Compulsory equipment for cars and bikes in Europe

Speed limits, alcohol, compulsory equipment and vignettes in 36 European countries.

Found: 36

Country	Compulsory equipment in the car	Compulsory equipment on a bike
Albania	No confirmed list in official sources. Note: check the compulsory equipment before you travel on the Albanian State Police website.	No specific requirements in the sources.
Austria	first-aid kit warning triangle high-visibility vest – you must put it on before you get out on the side of the road Missing equipment or a car in poor technical condition can mean high fines – even confiscation of your number plates or the car.	No specific requirements in the sources.
Belgium	warning triangle high-visibility vest – put it on before you get out of the car after a breakdown or accident on motorways and expressways first-aid kit fire extinguisher Note: Your Europe (2024) lists only the warning triangle (and the vest), while the Belgian federal police list four items: first-aid kit, warning triangle, fire extinguisher and vest. To be safe, pack all four – details at politie.be.	white or yellow front light and red rear light white reflector at the front and red at the back working brakes The same applies to e-scooters. When it goes faster than walking pace, an e-scooter is treated like a bicycle (max. 25 km/h).
Bosnia and Herzegovina	warning triangle – the rules require a stopped car to be marked with a warning sign from 1 November to 1 April: winter equipment (winter tyres or snow chains) Note: we have not confirmed the full list of compulsory equipment in official sources – check before you travel on the Sarajevo Canton Ministry of the Interior website.	No specific requirements in the sources.
Bulgaria	high-visibility vest, warning triangle, first-aid kit, fire extinguisher.	working brakes and a bell, white or yellow light at the front, red light or reflector at the back, white or yellow reflectors on the wheels, high-visibility vest – outside built-up areas, and at night and in poor visibility.
Croatia	first-aid kit, warning triangle, high-visibility vest (inside the car), spare bulbs (not for xenon, neon and LED lights).	At night and in poor visibility, cyclists must wear a high-visibility vest.
Cyprus	two red warning triangles with stands	No specific requirements in the sources.
Czech Republic	first-aid kit high-visibility vest warning triangle spare wheel or tyre repair kit	two independent brakes reflectors: red at the back, white at the front in poor visibility: white light at the front and red at the back
Denmark	warning triangle A parking disc (clock) comes in handy in paid or time-limited parking zones.	No specific requirements in the sources.
Estonia	fire extinguisher warning triangle wheel chocks high-visibility vest first-aid kit (according to Your Europe – in company cars)	bell working brakes white light at the front, red at the back yellow or white reflectors on the sides of at least one wheel helmet up to the age of 16
Finland	warning triangle The Finnish Road Safety Council (Liikenneturva) also recommends a high-visibility vest.	No specific requirements in the sources.
France	warning triangle high-visibility vest A breathalyser is not compulsory.	No specific requirements in the sources.
Germany	first-aid kit warning triangle high-visibility vest If you break down, secure the spot with the warning triangle and put on the vest. On the motorway, call a breakdown service rather than changing a wheel yourself.	brakes bell lights
Greece	warning triangle first-aid kit fire extinguisher	No specific requirements in the sources.
Hungary	warning triangle. Official sources list no other mandatory items.	front and rear light, orange reflectors on the wheels, high-visibility vest – outside built-up areas, at night and in poor visibility.
Ireland	Official sources don’t give a list of mandatory equipment. The Irish government advises having in your car: a warning triangle a first-aid kit a fire extinguisher spare bulbs	bell white light at the front red light at the back Helmet and high-visibility vest – recommended, not mandatory.
Italy	high-visibility (reflective) vest, warning triangle.	No specific requirements in the sources. You must not use a phone while cycling – you can be fined. The motor of an e-bike may have a maximum of 250 W.
Latvia	warning triangle first-aid kit fire extinguisher	No specific requirements in the sources. Children must wear a helmet. After dark outside lit areas, wear reflectors.
Liechtenstein	warning triangle (ECE 27 approved)	bell (not required on bicycles lighter than 11 kg)
Lithuania	fire extinguisher warning triangle first-aid kit high-visibility vest spare wheel or tyre repair kit (according to the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs)	after dark and in poor visibility: white light at the front, red at the back and a high-visibility vest during the day: a high-visibility vest (red, orange or yellow) or lights on helmet – mandatory under 18
Luxembourg	warning triangle high-visibility vest – for foreign cars only required in certain situations (e.g. when you get out after a breakdown), so just carry one	No specific requirements in the sources.
Malta	A rental car must carry: fire extinguisher warning triangle first-aid kit For your own car, the Highway Code recommends a warning triangle.	front and rear lights plus a red rear reflector high-visibility vest – in poor visibility helmet for children up to 10 in a child seat
Montenegro	first-aid kit warning triangle high-visibility vest tow rope set of spare bulbs	No specific requirements in the sources.
Netherlands	According to the Dutch government you don’t have to carry any mandatory equipment in your car – a warning triangle and a high-visibility vest are not required, but they come in handy. Note: Your Europe (2024) lists the warning triangle as mandatory, while the Dutch government (rijksoverheid.nl) says it isn’t. So just take one with you.	No specific requirements in the sources.
North Macedonia	from 15 November to 15 March: snow chains or winter tyres Note: we have not confirmed the full list of compulsory equipment in official sources – check before you travel on the website of North Macedonia’s Road Safety Council.	No specific requirements in the sources.
Norway	warning triangle high-visibility vest fire extinguisher – only in buses It’s worth carrying the European accident statement (form) – Norwegian police don’t write reports for minor bumps.	No special requirements in the sources.
Poland	fire extinguisher warning triangle A first-aid kit and a high-visibility vest are not compulsory, but they are worth having – they are often required in other countries.	at the front: a white or amber position light (switched on after dark and in poor visibility) at the back: a red reflector (not triangular) and a red position light (may flash) at least one working brake a bell or another non-piercing audible signal
Portugal	high-visibility vest warning triangle	No special requirements in the sources.
Romania	reflective warning triangle, fire extinguisher, high-visibility vest – compulsory in vehicles over 3.5 t (worth having in a car too).	reflectors on the bicycle, reflective clothing at night.
Serbia	high-visibility vest – for every person in the car, not just the driver Note: we have not confirmed the full list of compulsory equipment in official sources – check before you travel at abs.gov.rs.	No specific requirements in the sources.
Slovakia	first-aid kit (contents in line with the rules of the country of registration, not expired, within the driver’s reach) warning triangle high-visibility vest – within the driver’s reach spare wheel, jack and wheel wrench (not required for cars with run-flat tyres or a tyre repair kit)	helmet (mandatory for everyone outside built-up areas) high-visibility vest in poor visibility
Slovenia	warning triangle, first-aid kit, high-visibility vest, set of spare bulbs, spare wheel with tools or a kit that lets you keep driving with a damaged tyre.	The sources list no special requirements.
Spain	warning triangle (a car registered abroad may carry warning triangles) high-visibility vest spare wheel and tools to change it Note: from 1 January 2026, cars registered in Spain must carry a yellow V-16 warning light instead of triangles. Foreign cars don’t have to – triangles are enough. A rental car will have a V-16. Details at dgt.es.	helmet (see above) in poor visibility: front and rear light and a rear reflector outside built-up areas in poor visibility: reflective clothing or elements
Sweden	warning triangle A high-visibility vest, fire extinguisher and first-aid kit are not required in cars (fire extinguisher – only in buses).	Helmet mandatory for children under 15. The sources list no other special requirements.
Switzerland	warning triangle	bell (not required for bicycles lighter than 11 kg)
United Kingdom	UK law doesn’t require a warning triangle, first-aid kit or high-visibility vest. The Highway Code advises putting out a warning triangle if you break down, but not on a motorway. Driving on through Europe? Take the equipment required in the transit countries.	at night: white light at the front and red at the back red reflector at the back

Remember: Abroad, the rules of the country you are driving in apply – including lower alcohol limits for novice drivers. Road signs take precedence over the values in the table. Vignettes, toll booths and toll-free motorways: motorway tolls and vignettes in Europe.

Sources: European Commission – Your Europe, “Road rules and safety” (data from EU and EEA countries and Switzerland); Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Odyseusz, country profiles (in Polish); German Federal Foreign Office (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia); official national websites (listed for each country). Last updated: September 2026. Rules change – check them on the official websites before you travel.

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