Winter equipment mandatory for vehicles as of today – owners change tires, police begin checks

From today until March 15, all motor vehicles in Kosovo are legally required to carry winter equipment, regardless of weather conditions. While Kosovo Police are urging drivers to prepare their vehicles in time and comply with the regulations for their own safety and that of other road users, tire shops in North Mitrovica and Strpce are reporting increased business as drivers make preparations for the winter season.

Written by: Jovana Jovanovic

Experts point out that winter tires provide better grip on cold, wet and slippery roads, shorten braking distances and reduce the risk of skidding, thereby improving road safety in winter driving conditions.

Erduan Balici, Head of Planning and Operational Assessment at the Kosovo Police Regional Operations Directorate for the North Mitrovica region, recalled that the mandatory winter equipment regulations take effect today, urging drivers to comply primarily for safety reasons, but also to avoid the prescribed fines.

“Kosovo Police reminds the public that, under the applicable legal provisions, all drivers are required to carry winter equipment from November 15 to March 15, that is, during the winter season. We also advise all drivers to check their braking systems, lights, windshield wipers and heating systems, as well as the overall technical condition of their vehicles,” Balici said.

Mandatory winter equipment includes winter tires and snow chains, while drivers who fail to carry the required equipment face a fine of €40.

Balici urged drivers to adjust their speed to road and weather conditions, maintain a safe distance between vehicles, avoid sudden braking and maneuvers, and refrain from using mobile phones while driving.

Dragan Ivanovic, Commander of the Police Station in Strpce, told Kosovo Online that vehicle inspections would begin with the aim of improving the safety of all road users during the winter months.

“Starting November 15, Kosovo Police will begin inspecting vehicles participating in traffic to check whether they have the required winter equipment. Winter equipment means winter tires and snow chains. The police are currently implementing an operational plan aimed at informing drivers of their obligation to carry winter equipment, as well as warning them about sections of road where the pavement is wet,” Ivanovic said.

He added that police would initially issue warnings to drivers, after which fines would begin to be imposed on those without the required winter equipment.

The start of the mandatory winter equipment period has also brought increased business to tire shops in North Mitrovica and Strpce. In addition to changing tires, some shops offer seasonal storage for summer tires until they are needed again.

In North Mitrovica, the price of changing tires depends on whether drivers have a separate set of winter wheels. If they do, tire shops charge between €10 and €15 for the service, while fitting winter tires onto the same rims costs between €20 and €25.

Tire technician Safet Radoncic says demand for tire changes increased as the legal deadline approached, although some residents, particularly those who travel frequently to central Serbia, had already changed their tires around two weeks earlier.

Some drivers in North Mitrovica also confirmed that they had prepared their vehicles for winter conditions in good time. One said he had already fitted winter tires, partly because of the regulations in force in central Serbia.

Not all drivers, however, have yet managed to change their tires. Some are waiting until they have more free time, while queues at tire shops are another reason why they have postponed the change for the coming days. For some drivers, preparing their vehicles for winter also represents an additional expense, particularly because the price of new tires is high this year, they say.

Tire shops in the municipality of Strpce are also reporting increased business. Goran Stosic, owner of an auto service shop in Brezovica, says he began changing tires as early as November 1 and notes that his service prices have remained unchanged from last year.

“A complete change of four tires, including fitting and balancing, costs €20, while fitting and balancing individually costs €3 per tire. We also offer new tires from a Chinese manufacturer. We have been selling them for eight years, and our customers are very satisfied. The price depends on the size: 13-inch tires cost €38, 14-inch tires €40, 15-inch tires €45 and 16-inch tires €50. Tires in 17-, 18- and 19-inch sizes are somewhat more expensive and cost around €70,” Stosic said.

Residents of Strpce who spoke with the Kosovo Online team said they had already replaced their summer tires with winter tires and checked that they had all the necessary equipment.

Unlike in Kosovo, where winter equipment is mandatory from November 15 to March 15, in central Serbia winter tires are mandatory from November 1 to April 1, but only when there is snow, ice or black ice on the road.