French Motorway classification

Devra

Devra

Banned
Joined
Jun 1, 2016
Posts
65
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42
Location
Germany
Funster No
43,396
MH
Eura Mobil 585 Sport
Exp
Since 2000
I have used French toll motorways quite a lot. Whenever I have driven Germany-UK or Germany-Spain.
But it has always been in a motorhome under 3.5T and under 3m height. This makes it a Class 2 in France.
If I get a single-axle trailer (for a motor scooter, or for 2 eBikes + stuff) will that be Class 3 or Class 4?
What if it is a 2-axle trailer?
 
www.sanef.com

Connaître la classe de mon véhicule

Léger, lourd, à 2 roues... Sur autoroute, à chaque catégorie de véhicule, son tarif de péage !
www.sanef.com www.sanef.com

Let me know if there's something you don't get. I haven't read it all

Don't miss the thin red arrow at the bottom . It leads you to a more detailed form (pdf)
 
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i think to be class 2 the van and trailer combined must be under 3.5T and under 3m high; but i may be wrong
 
Thanks, but it doesn't help me much. I was hoping to find someone who actually has a 3.5T van and tows a 1 or 2-axle trailer.
I don't speak a word of French and I haven't seen any English-language websites that explicitly mention whether the weight of van and trailer must be less than 3.5T.
 
Class 2....3 axles under 3500kg

It says 3 axle but includes multiple axles..

3 essieux et plus... 3 or more axle

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  • Informative
Reactions: f6c
But the PDF from Link Removed claims that a car with a trailer under 2m height is still Class 1, and that is 3 axles.
It also shows 3m vehicles with trailers as Class 4, but I under 3m.
 
Sorry Pappajohn, I was replying to your comment before you edited it.
Anybody there with actual experience?
 
I have towed a trailer with our 3580 m/h under 3m high and been class 2.
 
Devra said:
Anybody there with actual experience?
Click to expand...

We tow a trailer with our Harley's on, PVC 3500 and trailer 1300, always class 2. It has nothing to do with combined weight, rather height and then number of axles.

We used to have USRV plus trailer, RV on own class 3 with trailer behind class 4

Mick
 
yodeli : Yes I went to the link. It is a 2-page PDF. All the text is French and in the drawings on page 2 the only trailers shown are in Class 1 and Class 4. There is NO explicit example of a motorhome < 3m with a trailer. That is why I asked for a simple YES/NO from somebody with actual experience.
If you cannot answer in a civil manner, then please do not answer at all!

Thank you to all the others who weren't trying to show how "clever" they are.
 
Devra said:
yodeli : Yes I went to the link. It is a 2-page PDF. All the text is French and in the drawings on page 2 the only trailers shown are in Class 1 and Class 4. There is NO explicit example of a motorhome < 3m with a trailer. That is why I asked for a simple YES/NO from somebody with actual experience.
If you cannot answer in a civil manner, then please do not answer at all!

Thank you to all the others who weren't trying to show how "clever" they are.
Click to expand...
How rude of you, yodeli is one of the most helpful people on here with regard to French problems she has even said she will ring SANEF for you.

I think you owe her a big apology.
 
Devra said:
yodeli : Yes I went to the link. It is a 2-page PDF. All the text is French and in the drawings on page 2 the only trailers shown are in Class 1 and Class 4. There is NO explicit example of a motorhome < 3m with a trailer. That is why I asked for a simple YES/NO from somebody with actual experience.
If you cannot answer in a civil manner, then please do not answer at all!

Thank you to all the others who weren't trying to show how "clever" they are.
Click to expand...
Devra yodeli The lady you refer to is French, bi-lingual, and one of the forum members who goes out of her way to help anyone in need. Your comments are unwarranted and rude.
 
I beg to differ.
Telling anybody that they have failed to do what a child could do is NOT polite.
 
Devra said:
I don't speak a word of French
Click to expand...
If you're unhappy with the advice you've been offered, may I suggest you learn some, or use a translation app?

After all, children learn it?

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Right we're not going to argue for ages about that. You found I was rude? Ok Apologies if I made you feel that bad. Now, just be in my shoes for a few minutes. I always try to do my best to help when someone needs something in France. Fortunatly I don't get upset by all the ones who take my info and never say thanks, even though I'm not expecting anything in return, let alone those who never come back to actually read the info they've asked for, (sometimes while in big distress!) , or those who just don't read. I try to take no notice of all these ones, and carry on doing my best . I called SANEF which is shut (I know .... bloody French always eating or on strike !) Now here is the form with some help ...The only french I could read on this was "essieu" which is axle, and TBH I would think that Google would have managed quite alright for you to have the translation. Other than that I can't see a real prob in reading this page, even though .... I'm brainless as I am a woman (brunette, not blond... but does it really help?... not sure! Put on top I am French Chris would laugh and tell me to go back to my kitchen ;) :lips: )
I hope my little drawing will help better than my words. I considered your usual Moho you said under 3m high and under 3,5t but with a trailer it goes over 3,5t total weight , and with 2 axles it is , class 3 with 3 or more it is class 4

Have a beautiful day!

Amicalement
Frankie


SANEF LES CRITERES 001.jpg
 
yodeli said:
Right we're not going to argue for ages about that. You found I was rude? Ok Apologies if I made you feel that bad. Now, just be in my shoes for a few minutes. I always try to do my best to help when someone needs something in France. Fortunatly I don't get upset by all the ones who take my info and never say thanks, even though I'm not expecting anything in return, let alone those who never come back to actually read the info they've asked for, (sometimes while in big distress!) , or those who just don't read. I try to take no notice of all these ones, and carry on doing my best . I called SANEF which is shut (I know .... bloody French always eating or on strike !) Now here is the form with some help ...The only french I could read on this was "essieu" which is axle, and TBH I would think that Google would have managed quite alright for you to have the translation. Other than that I can't see a real prob in reading this page, even though .... I'm brainless as I am a woman (brunette, not blond... but does it really help?... not sure! Put on top I am French Chris would laugh and tell me to go back to my kitchen ;) :lips: )
I hope my little drawing will help better than my words. I considered your usual Moho you said under 3m high and under 3,5t but with a trailer it goes over 3,5t total weight , and with 2 axles it is , class 3 with 3 or more it is class 4

Have a beautiful day!

Amicalement
Frankie


View attachment 358970
Click to expand...
Yodeli so sorry that you had to have that directed at you for trying to help. However move on and rest assured that there very many funsters that are very greatful for your help....

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I don’t know the legal answer but we have a motorhome at 3.3t, (our previous one was 3.5t and the one before 3.65t). All just under 3m high.

We tow a single axle trailer for our scooter and have never been charged at anything other than Class 2, using the Movis TAG.
 
Having been on the wrong side of Jim because of my ignorance and big mouth....I often wondered how you knew some one had been banned? Now I know.....Its a "Red" thing!

Kev.....2 weeks Jim? Or should it be more? Lol (y)
 
As an aside to all of the above, and not knowing if French law is different to UK law with regard to trailers, but;
There's a little voice whispering in my left lughole from a previous occupation I gave up on nearly 20yrs ago that tells me that;
If two wheels on the same side of a vehicle (including a trailer) have centres that are less than 1 metre apart, they shall be treated as one wheel for the purposes of legislation.
I seem to remember it was something to do with the time they banned the carriage of horses in trailers that only had one axle.
I appreciate it doesn't help the hapless banned member but it would go someway into explaining tolls and the like. Two axles or one on a trailer, it only counts as one.
 
I emailed the German road law authorities in English as I only know about 100 words of German. Explaining that I was soon about to drive my motorhome (supplied all the relevant details)I received a very explanatory reply thanking me for enquiring about their traffic laws BEFORE entering Germany. And answered all my questions. Which I printed out and have stored in the van just in case I get stopped. Perhaps you could do the same for any country that you are going to visit. Courtesy always pays.

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