Compulsory car equipment: safety vest, triangle...
Verified 02 November 2022 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Yellow vest, triangle, windows, tires, license plates... What does the highway code say about the mandatory equipment of a car (VP) ? Can you be fined if an accessory is missing or in poor condition? This page tells you what you need to know about mandatory equipment.
Infographie - Compulsory equipment in a car and penalties in case of absence
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Compulsory accessories in a car and penalties for absence
Safety vest and advance warning triangle. The vest and/or triangle shall be used when immobilization of the vehicle constitutes a danger to traffic. Failure to comply with this obligation is punishable by a fine of up to €750.
Tires. Driving with tires in poor condition is prohibited. If checked, you may be fined up to €750.
Lighting. Every vehicle shall be equipped with serviceable lamps. Failure to comply with this obligation is punishable by a fine of up to €450.
Front windows. The windshield and the front side windows (driver and passenger side) must be sufficiently transparent, both from the inside and from the outside. Failure to comply with this obligation is punishable by a 3-point withdrawal of the license and a fine of up to €750.
You must have in your car a safety vest (yellow vest) and one hazard warning triangle.
- The safety vest must be fluorescent, have a marking EC: titleContent and be handy.
- The triangle must have a E 27 R marking and be stored in your car.
When to put on the safety vest?
In case emergency stop device, you must wear the vest before getting out of your car immobilized on the roadway or its surroundings.
When and where to put the advance warning triangle?
You must use triangle when the immobilization of your car constitutes a traffic hazard.
For example, in the vicinity of road intersections, bends, coastline peaks, level crossings, where visibility is poor.
You must place the triangle 30 meters or more from your car to signal it to other drivers, and turn on your hazard warning lights.
Please note
you're not no need to set up the triangle if you feel that it can putting your life in danger.
What is the fine for a violation?
Do not wear the yellow vest and not reporting your car immobilized on the road when it constitutes a danger to traffic is punished by a fine of up to €750.
In general, it is a flat-rate fine of €135.
When checking the road by the police (police, gendarmerie), you must be able to present the yellow vest and the triangle. Failure to show them is punishable by a fine of up to €38.
Your car must be equipped with main-beam headlamps, of crossing, of position front and rear, from fog back, from flashing lights, of lamps stop, a distress signal and a fire of rear registration plate.
Lights shall be in good working order.
Failure to comply with this obligation shall be punished by a fine of up to €450.
In general, it is a flat-rate fine of €68.
The immobilization of your car can be ordered.
Please note
if a bulb is defective, you must replace it immediately. It is therefore recommended to have spare bulbs in your car.
He is recommended to have in your car a spare wheel and the settling material.
Driving with tires in poor condition is forbidden.
If checked, you risk a fine of up to €750.
In general, it is a flat-rate fine of €135. The immobilization of your car can be ordered.
Between November 1 and March 31, in some communes in the mountain ranges, it is compulsory to equip your vehicle with winter tires or to hold chains or snow socks.
The windows of your car must be in transparent substance and enough resistant.
The windshield glass and front side windows (driver and passenger side) shall:
- Have a sufficient transparency, both from the inside and from the outside
- Ne not cause deformation or alteration of external environment colors
- Convey 70% or more of the light
You must not do not modify the characteristics of the panes except for medical reasons.
Driving with a car that does not comply with these obligations is sanctioned by a fine up to €750.
In general, it is a flat-rate fine of €135.
Three points are withdrawn your driver's license.
The immobilization of your car can be ordered.
Please note
the windshield must be equipped with at least one windshield wiper serviceable and of a windshield washer system.
Your car must have license plates approved and affixed visibly.
You don't have to have breathalyzer in your car.
You must not not hold, carry or operate radar alarms .
Failure to comply with this prohibition is punishable by a fine up to €1,500.
You lose automatically 6 points on your driving license.
The radar warning is seized. If placed, adapted or applied to your car, your car is impounded.
You may also additional penalties following:
- Suspension of driving license for a period of up to 3 years (accommodation possible outside the professional activity)
- Confiscation of your car when the radar warning is placed, adapted or applied on your car
Your car shall be equipped with an audible warning device (horn) approved.
Please note
use horn is strictly supervised and punished in case of abuse.
Road traffic control
Vehicle lighting and signaling
Maneuvering, steering and visibility devices
Advance warning triangle, high visibility vest
FAQ
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Ministry of the Interior
