French motorways

[acropolis22]

Hoping to get to France once allowed. Will be mostly avoiding motorways, but will no doubt use them occasionally. Am I right in thinking that I can pay tolls on an ad hoc basis with cash or debit card? Or am I obliged to sort out some sort of tag/box in advance?

 

[scousebird]

You can pay as you go. Card easiest as most booths now unmanned.

 

[Grianan]

You don’t need a tag though it is easy! Most toll booths have cashless options now.

 

[denisejoe]

Didn’t find a manned toll in December

 

[acropolis22]

Thanks, people. Question answered.

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[Spriddler]

I've always used a card at tolls although I rarely use the autoroutes. I usually travel solo and get out to walk round to the machine. Some people find this a bind but I'm certainly never in any hurry. Hard luck if it frustrates those queuing behind me; the tolls aren't my rules and I have no choice but to get out in order to pay.

 

[SpeedyDux]

I've always used a card at tolls although I rarely use the autoroutes. I usually travel solo and get out to walk round to the machine. Some people find this a bind but I'm certainly never in any hurry. Hard luck if it frustrates those queuing behind me; the tolls aren't my rules and I have no choice but to get out in order to pay.

If you are solo in a RHD vehicle a TAG device makes life much easier at the toll booths.

I am now a convert!

 

[slowdriver]

If you are solo in a RHD vehicle a TAG device makes life much easier at the toll booths.

I am now a convert!

Me too, even in a LHD vehicle having a tag makes life easier especially if you get an Emovis or similar tag as it works in Italy as well.

 

[Figaro]

A tag makes life so much easier.
I'm just hoping mine will still work. It's not been used since 2019

 

[drpeej]

Me too, even in a LHD vehicle having a tag makes life easier especially if you get an Emovis or similar tag as it works in Italy as well.

Wouldn't it be great if they were universal and worked across all tolls including UK ones?

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[drpeej]

A tag makes life so much easier.
I'm just hoping mine will still work. It's not been used since 2019

They've recently charged me my annual 'membership' so I am sure it will be OK

 

[Stealaway]

Set your satnav simply to avoid tolls. It will still take you to toll free motorways if needed.

 

[Spriddler]

If you are solo in a RHD vehicle a TAG device makes life much easier at the toll booths.

I am now a convert!

Me too, even in a LHD vehicle having a tag makes life easier especially if you get an Emovis or similar tag as it works in Italy as well.

A tag makes life so much easier.
I'm just hoping mine will still work. It's not been used since 2019

'Makes it easier'? I have never experienced any difficulty in getting out to pay with a card.

 

[Sandancers]

You can still use cash at the tolls, the machines have options (usually) to take notes and coins. Usually Mrs Sandancers has to get out of our vehicle to use either the credit card or cash as the slots top and bottom are either too high or too low for a Transit window. I do point out to her that it is good exercise for her.

 

[chaser]

'Makes it easier'? I have never experienced any difficulty in getting out to pay with a card.

What could be easier than having a co driver that deals with all that stuff on their side I don't need to do anything. I even draw up to the wrong side of the booths at the tunnel so she can deal with it.

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[Riverbankannie]

'Makes it easier'? I have never experienced any difficulty in getting out to pay with a card.

You can still use cash at the tolls, the machines have options (usually) to take notes and coins. Usually Mrs Sandancers has to get out of our vehicle to use either the credit card or cash as the slots top and bottom are either too high or too low for a Transit window. I do point out to her that it is good exercise for her.

I find with the Ducato window, have to get out. Usually the difficulty lies in the driver pulling up too close! However the worst is when you are all nice and toasty in the van and then you have to get out into a howling gale and sleet or hail. A tag is the way to go!

 

[Portland]

Pay cash! at each booth stop remove seat belt, find money, go long way round kicking tyres as you go, have discussion with wife as to the cost, wait for the wrong rate to appear and shout Campingcar into the mike, find new cost and fiddle in purse for money, insert cash, and demand receipt, walk back to drivers side kicking tyres again, get in put on seat belt, adjust belt and settle in, replace money in safe then move off taking all necessary precautions.
During this time you will be regaled by happy French drivers who will deeply appreciate the care you are taking and they will serenade you with their wonderful singing voices and car horns

 

[Spriddler]

Pay cash! at each booth stop remove seat belt, find money, go long way round kicking tyres as you go, have discussion with wife as to the cost, wait for the wrong rate to appear and shout Campingcar into the mike, find new cost and fiddle in purse for money, insert cash, and demand receipt, walk back to drivers side kicking tyres again, get in put on seat belt, adjust belt and settle in, replace money in safe then move off taking all necessary precautions.
During this time you will be regaled by happy French drivers who will deeply appreciate the care you are taking and they will serenade you with their wonderful singing voices and car horns

You forgot the bit about going back to grovel in the cutlery drawer for the notebook and pen, checking your phone to see the date and writing up the payment for transfer later to the trip budget spreadsheet at a pump when next filling up with diesel.

 

[BrittanyLyn]

I live in france and tho only just had my 'camping-car' for a year, have only paid by bank card and never had a problem. Its lhd so its easy to hang cautiously out of the window to reach, before i noticed high level lorry height ones , but my car is rhd and so jump out run round, find I've stopped a bit near, squeeze over bonnet to pay..done! Only thing I can say is it can work out blooming expensive, but sometimes ease and speed are worth the charge. Free stopover places offsets that considerably though. Happy welcome to france when you can travel!!

 

[Scotch mist]

Set your satnav simply to avoid tolls. It will still take you to toll free motorways if needed.

first time in France I made the mistake of setting my sat nav to avoid motorways & not toll roads

I learned the hard way lol , I didn’t realise there are so many free motorways

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[acropolis22]

first time in France I made the mistake of setting my sat nav to avoid motorways & not toll roads

I learned the hard way lol , I didn’t realise there are so many free motorways

How can we find out which are free before leaving home?

 

[Scotch mist]

How can we find out which are free before leaving home?

If you have the sat nav to avoid tolls it will automatically take you onto any free motorways on route , we we just set our next stop into the sat nav & let it do the work , often looking at a map just to see our route as we go

 

[scousebird]

Get a decent French map, we use Michelin. They will show the free sections.

 

[Kenp]

How can we find out which are free before leaving home?

You will find this link useful and can print off a map showing whether M'way is Toll or not. https://about-france.com/

 

[Spriddler]

This shows routes, tolls and the cost

ViaMichelin: Route planner, Maps, Traffic info, Hotels

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www.viamichelin.co.uk

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[drpeej]

I would just pay the tolls where appropriate. They will speed you down the less interesting parts and allow you to explore your destination at leisure and without stress. The tolls aren't that expensive in the greater scheme of things.

We have an Emovis Tag which makes the whole experience very easy. The bill when I get home is usually around £100

 

[Skez]

I would just pay the tolls where appropriate. They will speed you down the less interesting parts and allow you to explore your destination at leisure and without stress. The tolls aren't that expensive in the greater scheme of things.

We have an Emovis Tag which makes the whole experience very easy. The bill when I get home is usually around £100

If I find myself on a toll road I consider it a total failure of my route plan. I hate them!!

For me the journey is the destination.

Never in a hurry when in the van. And £100? - That's around 500 miles worth of diesel for me

 

[slowdriver]

'Makes it easier'? I have never experienced any difficulty in getting out to pay with a card.

Get Out ! Get out! Think your on holiday?
My van's left hand drive so I don't need to get out anyway, but the card slot tends to be either too high (HGV slot) or too low (regular car slot). I just like sailing through, plus when I get home I have a single statement itemising all the peage charges, which allows me to easily identify the most expensive bits to maybe avoid next time. But hey - if you like to get out, then carry on.

 

[Baldeagle7470]

I've always used a card at tolls although I rarely use the autoroutes. I usually travel solo and get out to walk round to the machine. Some people find this a bind but I'm certainly never in any hurry. Hard luck if it frustrates those queuing behind me; the tolls aren't my rules and I have no choice but to get out in order to pay.

Years ago most of the booths were manned or womaned!
Still had a RHD car and spent a few years going back to Blighty to see dear old dad.
My solution was a child’s fishing net with the card in,usually also a wrapped sweet,always used to get a smile. Easy with a dodgy arm also.

 

[elamessa]

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