Advice sought on tolls in France

[kwill1971]

Message from a newbie......

Our MH is just over to 3m height limit (3.07m to be precise). Single axle at back, 3.5tonnes max.

Do you think we can pass as a class2 at the peage's or are we going to get hit for class 3 ? Does it matter whether we go to a manned toll booth or not ? Heading down to the alps, so suspect it might make quite a difference to the cost of the trip ?

 

[Ockerron]

I'm not terribly experienced as a Motorhomes and I'm sure many more old lags will be along shortly to correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure that if you press the button and tell them you are a 'camping car' they will amend it to a Class 2, even if it had automatically charged you as a class 3. It's what we've been told to do this summer anyway!
Oh, and welcome to Fun!

 

[Red Dragon]

Agree with Gerri,press the help button and very politely in FRENCH tell them you are a campingcar.
Worked every time for us

 

[DavidG58]

Like Gerri says, you will probably trigger class3 on height, which technically is right though, but definitely worth a button press and ask, we have got lucky a few times

 

[Hawkstone]

Never been lucky so far and have not seen one manned toll

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[Soozywoozy]

We are 2.9 m high and with satellite dish, takes us up to 3.19 - 19cm over and 3.85 ton. - officially a class 3. So far ( about 50+ transactions), not once have we've been charged class 3. We keep expecting to and allow for it in our budgeting - guess we've been lucky
Van is an A class so very flat profile, I think if you are other shapes/ models it may make a difference

 

[Hawkstone]

If you are not rushed for time the country roads are very good to drive on and often very quiet. We used a couple of tolls to pick up a bit of time but mostly we used the smaller roads. Quiet enjoyed the scenery apart from the odd sat nav error despite the fact that I updated the maps. There are a heck of a lot of roundabouts in France I have to say.

 

[Rob Paula and Pablo]

Hi Guys
We try to stay of the tolls going through France. Try and look at the difference if you are on the national roads compared to the tolls. The time is sometimes not that much different. Also some fantastic senary.

 

[Gazza333]

Just come back we are 3m high but then have a satellite on top taking us to 3.3 m. All unmanned tolls charged us class 2.

 

[dabhand]

The charge is normally automatic because of height sensors at the barriers so over a certain height you will be charged the higher rate. At the barrier, press the intercom and say "Je suis camping car" and the price will be almost certainly be reduced from around 15 - 20 Euros to 5 - 10 Euros. Going through many tolls, only once was I challenged this year (near Bordeaux) when a guy said over the intercom "you are a very large camping car" I said I had been paying the camping car rate all over France to which he asked for my last toll ticket (which I didn't have) Took about 10 minutes at the barrier trying to explain I couldn't really understand what he meant, he sent a guy out to talk to me and then probably exasperated he just raised the barrier, so a 100% pass through rate. Don't worry about it, worst case scenario is you have to pay a bit more!!

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[jonandshell]

Bonjour Madame/ Monsiuer! Nous avons une camping car. Est le tariff correct sil vous plait?

Works every time!

 

[Gaston aires]

Agree with Gerri,press the help button and very politely in FRENCH tell them you are a campingcar.
Worked every time for us

I find speaking in English with a French accent ( aka allo allo ) will not work, any idea why ?
Phil (lippe)

 

[Judge Mental]

Roof air conditioner put us over 3 m, press on button usually did the trick.

but I have to ask why use expensive tolls at all when you can easily get round using N road system, with light use of tolls to get you around the worse bits

One of my pet hates France class 2 charge when in Italy and spain campers are class 1 and far more resonable cost and not worth avoiding..

 

[chaser]

We have found when you draw up to the auto tolls , a ticket comes out of the top slot, ignore it and press the button on the bottom slot and it will be class two, usually , anyway

 

[Busman]

Same height and weight as mine, due to bad weather last November I used a lot of tolls in France manned and unmanned every ticket I got was class 2 and most of the tickets came out the top slot so no problems for me
Dave

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[bigtree]

Only had to pay class 3 once last year,Madame wasn't having any of it. As said press the assist button and request camping car class 2.

 

[LAM]

Message from a newbie......

Our MH is just over to 3m height limit (3.07m to be precise). Single axle at back, 3.5tonnes max.

Do you think we can pass as a class2 at the peage's or are we going to get hit for class 3 ? Does it matter whether we go to a manned toll booth or not ? Heading down to the alps, so suspect it might make quite a difference to the cost of the trip ?

Thanks all, I had no idea about these charges. Last year in France we used the toll roads mainly, for various reasons, (please don't shout ). The tickets came out of the machines from all different places and one of them was very expensive. I take it it was a class 3 charge ? We are about to embark on a trip to France. Thanks for all the advice and French lessons. They have been added to my itinery.

 

[denisejoe]

Only once we were charged Class 4 (we are over 3m and twin axle). Spoke to guy after pressing button to say we are a camping car but insisted as we were over 3m we had to pay Class 4.

Tend not to use tolls usually but there is the odd time it's worth it - but not often fortunately.

Denise

 

[LAM]

Where is Frankie when you need her

 

[Millibobs]

Coming from Italy to France is always a shock going from class 2 to 3. Vast difference in price. Thanks for the advice re je suise camping car. Will give it a go this year coming up from Spain

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[Portland]

Avoid the bridge at Millau, they take no prisoners and will charge you the same as a commercial. They will give you a form to complain to the Marie but I think you have as much chance of platting fog.

 

[Box Boy]

One must go over the Millau bridge at least once! Its worth the cost. Great engineering with a on-sight exhibition area below. Some nice campsites in Millau.

 

[Allanm]

We went over the Millau bridge last year, just over 3.05 m and charged as class 2.
But, come to Brittany, no toll roads here last time I looked

Allan

 

[Espana Peter]

I have just traveled the length of France and back and as I am over 3m AND tow a dog trailer, was automatically charged Group 4 every time. Rang the bell as suggested and was immediately reduced to Group two - saved me a fortune, so thanks for the idea, it works a treat!