When are winter tires required on BC highways?
Winter tyres or chains are required on most BC highways from 1 October to 30 April. On some highways that do not cross mountain passes or high-snowfall areas, the requirement ends on 31 March. The province lists the designated routes and marks them with regulatory signs.
The Sea-to-Sky Highway is on the shorter season. The Squamish RCMP announced on 8 October 2025 that the mandatory zone runs from 1 October to 31 March and starts just north of Horseshoe Bay. Continuing past Whistler, or heading inland east of Hope, can put you on routes where the requirement lasts until 30 April. Read the signs as you drive.
Driving in Vancouver itself is different. Because the Lower Mainland and southeastern Vancouver Island have a milder climate, the province says many coastal areas do not require winter tyres, though you remain responsible for equipping the car for the conditions. That changes once you leave for the mountains.
What counts as a legal winter tyre
The province's tyre requirements page sets the test:
- At least 3.5 mm of tread depth
- Marked either "M+S" (mud and snow, the minimum) or with the three-peaked mountain and snowflake symbol
- At least two matching winter tyres on the primary drive axle, even on a 4x4
- Summer tyres are not permitted on signed routes during the season, and chains fitted over summer tyres do not make them legal
The province recommends mountain-snowflake tyres, which include all-weather tyres, for better grip on snow and ice. Studded tyres are allowed only from 1 October to 30 April.
Do BC rental cars come with winter tires, and what do they cost?
The province's page for visitors and rental cars says most rental vehicles come with M+S tyres, which meet the minimum. It advises anyone driving beyond Greater Vancouver or Greater Victoria to make sure the rental has winter tyres, and to discuss the options with the rental company.
What three companies publish:
| Company | Winter tyres | Fee | Chains |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hertz Canada | Optional outside Quebec, subject to availability | C$20 a day economy to full-size; C$25 a day premium and above | Not stated |
| Enterprise Canada | Standard only in Quebec (1 December to 15 March, by law) | Not published for BC | Not supplied; not allowed unless provincial law requires |
| Budget Canada | Limited number of cars, at select locations | Not published | Not stated |
Hertz's winter tyre page also notes that winter tyres are not needed in the City of Vancouver or on Lower Mainland highways but are required on the Sea-to-Sky and on routes north and east of Hope. Enterprise's chains FAQ rules out fitting your own chains. Budget's winter tyre listing offers a car class with winter tyres but warns availability is limited.
Whistler day trip: which car to take
A skier flying into Vancouver for three days at Whistler in January is on a designated route every day. The options:
| Choice | Extra cost for 3 days | Legal on the Sea-to-Sky? | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard car with M+S tyres, tread 3.5 mm or more | C$0 | Yes | Minimum grip; the province recommends better |
| Hertz economy to full-size with winter tyres | C$60 (3 × C$20) | Yes | Subject to availability; book ahead |
| Hertz premium or larger with winter tyres | C$75 (3 × C$25) | Yes | Same availability caveat |
| Car with worn M+S tyres below 3.5 mm | C$0 at the counter | No | C$121 fine and a turn-back at the roadside |
For a January trip, the C$60 is the cheaper risk. It costs less than one C$121 ticket, and it gets you the traction the province recommends on a mountain road. An M+S car that passes the tread check is legal for the whole season. It makes more sense when the forecast along the route is clear and you can change plans if snow arrives.
If snow closes the highway, a tyre upgrade will not get you through. Check DriveBC before you leave; the province names it as the source for highway conditions and forecasts.
What do you need to rent a car in BC as a visitor?
Licence
ICBC's page for arrivals from outside Canada says people visiting as tourists for up to six months can keep driving on their current licence. That is a licensing rule, not a rental rule: the rental company's own document requirements still apply, so check them before you book if your licence is not in English, is in a non-Latin alphabet or is digital-only.
Age
Enterprise's provincial table sets 21 as the minimum age in British Columbia. Drivers aged 21 to 24 pay a young renter fee, which Enterprise puts at about C$25 a day on average, varying by branch.
Insurance on a BC rental car
Every vehicle registered in BC must carry ICBC Basic Autoplan insurance. ICBC's Basic insurance page says it includes C$200,000 of third-party liability, and extra liability is an optional product. Collision cover, which pays for the car you are driving when you are responsible for a crash, is also optional: without it, ICBC says you pay for those repairs yourself. At the rental counter, damage to the car and liability above the basic limit are usually sold separately, so ask what the rate already includes.
ICBC also describes Enhanced Care injury benefits as available to every BC resident. The page does not address visitors, so check your travel insurance for medical cover after a crash rather than assuming ICBC's resident benefits apply.
Drivers bringing their own car from elsewhere in Canada or the US can use their home insurance for up to six months, per ICBC's tourist page. This does not apply to a BC rental car, which carries BC plates and BC insurance.
For toll roads and rental rules at the other end of the country, see the 407 ETR and renting in Ontario. If you are heading for the Rockies instead, compare getting to Banff without a car.