Winter driving rules by province 2026: tires, chains, fines

Quebec requires winter tires on every Quebec-registered vehicle from Dec. 1 to March 15, with fines of $200 to $300. British Columbia requires winter tires or chains on most highways from Oct. 1 until March 31 or April 30, and drivers can be fined $121. Ontario and the other provinces recommend winter tires but do not require them.

Updated Oct. 23, 2026: Added B.C.’s tire standard, fine and studded tire dates, a key facts table and answers to common questions.

The rules below come from provincial government pages and police. Where a province has not published a winter tire requirement, we say so rather than guess. The rules apply to ordinary passenger vehicles; commercial trucks have separate chain requirements.

Key facts

Which provinces require winter tires?

Only Quebec has a province-wide law. British Columbia requires winter tires or chains on designated highways marked with signs, which cover most of the province’s highways. No other province or territory we checked makes winter tires mandatory for ordinary passenger vehicles, though several regulate studded tires and some offer insurance incentives.

Quebec

Quebec requires winter tires on all motor vehicles registered in the province, including rental vehicles, from Dec. 1 to March 15, according to the Government of Quebec. Drivers who do not comply face a fine of $200 to $300.

The tires must carry the winter pictogram or be studded. Studded tires are permitted from Oct. 15 to May 1 on passenger vehicles, taxis and commercial vehicles up to 3,000 kilograms. Tread grooves must be at least 1.6 millimetres deep, and the province recommends at least 4.8 millimetres for winter driving.

The rule does not apply to trailers or to vehicles registered outside Quebec. The province lists other exceptions, including heavy vehicles, farm machinery and vehicles with dealer plates. The Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec can issue a seven-day exemption certificate, and buyers and lessees get seven-day exemptions around a purchase or the end of a lease with proof.

British Columbia

B.C. does not have a blanket law. Instead, winter tires or chains are required on designated highways marked with signs. The B.C. government says the requirement runs from Oct. 1 to April 30 on most routes, and ends March 31 on select highways outside mountain passes and high-snowfall areas. Municipal and private roads, such as ski hill access roads, may have their own rules.

A winter tire in B.C. must have at least 3.5 millimetres of tread and carry either the M+S (mud and snow) marking or the three-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol, BC Highway Patrol said in an Oct. 21, 2025 release. Studded tires are allowed from Oct. 1 to April 30, and the studs should not stick out more than two millimetres.

Drivers without the right equipment may be turned away and fined, the province says. In the 2025 case described by BC Highway Patrol, a driver on Highway 99 was ticketed $121 under section 125 of the Motor Vehicle Act for failing to obey the traffic control device requiring winter tires. The province’s route page was last updated Nov. 24, 2025.

Ontario

Ontario does not require winter tires. The province’s winter driving page recommends installing four winter tires and says drivers should never mix types of tires on one vehicle. It says winter tires shorten braking distances by as much as 25 per cent, and that all-season tires are not the same as winter tires and can start to lose grip at 7 C.

The page also says drivers could get a discount on auto insurance and should ask their insurer. Studded tires are allowed on vehicles registered in Northern Ontario, but not in Southern Ontario unless the driver is visiting from out of province or is a resident of Northern Ontario.

Other provinces and territories

We did not find a winter tire requirement for ordinary passenger vehicles on the provincial and territorial government pages we reviewed for the remaining jurisdictions. That is not a guarantee that no rule exists, and several provinces regulate studded tires with their own seasonal windows. Check the transportation ministry in your province before you drive, especially if you travel across borders.

Do I need chains in Canada?

Passenger vehicles in B.C. can meet the highway requirement with chains instead of winter tires on the signed routes, according to the province. Commercial vehicles face separate chain-up rules on B.C. routes, set out on the province’s commercial vehicle page. No other province we checked requires chains for passenger vehicles. Chains are designed for snow- and ice-covered roads, so check the manufacturer’s instructions and speed limits before using them.

What happens if I drive across provincial borders?

Quebec’s law does not cover vehicles registered outside the province, according to the Quebec government. B.C.’s highway signs apply to everyone driving on those routes, regardless of where the vehicle is registered. Ontario allows visiting out-of-province drivers to use studded tires.

For when to make the switch and how to do it, see our guides on when to put winter tires on and how to switch to winter tires. Before a long winter drive, pack the items in our winter car emergency kit checklist, and read our winter storm prep checklist for the rest of the household.

Frequently asked questions

Are winter tires mandatory in Canada?

Only in Quebec province-wide, from Dec. 1 to March 15. B.C. requires winter tires or chains on signed highways from Oct. 1. Other provinces do not require them for passenger vehicles.

What is the fine for no winter tires in Quebec?

$200 to $300, according to the Government of Quebec.

What is the fine for no winter tires in B.C.?

BC Highway Patrol ticketed a driver $121 under section 125 of the Motor Vehicle Act for failing to obey a winter tire sign. Drivers can also be turned away from the highway.

Do M+S tires count as winter tires in B.C.?

Yes, on B.C. designated highways, if they have at least 3.5 mm of tread. Tires with the three-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol also qualify.

When can I use studded tires?

In Quebec, Oct. 15 to May 1. In B.C., Oct. 1 to April 30. In Ontario, only on vehicles registered in Northern Ontario or visiting from outside the province.

Does Ontario require winter tires?

No. Ontario recommends four winter tires and says drivers may qualify for an insurance discount.

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Sources: Government of Quebec, Requirements for winter tires; Province of British Columbia, Designated Winter Tire and Chain Routes; BC Highway Patrol (RCMP), Oct. 21, 2025 release; Government of Ontario, Winter driving. Rules can change, so confirm with your provincial transportation ministry.