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Do you know exactly what to keep in your car to avoid paying a fine? Many drivers still have uncertainties about the mandatory equipment.

Not surprisingly, last year and this year there have been several legislative changes that have changed the years of rules. For example, spare bulbs, fuses, and tow rope are no longer compulsory, and in some cases even spare wheel and tire.

On the other hand, the Accident Report form has been added, which you should carry with you in every case. Therefore, we bring you a detailed summary of what the car must not be missing, with an explanation of how to use the required components correctly and the amount of the fine you pay if your car does not contain all the essentials.

If you are a pedant, it certainly does not hurt to go beyond what the law requires. A tow rope, light bulbs or fire extinguisher can still be obtained.

What you need to have and whatnot in your car

A spare wheel with a disc and spare tire is required. The disc and tire must be of the specified size. Along with the "spare", you must also have a nut wrench or wheel bolt in your car and a hand jack with a load capacity equal to at least the load on the most heavily loaded axle of the vehicle or the weight of the lifted part of the maximum permissible gross weight. The jack and the spare wheel are already included when you buy the vehicle, so you only need to respect these requirements if your spare wheel or tire is damaged and you need a new one. In any case, it is a good idea to check the spare tire pressure from time to time so that you are not under-inflated when changing the wheel after a puncture. The pump is not part of the mandatory equipment. It is also good to check that you have a special attachment in your vehicle to remove the safety bolts or nuts. Otherwise, the banal replacement of the damaged wheel may turn into a nightmare.

The obligation to have a spare wheel does not apply only to vehicles which are equipped with run-flat tires on all wheels, which enable an emergency stop even after a puncture, and which are equipped with sensors to identify the defect on each wheel.

Also, vehicles with a special puncture repair kit need not have a spare tire. It contains a compressor and glue that can repair a damaged area when inflating the tire.

Keep in mind that with the so-called driving range, you can only drive at the speed indicated on the sidewall or disc. Mostly no more than 80 km / h. On run-flat tires, the speed is also limited to 80 km / h and the range to a maximum of 200 km. However, this should be ample enough to reach the nearest tire service.

Every vehicle must be equipped with a reflective vest or safety clothing. It can also be overalls, pants, jacket or raincoat. The color of the reflective vest doesn't matter. It is essential that it complies with STN EN 471 and that it is within easy reach of the driver so that he/she can wear it before leaving the vehicle. Keep it in the front passenger compartment or door. Never keep your vest in the luggage compartment! While the law does not say how many reflective vests are to be in the vehicle, it is important to note that if the driver leaves the vehicle after the breakdown, but also the passenger, or other crew members, all are obliged to wear reflective safety clothing with reflective tape. Therefore, carry at least three waistcoats in the vehicle.

Each vehicle must be fitted with a reflective warning triangle. However, it must be a triangle that is ECE 27 approved. If your vehicle is an obstacle to road traffic, you are required to place a triangle in the commune of at least 50 and outside the commune on a first-class road or highway at least 100 meters behind the vehicle. Do not forget to wear a reflective vest before doing so!

Since last November, when a new decree regulating the mandatory equipment of vehicles came into force, passenger and light commercial vehicles do not need to be equipped with replacement bulbs or fuses. It is logical to replace a burnt-out bulb in modern cars today is more a job for a professional mechanic than for an ordinary motorist. However, if you own a model that makes it easy to replace the bulb, it will certainly not hurt you to keep the bulbs with you.

Also, the tow rope is no longer a mandatory part of the equipment of passenger and light commercial vehicles. Towing a modern car is very dangerous. If the towed engine is not working, neither the power steering nor the brake booster is in operation, which can lead to a serious accident. In this case, prefer towing service. However, if you decide to tow the car, remember that the maximum speed, in this case, is limited to 60 and that the towing vehicle should have the sidelights on. It is also good if the drivers of the vehicles agree on signs that they will communicate while driving before towing.

Fire extinguisher - NO

The fire extinguisher is not part of the mandatory equipment of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. It must only be carried by drivers of larger passenger cars of categories M2 and N2 and above. However, having a fire extinguisher is certainly not a waste. You can never guess what misfortune you will encounter on the road. With a fire extinguisher, you can save your life as well as the lives of other motorists if you accidentally witness a traffic accident.

First Aid Kit - YES

First aid kit is mandatory equipment of all cars. Since last year, exclusively new, orange first-aid kits with new packaging, new layout, new contents, and first aid card have been on sale. If you have an older first-aid kit, you don't have to worry. There is a transitional period. If you put a first aid card into this first aid kit, you should have used it until mid-2012. But beware! The contents of the first-aid kit mustn't be expired. In this case, you may be fined for the inspection as if you did not have a medicine chest at all. And remember, not giving first aid is a crime. The Criminal Code makes it clear that "a driver who, after a traffic accident in which he was involved, fails to provide the necessary assistance to a person who has suffered injury, although he may do so, will be punished by imprisonment for up to three years".