Mandatory car equipment in Serbia: the full list

A passenger car must carry 6 things

• Warning triangleOne, where you can get it out easily.
• Size “B” first aid kitWithin its expiry date.
• Reflective vestYou put it on before you step onto the road.
• Tow rope or tow barWhere you can reach it easily.
• Spare wheel or tyre repair kitReady to use when you need it.
• Winter equipmentWinter tyres, and chains outside built-up areas, from 1 November to 1 April when there is snow, ice or black ice on the road.

The fine is 5,000 dinars, and the equipment is checked at the technical inspection

Under the Road Traffic Safety Act, a driver whose car is missing required equipment pays a fine of 5,000 dinars. If there is no vest in the car, the fine is 3,000 dinars. When a driver without the required equipment causes danger to someone else or an accident, the fine is 6,000 to 18,000 dinars.

The equipment is also checked at the technical inspection. A car with something missing does not pass the inspection until you complete the equipment. More about the vehicle inspection

Mandatory car equipment kit: what it must meet

When you buy a kit, ask whether it meets these:

• The first aid kit is size “B”, to the Serbian standard for first aid kits. The expiry date is printed on the packs of bandages and gauze.
• The vest meets the European standard for high-visibility clothing.
• The triangle is type-approved, meaning approved under the European rules for car equipment.

First aid kit: size “B” and expiry date

A size “B” kit is required for a car. The smaller size “A” kit is for a motorcycle and does not count for a car.

The kit holds bandages, gauze, plaster, a triangular bandage, gloves, scissors, a blanket for an injured person and a face shield for rescue breathing.

The contents last up to 5 years, and the kit is checked at the inspection. Keep it where you can reach it even when the boot is full.

Keep the vest in the cabin, not in the boot

Keep the vest in a door pocket or under a seat.

!When the car is stopped on the road, put on the vest before you get out.

When the car is stopped on the road, the driver and anyone who steps onto the road must wear a vest. On the motorway this applies to anyone outside the car.

Warning triangle: at least 50 metres behind the car outside built-up areas

When the car stops on the road, do this in order:

1. Switch on all the indicators, so they all flash at once.
2. Put on the vest, then get out of the car.
3. Stand the triangle upright on the road, behind the car. That way a driver coming up sees it in time and can stop or drive around your car.

The triangle is required when the car is stopped on the road outside a built-up area. In a built-up area it is required at night or in poor visibility, if the spot is not lit. It is also required wherever drivers behind you would struggle to see the car in time.

When the car stops on the road and won't start, the first step is to find the cause. More about a car that won't start

Tow rope: 3 to 5 metres

The rope must keep the cars 3 to 5 metres apart, and a rigid tow bar at most 5 metres. A tow rope or tow bar is mandatory in a passenger car made or first registered after 1 January 1984.

When you tow a car, the law requires this:

• Do not tow a car with a rope if its brakes or steering do not work.
• Do not tow a car on the motorway. If it broke down on the motorway, tow it only to the first exit.
• Put a triangle on both cars: on the front of the towing car, on the back of the towed car.
• Switch on all indicators on the towing car, and on the towed car if they work.
• Only the driver may sit in the towed car, with a licence for that car.

Spare wheel or tyre repair kit

The tyre on the spare wheel must be the same size and load rating as the other tyres. It can also be a temporary spare wheel, if it is approved for that use. Such a wheel is only for temporary use, with driving limits, and its sidewall says TEMPORARY USE ONLY.

A spare wheel is not required when the car has tyres you can keep driving on even when they are flat. Nor is it required when the car carries a tyre repair spray or foam provided for by the car's manufacturer.

When a tyre goes flat, we come to your address: we repair the tyre when it can be done, or fit the spare wheel. More about mobile tyre fitting

Winter equipment from 1 November to 1 April

From 1 November to 1 April the car must have winter equipment when there is snow, ice or black ice on the road. Winter equipment means:

• Winter tyres on all 4 wheelsMarked M+S or with another winter marking, and with at least 4 mm of tread.
• Chains for at least 2 driven wheelsThe driven wheels are the ones the engine turns. In a built-up area chains do not have to be in the car, outside one they do.

Chains go on where there is a “snow chains” sign. On other parts of the road you may fit them only when the road is covered in snow. Studded tyres are not allowed.

Without winter equipment, when it is required, the fine is 5,000 dinars. More about winter tyres and the law

Before winter, check the car too, not just the equipment. More about getting your car ready for winter

Fire extinguisher: mandatory in a taxi and a commercial van

The extinguisher must work, with a valid proof of inspection, and sit where you can grab it quickly.

Mandatory equipment in Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Greece

In another country, its own list of mandatory equipment applies. Before the trip, check what the country you are going to requires:

• CroatiaFirst aid kit, warning triangle, vest and spare bulbs. Bulbs are not needed for xenon or LED lights. Put on the vest when you get out of the car outside built-up areas because of a breakdown or an accident.
• MontenegroOne vest and one first aid kit. The driver wears the vest when outside the car on the road.
• Bosnia and HerzegovinaPut on the vest when you get out of the car because of a breakdown or an accident outside built-up areas or on the motorway.
• GreeceWarning triangle, first aid kit and fire extinguisher. For a car with foreign plates the extinguisher is usually not mandatory, but it is recommended. From summer 2026 the first aid kit must also hold a protective mask, wet wipes and a set of plasters in different sizes, so add them to the size “B” kit.

Winter tyres in these countries have their own rules too. More about winter tyres in Serbia and nearby countries

On holiday, protect the car from theft as well. More about protecting your car on holiday

Frequently asked questions