Reaching Auron by chauffeur-driven car
The largest ski area in the Alpes-Maritimes by kilometres of piste, and the only resort in the Tinée to publish its road route down to the motorway exit number.
- Fixed price, everything includedVAT, tolls, luggage: the price you see is the price you pay.
- Flight trackingYour chauffeur adjusts the time if your flight lands early or late.
- 60 min free waiting timeTime to collect your luggage without rushing.
- Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before pick-up.
Current traffic notice
Night closure of the RM 2205 at Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinée
From 7 September to 28 November 2026, the RM 2205 is closed from 22 h to 6 h Monday to Thursday, with a diversion over the col de la Couillole (RM 30), where vehicle length is limited to 14 metres. Saint-Sauveur lies below the turning for Auron: the closure therefore affects every weekday night transfer during that period.
Notice recorded on 18 September 2026, valid until 28 November 2026How you actually get up there
It is the only approach in the valley for which the operator publishes the full route: A8, exit 51.1 “Carros / Mercantour”, then the RM 6202 BIS and the RM 6202 towards Digne and Grenoble; after about thirty kilometres, turn right onto the RM 2205 towards Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinée and Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée. The resort counts about 90 kilometres and states 1 h 30.
The warning comes from the resort itself: the col de la Lombarde and the col de la Bonette are closed in winter. Yet the RM 2205 carries on towards the Bonette, which the resort presents as “the highest inter-valley road in Europe” — at 2,802 metres, it is no December short cut. A route calculated without allowing for seasonal closures leads to the foot of a barrier.
Two side roads in the valley also close seasonally: the Moutière track (RM 63) from 1 October to 30 June, and the Demandols track (RM 139) outside the winter period. They play no part in a normal transfer, but they explain why a “shorter” route suggested by an app can be closed six months of the year.
Auron at a glance
| Municipality | Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée (06660), Alpes-Maritimes |
|---|---|
| Route | A8 exit 51.1 → RM 6202 → RM 2205 |
| Distance | about 90 km from Nice Airport — source: the resort |
| Stated journey time | 1 h 30 stated by the resort, with no mention of traffic |
| Ski area | 1,600 – 2,450 m, 135 km of pistes |
| Pistes | 43 pistes: 3 green, 17 blue, 15 red, 8 black (regional tourist board) |
| Lifts | 3 cable cars, 9 chairlifts, 3 drag lifts and 1 rope tow (operator) |
| Village of Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée | 1,140 m |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 h before |
The drop-off point
The resort states that parking and its internal shuttle are free, without publishing details of the car parks or an official set-down point. So the meeting point is agreed before you arrive, according to where you are staying.
Nice Airport → Auron: your fixed price
The price shown is for the whole vehicle, not for a seat. It includes VAT, tolls, luggage, skis and free waiting time.
Tyres, chains: what the law requires
From 1 November to 31 March, this rule decides whether a car goes up or not. Here it is in full, with what it means precisely for Auron.
From 1st November to 31 March, in the communes listed by the prefect, a vehicle must either carry four tyres marked 3PMSF (the “three-peak mountain with snowflake” symbol), or have on board chains or snow socks able to equip at least two driven wheels. This is article 27 of the Loi Montagne of 28 December 2016, applied by the decree of 16 October 2020.
What has changed, and almost nobody has taken in: until 1st November 2024, a tyre carrying only the “M+S” marking was tolerated. It no longer is. The M+S marking is declarative — the manufacturer applies it without a test; 3PMSF is regulatory — it requires a snow grip test. In other words, an “all-season” tyre showing only M+S now counts for nothing under the Loi Montagne.
On the penalty we prefer to be exact rather than alarmist: the texts provide for a 4th-class fine, €135 and possible immobilisation of the vehicle, but the Ministry of the Interior stated again in February 2026, answering a written question in the Senate, that the measure was being applied “in an educational manner, without penalty”, the penalty decree not having been published.
And that is precisely why the fine is not the point. The real risk is not paying €135: it is not getting up there at all, or fitting chains yourself on the verge of a hairpin road, after dark, with suitcases and a flight the next day. Our vehicles leave equipped for the mountains when the destination requires it. You have nothing to check, nothing to hire, nothing to fit.
What the text says
| Period | From 1 November to 31 March, every year |
|---|---|
| Either | 4 3PMSF tyres, or chains / snow socks on board |
| M+S alone | No longer sufficient since 1 November 2024 |
| Scope | 34 départements, including the Alpes-Maritimes |
| Penalty | Class 4 fine provided for; applied in an educational manner as at 12 February 2026 |
For Auron
The commune of Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée is on the list of communes with compulsory equipment published by the Métropole Nice Côte d’Azur.
Times to reopen roads to traffic
How long the road stays blocked
The Métropole Nice Côte d’Azur publishes its road-clearing times by altitude band. These are response times, not promises — and they explain better than any speech why a mountain transfer is prepared differently from a seaside one.
Resources deployed: more than 540 staff, around a hundred machines and 2,400 km of roads. Among the official instructions to drivers: never overtake a snow plough at work, and avoid the passes at night.
Reopening time by altitude
| 0 – 300 m | 5 to 6 hours |
|---|---|
| 300 – 800 m | 4 to 16 hours |
| 800 – 1,200 m | 18 hours |
| 1,200 – 1,600 m | 36 hours |
| Above 1,600 m | 72 hours |
Auron in practice
Another question? The help centre answers the most common ones.
How do you get to Auron from Nice Airport?
It is the only approach in the valley for which the operator publishes the full route: A8, exit 51.1 “Carros / Mercantour”, then the RM 6202 BIS and the RM 6202 towards Digne and Grenoble; after about thirty kilometres, turn right onto the RM 2205 towards Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinée and Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée. The resort counts about 90 kilometres and states 1 h 30.
How much does a transfer from Nice Airport to Auron cost?
From €264.55 including VAT for the whole vehicle — not per passenger. The Sedan, the First Class Van and the Standard Van each have their own price, shown before payment. VAT, tolls, luggage, skis and free waiting time included; the amount does not move once confirmed.
Will the vehicle be equipped for snow?
Yes, when the destination requires it. From 1 November to 31 March, the rules deriving from the Loi Montagne require, in the communes concerned, either four tyres marked 3PMSF or chains or snow socks on board for at least two driven wheels. Since 1 November 2024, the “M+S” marking alone is no longer enough. There is nothing for you to arrange.
Where does the chauffeur drop me off at Auron?
The resort states that parking and its internal shuttle are free, without publishing details of the car parks or an official set-down point. So the meeting point is agreed before you arrive, according to where you are staying.
Can I book the return to the airport at the same time?
Yes, and it is strongly advised in the mountains: a return trip is booked in one go, on the same terms, and the departure time is set by your flight with the margin the road demands. Cancellation remains free up to 24 hours before pick-up.
Sources and guarantees
Where this information comes from
The access and ski-area information was recorded on 18 September 2026 from the official sources below. Traffic conditions, works and opening dates change: if in doubt, the source prevails, and your chauffeur checks the day before.
- Auron — Access, transport and car parks (A8 exit 51.1, RM 6202 BIS / RM 6202 / RM 2205, 90 km, 1 h 30, passes closed in winter)
- Auron — The ski area (135 km, lift by lift)
- Comité régional du tourisme Côte d’Azur France — The Alpes-Maritimes resorts 2025-2026 (1,600 – 2,450 m, 43 pistes)
- Métropole Nice Côte d’Azur — Winter road maintenance (article 27 of the Loi Montagne, period from 1 November to 31 March, list of communes, reopening times by altitude)
- info.gouv.fr — Chains or winter tyres are compulsory in mountain areas during the winter period
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The price you see is the price you pay
The price is calculated for your exact journey, then signed: it cannot change between the quote and the payment. VAT, tolls and free waiting time included, with no night or luggage surcharge.
No surprise charges: the card is debited once only, at the time of booking.
Free cancellation and invoice
Cancel at no charge up to 24 hours before pick-up, refunded to the original payment method. A PDF invoice is available from your account.
Transport provided by a company entered in the French registre des exploitants VTC, the register of licensed private hire operators.
Your chauffeur to Auron
Give us your flight and where you are staying: the fixed price appears straight away, skis included.