter tyres and/or snow chains may be required on specific roads
- Some regions require drivers to carry snow chains even if they aren’t currently being used
- Headlamp converters may be needed
👍Recommended to Carry
- First aid kit
- Fire extinguisher
- Spare bulbs
- Torch, gloves and emergency supplies
💡Top Tip: If you’re travelling in northern Italy or mountainous areas, check local winter-equipment regulations before departure.
🇳🇱Netherlands
✅Legally Required
- Warning triangle
- Hi-vis
❄️Seasonal or Situation-Specific Requirements
- No general requirement for winter tyres
- Studded tyres are prohibited
- Snow chains are rarely required
- Headlamp converters may be required
👍Recommended to Carry
- Reflective vests
- First aid kit
- Fire extinguisher
- Spare bulbs
- Torch and emergency supplies
💡Top Tip: The Netherlands has relatively few equipment requirements but carrying emergency items remains sensible for longer journeys.
🇵🇱Poland
✅Legally Required
- Warning triangle
- Fire extinguisher that’s easily accessible
❄️Seasonal or Situation-Specific Requirements
- Snow chains where road signs require them
- They should only be used on snow-covered or icy roads
- Headlamp converter may be required
👍Recommended to Carry
- Hi-vis
- First aid kit
- Spare bulbs
- Winter emergency supplies
- Torch and gloves
💡Top Tip: Check both the warning triangle and fire extinguisher are present before you leave the car park.
🇵🇹Portugal
✅Legally Required
- Warning triangle
- Reflective vest
❄️Seasonal or Situation-Specific Requirements
- No general national requirement for snow chains or winter tyres
- Additional equipment may be advisable in mountainous
- Headlamp converters may be required
👍Recommended to Carry
- First aid kit
- Fire extinguisher
- Spare bulbs
- Torch and emergency supplies
💡Top Tip: Store your reflective vest somewhere accessible rather than in the boot beneath luggage.
🇪🇸Spain
✅Legally Required
- Hi-vis
- Spare wheel and changing tools, or an approved puncture-repair alternative
- Spanish-registered vehicles must carry a certified connected V-16 emergency beacon
❄️Seasonal or Situation-Specific Requirements
- Snow chains where required by signs or severe weather conditions
- Headlamp convertors may be required for UK vehicles
👍Recommended to Carry
- First-aid kit
- Fire extinguisher
- Torch, gloves and emergency supplies
💡Top Tip: If hiring a car in Spain, check it includes a complaint V-16 beacon before you drive off.
Why Rental Car Equipment Matters
Not only will having certain equipment ensure you’re on the right side of the law, it also means you’ll have the safety equipment in place should something go wrong.
If you experience a breakdown, the correct equipment can improve visibility to other road users, help you comply with local regulations, reduce delays whilst you wait for assistance and improve your passengers overall safety.
Legal requirements can vary considerably between countries which is why checking your destinations requirements before travelling is always worthwhile.
FAQs
If local regulations require certain equipment to be carried, rental companies will normally supply it but it does remain the driver’s responsibility to ensure it’s present.
Usually not when hiring locally. A warning triangle is commonly supplied by the rental provider where required.
In destinations where winter driving is common, winter-equipped vehicles may be available as an optional extra. If you’re travelling during colder months, check before booking.
Equipment requirements can change when you enter another country. If your itinerary includes multiple destinations, review the rules for each country before setting off. You’ll also need to check you’re able to cross borders with your rental company.
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