Travelling in Europe with a MAUW of 4000kg

[John Cheetham]

Can anyone advise of how we use the Tolls in France. Do the operators know the Max weight of our Motorhome, or do we have to tell them. Also does anyone know how much more it costs compared with a Motorhome up to 3.5 tons. Ours is 4 tonnes max weight.

 

[Madcaravanner]

Errr NO @John Cheetham the only time the weight may catch up with you is when the Gendarmes stop you and weigh you the Toll Barriers only Measure HEIGHT Class 2 is under 3m though if you are close becareful as some tolls measure low (Well the last one on the A16 does B***h made me PAY for class three refused to come and measure manually )

Oh BTW I'm 4.25T too but beware IF you do get stopped then the Autoroute will want to claw back all their underpaid tolls with interest but AFAIK there are only 2 Gendarme vans equipped with scales and they concentrate on trucks

For tolls go on the Autoroute Website and see the toll options normally Camping Cars 3.5T are Class 2 whilst Camping Cars >3.5T are Class 3

 

[River gypsys]

We're 5ton ,got caught on a french toll road near Paris , they charged class 3, no amount of arguing made a difference, keep off them if you can ,the a roads are great,

 

[2657]

(Well the last one on the A16 does B***h made me PAY for class three refused to come and measure manually )

We're 5ton ,got caught on a french toll road near Paris , they charged class 3, no amount of arguing made a difference, keep off them if you can ,the a roads are great,

That's because you were class 3, why should you be upset about being charged the correct toll?

 

[John&Kate]

We are TAG Axle and have never been charged over Class 2. We always use the tolls. If it charges you at a higher class, just pay what it asks. Dont see any point in arguing as they are 99% automated.

Some you win, some you loose.

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[Lenny HB]

Eaiser to use the national roads then you don't have to worry about feeling you have been ripped off after paying tolls.

 

[Madcaravanner]

That's because you were class 3, why should you be upset about being charged the correct toll?

Because for 2000 miles travelling always charged class 2 and my credit and debit cards wouldn't work had just 15€ cash thank goodness the toll was 12€ - not a gey at paying just her attitude that she was right on the height of the Motorhome and I the owner was wrong

 

[tuscancouple]

Eaiser to use the national roads then you don't have to worry about feeling you have been ripped off after paying tolls.

Not sure why you should feel ripped off as you enter a contract with the peage company when you drive through the first toll booth, they provide the road, you pay for that service. Why should you feel ripped off?

I also agree that the national roads are good, but not if you need/want to make progress.

Mick

 

[filopastry]

@tuscancouple First part of your posting I agree with 100%.

The second part it depends if you are A: in a rush and B: how much of a rush. An example we posted on another link:- Gemozac 17260 to Benidorm Spain is 1000kms, give or take.

The route using no tolls, Bordeaux, A65 south to J17 Mont de Marsan, Orthez, Oloron St Marie, Somport tunnel, Zaragozo and onwards took 2 hours longer than the peage route and cost 90 euros in tolls less, we drove at 80kph except where higher speeds were allowed but only very rarely exceed 95kph but less through the villages.

In our personal circumstances, we are not worried by an extra 2 hours driving overall and find the route much more interesting, fuel consumption is less, stress is lower, more interesting places to stop for a snack, or picnic and finally, and most importantly for a well instructed Yorkshireman, it's cheaper.

 

[Speve]

Nothing stressful about driving on the peage in fact usually less traffic set your cruise control and away you go, I find roundabouts and sleeping policemen and 50kph speed limits stressful especially towing a trailer.

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[Happy1]

Yep just blown a tyre not looking out properly and hit a speed bump at well speed!!

 

[Allanm]

Not sure why you should feel ripped off as you enter a contract with the peage company when you drive through the first toll booth, they provide the road, you pay for that service. Why should you feel ripped off?

I also agree that the national roads are good, but not if you need/want to make progress.

Mick

I just drove down from Brittany to the south of France in a 3.5 ton hire van that is 3.2 metres high. The tolls just cost me €127 one way and I am going back the same route tomorrow.
That’s €254. I feel well ripped off by the charges (and yes, I was entering into a contract with the toll companies but their charges are way too high)
This is one reason we never to use toll roads unless absolutely necessary.

 

[jongood]

I just drove down from Brittany to the south of France in a 3.5 ton hire van that is 3.2 metres high. The tolls just cost me €127 one way and I am going back the same route tomorrow.
That’s €254. I feel well ripped off by the charges (and yes, I was entering into a contract with the toll companies but their charges are way too high)
This is one reason we never to use toll roads unless absolutely necessary.

gilet jaune mon ami?

 

[Rapphil]

More ‘good’ news:

 

[Steadycam]

We get round the tolls by driving in Germany. €0.00 for 1240 miles. Happy days

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[tuscancouple]

I feel well ripped off by the charges (and yes, I was entering into a contract with the toll companies but their charges are way too high

How do you quantify that the charges are to high? What would you regard as a fair charge? Are you aware of their running costs, extra wear caused by heavy vehicles, staff wages, etc? They have a business to run and need to make an operating profit to keep in business. They are not a charity. If you feel the charges are to high, don't use the peage.

Mick

 

[Steve N Tracy]

If you have applied for a Crit Air I am guessing they already have your weight possibly on a central database? as you have to supply them with a copy of the first page of your V5

 

[Nasher]

Can I ask, how many on this forum, who try to evade paying the correct road toll also complain about Google, Facebook, city fat cats, etc. Not paying their taxes?