Toll charges in France

[wotme]

My destination from St Malo is a little village called Les Englises d' Argenteuil aprox 40km east of La Rochelle. The shortest route is around 400 Km (250 miles) and I'm still undecided whether to take the car or the MH, if its the latter it will be the first time since the 70s I've driven a similar vehicle in France. Would you say MHs are more of a target now for French police or do they have taste for any vehicle with English plates. If this is the case would you recommend I stick to toll roads. I've read somewhere toll charges work out on average around 1euro per 10Km do you think that's a fair estimate? As I said I'm still undecided which vehicle to take, I would appreciate your take on this. Why is it I have the feeling you could surprise me with your comments

 

[Flamenca]

I am off to France again this week. I never use toll roads and have doubts about rumours that French police are targeting UK plated vehicles. Drive within the speed limits and you should be OK.

 

[Kevan]

We use the tolls, it's easier, never had any trouble with the police in the Motorhome or the car, we are traveling down to south west France on the 8th Sept in the car, taking a load of gear down to our static at Twin Lakes. won't be back till November, that could be interesting, with Brexit and all

 

[Flamenca]

We use the tolls, it's easier, never had any trouble with the police in the Motorhome or the car, we are traveling down to south west France on the 8th Sept in the car, taking a load of gear down to our static at Twin Lakes. won't be back till November, that could be interesting, with Brexit and all

Are you arranging an insurance Green Card starting 1st November as a precaution?

 

[yodeli]

I am off to France again this week. I never use toll roads and have doubts about rumours that French police are targeting UK plated vehicles. Drive within the speed limits and you should be OK.

You will be fine, not to worry... Don't even give a second thought to all that nonsense!

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[Kevan]

Are you arranging an insurance Green Card starting 1st November as a precaution?

Have got to apply a month in advance, so no green card, this trip was a bit short notice, and of course we have a dog more red tape

 

[wotme]

Kevan Twin Lakes looks interesting, nice bar and looks like you have a good social life going on there Are they open all year? Its only an hours drive from Les Englises d' Argenteuil so might sus it out when we're down there in Oct.

 

[yodeli]

My destination from St Malo is a little village called Les Englises d' Argenteuil aprox 40km east of La Rochelle. The shortest route is around 400 Km (250 miles) and I'm still undecided whether to take the car or the MH, if its the latter it will be the first time since the 70s I've driven a similar vehicle in France. Would you say MHs are more of a target now for French police or do they have taste for any vehicle with English plates. If this is the case would you recommend I stick to toll roads. I've read somewhere toll charges work out on average around 1euro per 10Km do you think that's a fair estimate? As I said I'm still undecided which vehicle to take, I would appreciate your take on this. Why is it I have the feeling you could surprise me with your comments

As I said on another thread, you can t show more British than I do! My car has a big English flag on each door and I have a GB stuck on its bottom! I have the gendarmes as neighbours. Never had a problem. My moho has a GB as well. I have been nearly everywhere in France both on motorways or nationals with car and moho.
If you are stopped it can only be because English people are known here as heavy drinkers! Don't drink at least 10 hours before you hit the road, this will be a good start! Because if when blowing the breathalyzer you go positive, then they will go all around the moho or the car and will check all. BUT THIS IS JUST THE SAME FOR US FRENCH !!! Sorry to shout but I want to make sure you realised that gendarmes act with you as they act with us, and honestly I don't t see why you English, OR Germans or Spanish or who ever would get away with either speed or alcohol or bad tyres or no papers and not us.

 

[wotme]

Is the green card coming back in 1st November then or will they accept insurance certificate.
Will we require an international driving licence for Spain and Italy

 

[Clarky]

Would you say MHs are more of a target now for French police or do they have taste for any vehicle with English plates.

Urban myth.
In the past Brit drivers got away with speeding but now DVLA share keeper details with the French they have been collecting the fines they might have missed out on before.
Just be carful and don’t push your luck and you should be OK.
We use peage around large towns and some awkward bits but mostly use D roads or the free motorways.
Remember that the speed limit on most ‘ordinary’ roads is now 80kph so its going to be a slower drive, not a problem if you’re in no rush.
At least in the moho you can stop for a cuppa or comfort break when you like.

Richard

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[EX51SSS]

I only wish the British police would clamp down to speeding motorists. Probably the French understand that the British just drive however they want and fast so I've certainly no problem with their speed limits

 

[Kevan]

Kevan Twin Lakes looks interesting, nice bar and looks like you have a good social life going on there Are they open all year? Its only an hours drive from Les Englises d' Argenteuil so might sus it out when we're down there in Oct.

Yes Twin Lakes open all year round, great fishing, English owned, still get a lot of French and other EU members but mostly Brits, we spend as much time as poss there, only take the Motorhome if we want to pop down to Spain, only a mornings drive away.

 

[wotme]

Yodeli I feel a bit happier after reading your post but I have one question :- In my personal experience when driving in France especially on Rural roads if I keep to the speed limit why does this irritate French drivers following me so much.

 

[nicholsong]

No toll motorways in Brittany.

 

[Jaws]

and of course we have a dog more red tape

Nope.. as you are returning to the UK the standard pet passport and visit to the vet before you come home is all you need.
It will be more red tape for those going out though

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[Flamenca]

In my personal experience when driving in France especially on Rural roads if I keep to the speed limit why does this irritate French drivers following me so much.

If you are basing your speed on your vehicle speedo you are probably driving up to 10% below the speed limit which is likely to irritate some people in any country.

 

[Kevan]

Nope.. as you are returning to the UK the standard pet passport and visit to the vet before you come home is all you need.
It will be more red tape for those going out though

Thats what we thought, same as green card the world will not stop going round overnight

 

[Kevan]

My destination from St Malo is a little village called Les Englises d' Argenteuil aprox 40km east of La Rochelle. The shortest route is around 400 Km (250 miles) and I'm still undecided whether to take the car or the MH, if its the latter it will be the first time since the 70s I've driven a similar vehicle in France. Would you say MHs are more of a target now for French police or do they have taste for any vehicle with English plates. If this is the case would you recommend I stick to toll roads. I've read somewhere toll charges work out on average around 1euro per 10Km do you think that's a fair estimate? As I said I'm still undecided which vehicle to take, I would appreciate your take on this. Why is it I have the feeling you could surprise me with your comments

If i take the Motorhome down to Twin Lakes it costs me about 116 euro each way, in the car you can nearly half that.

 

[yodeli]

Yodeli I feel a bit happier after reading your post but I have one question :- In my personal experience when driving in France especially on Rural roads if I keep to the speed limit why does this irritate French drivers following me so much.

Very true attitude.
Look first at their number plate if you can manage.
75 is Paris and all the following are around and part of the Ile de France 77, 78 and 91 to 95. These are always rushing and don t care. Then you have the locals, so you must know the number of the department you re in. These know where the flashing speed controlers are, slow down when they do. Also when it s a village, they might just had a drink with the gendarme in charge of the speed checking. Other than that, they might just be annoyed by the fact they can t see ahead coz you re in the way. In any case stick to your speed and just adapt when you think it looks alright.