*Updated for 2025*
What is Winterisation in car hire?
Winterisation simply means the process of making your hire car safe for driving in wintry conditions. Many countries recommend driving with either winter tyres or snow chains when driving in harsh winter conditions. In some countries, adapting a vehicle for such conditions is the law.
Where this is required by law, some car hire suppliers will include the cost of winter tyres or snow chains in the rental price. However, where this charge is not included, be prepared to pay a local charge, which is sometimes mandatory. This is called a ‘winterisation fee’ which covers use of this equipment. It’s payable to the supplier upon collection of the vehicle.
Where they are compulsory, a request for winter tyres or snow chains may have been automatically added to your booking. Make sure you check your booking thoroughly though. You may have to request winter equipment if you need it and it has not already been added.
Do I pay for Winterisation when I collect the car or is it included in the price of the booking?
This depends on a few things. Firstly, it depends on when you’re going, and the weather forecast for the time of your hire. If it is forecast to be snowy and icy, the car hire provider may include the cost of Winterisation in your booking price. So, your car will be winter ready when you get there. The same applies to providers who work only in year-round snowy places.
However, if your hire location suddenly gets hit by a snowstorm the second you land, the provider may wish to winterise the car before you pick it up. In this case, a small fee may be due at the desk, but all will be explained properly. If you’ve ever got any questions or issues, feel free to give us a call.
Lastly, some providers serve multiple locations, some hot and some cold. In this instance the provider won’t build in the price of Winterisation into the hire price. When this happens, you’ll simply see Winterisation as a Mandatory Local Charge when you’re going through the booking process.
Do I actually need it, or is it just another fee?
Trust us, you need it. Driving in ice and snow can be really quite scary and not to mention dangerous. The last thing you want is to have an ice related accident in your hire car. That probably wouldn’t make for the best holiday photos.
We know it can seem like another fee being added on by the car hire provider for the sake of it. But, the small cost of getting your hire car winter ready is always much less stressful than the hassle of sorting out an icy accident. This, plus the equipment used to make the car ice-proof isn’t free. This isn’t a random admin fee out of nowhere, it is for genuinely helpful equipment and the time it takes to add it to the car. The goal of Winterisation is safety through and through. We think if you’re going to be driving somewhere snowy, taking the time to think about your hire car in those conditions is always worth it.
How do they actually “winterise” the hire car?
There are a few ways to “winterise” a car. The most common and basic of these is to simply fit snow tyres to the car. Winter tyres are made from a specially created rubber compound that has a high silica content. They also have a specific tread pattern. This means that when used in wintery conditions, the wheels retain flexibility and maintain a good braking traction. These special tyres usually have either a snowflake symbol printed on them or an icon of snow-capped mountains. In practice, this is the first line of defence when it comes to Winterisation.
The next level up of Winterisation is fitting what’s called a snow sock to your car. These are exactly what they sound like. They’re a fabric mesh which easily fits around your tyre. They provide a slight extra layer of grip more than just standard or snow tyres do and are easy enough to fold up once they’re not needed. One issue with snow socks though, is that like real socks, they’re made of fabric. If the road you’re driving on changes between normal road and snow, they could tear and rip. Snow socks are mostly recommended for light or intermittent snow areas like the UK.
The final and safest method of winterising your hire car is snow chains. These are literal chains that can be fitted to the tyres to provide grip in really snowy conditions. They wrap around the tyre and dig into the snow on the road, they do provide a serious level of grip but not without drawbacks. The biggest being that these are actual chains around your tyres, if there’s not deep enough snow on the road the chains will cause damage to the wheels. They also can’t be used on every vehicle as they can come into contact with bodywork, suspension, brake parts and sensors. If you’re unsure on whether or not you’ll need snow chains, seek advice from us or the supplier before requesting or fitting them.
Any or all of these methods will lead to the Winterisation of your hire car. The end result is safer conditions for you to drive in. Above all, Winterisation is a good thing, it keeps you safe on the road and protects you from accidents caused by snow and ice. If you’ve ever got any questions while picking up your rental car, simply give us a call!
Book your winter car rental with Zest
Rent a car with Zest and avoid hidden winterisation costs! If you’re unsure what regulations are in place when hiring throughout winter, don’t hesitate to contact us. We can advise on what equipment is needed and what the charges will be. We’re also on-hand to answer any queries regarding winterisation fees or procedures throughout your rental!
