Travelling in Europe (1 Viewer)

[BusyBuilder]

I've been through Europe to go to Italy, used motorways and paid tolls as they arise, except Switzerland which we had a Vignette.

Can someone list all the passes and charge cards (?) that various countries require us to have to travel on their motorways and toll roads please ?

 

[DBK]

You can get a SANEF tag for France and the same folk also cover Spain now. There is also a tag you can buy for Italy. I started a thread on it in the Italy section of the Forum - but there seems very little experience of it. Nothing required for Germany but Austria is complicated and best avoided.
Portugal you can register on entry and money is deducted automatically as you drive because they scan your number plate.

 

[magicsurfbus]

Some German Autobahns are switching to tolls in the future - the signs are already up in places. Not sure when though.

Austria has a fixed price/time limited vignette system (autobahns) for vehicles up to 3500 Kgs. Over that weight you have to have a Go-box which charges you by the mile. Both available on or just before the border.

Alpine tunnels like Mont Blanc charge separate tolls to use them. The cost of Swiss operated tunnels is included in the vignette. There are A-road type routes in some places where you can cross the Alps without using tunnels.

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[PhilandMena]

You may find this of some value.

Firstly, routes and route maps for France and Spain. This first link is an award winning database about France. It’s big and with a host of information on best routes to many locations. I have selected the famous N10 route from Calais to Irun which is used by many motorhomes when travelling to Spain. It’s almost Toll free (more on that a little later) and almost all duel carriageway from start to finish with the exception of about 100 K. This route is great for motorhomes small, medium and large. Note: (HGV’s are not allowed on French roads, Sunday’s, so plan your journey over a weekend if possible).

https://about-france.com/tourism/no-tolls-routes.htm

Tolls: We avoid the toll road from Calais to Abbeville and save 12.50 Euros. The non-toll route is quite scenic and fairly straight forward, between Boulogne-sur-Mer and Abbeville.

At Abbeville, join the A28 and cross the river Sein at Rouen. We take the second exit immediately after crossing the bridge (about 50 m past the first exit at the end of the bridge), swing down and under the bridge you have just crossed and continue on this road and join the A13 motorway until the N154 which takes you down to Evreux. (Note: there are a number of different options for getting through Rouen and no doubt other members will have their own preferences. We find this very straight forward on both outward and return legs). Approaching Tours on the D910 join the A10 toll road at Jct. 19 and exit at Jct. 23. This will take you through the city via the toll road, (about 2.50 euros). At Jct. 23 take the exit lane for Montbazon which returns you to the D910. (Reverse for the return leg). That’s the last toll to pay until you hit the bottom of the A63 after Bordeaux.

To save toll fares on the A63 south of Bordeaux please read the route recommendations in the above link. Do not come off the A63 near the bottom as all roads will be heavily congested and it’s worth paying the last few tolls. (Fuel costs approx. €126.72. (Based on 1056 K @10K per Ltr. @€1.20 per ltr. 3.5T motorhome)). This route is also recommended during winter, due to its proximity to the Atlantic ocean, which means little to no problems with ice and or snow, unlike using the A75 to cross the Massif Central. Although the A75 is quickly cleared, it is advisable to have winter tyres fitted and there may be some small delays due to snow ploughs clearing this route.

If heading to the Mediterranean side of Spain, it’s worth taking the N121-A to Pamplona after crossing the Spanish boarder on the A63 at Irun. It’s clearly sign posted (Large white sign) about 300 m after passing through the last toll booth and crossing the river. You will find more details in this link for the N121-A and how to navigate Spain toll free.

https://about-spain.net/travel/no-tolls.htm

If you decide to pay Tolls in order to save time getting to Spain, your best route options are in this link.

https://about-france.com/tourism/routes-to-spain.htm

Should you choose to plan your own routes anywhere in Europe and also establish Toll costs, (or toll free costs) use this link. Under route options, select caravan then select toll roads. Toll costs for a class 2 motorhome will be calculated for the whole journey. You can also choose Non toll routes and other options. This is currently one of the best online free route planers.

https://www.viamichelin.co.uk/

As for stop overs on routes, you can’t go wrong using the App below which is free but I would recommend getting the paid version for about £6.00 which you can then use off line. You will find numerous places to stop along the above route and I have deliberately not made any recommendations so drivers can make their own choices. This app is also brilliant for finding other places too and highly rated by many users.

https://www.campercontact.com/en/content/app

There is another popular app/website that is used which you may also find useful if you’re doing a lot of wilding and looking for free overnight stops. It too is used by many motor homers in Europe. Get the paid version to use off line for around £9.00

https://www.park4night.com/

Finally, probably the best off line maps ‘App’ and used by many. It also includes a sat-nav function which is quite good and can also be used off line. Again many motor homers use this, especially in Morocco.

Broken Link Removed

 

[Madcaravanner]

You can get a SANEF tag for France and the same folk also cover Spain now. There is also a tag you can buy for Italy. I started a thread on it in the Italy section of the Forum - but there seems very little experience of it. Nothing required for Germany but Austria is complicated and best avoided.
Portugal you can register on entry and money is deducted automatically as you drive because they scan your number plate.

Sanef now cover the Portugese ones too BUT apparently if you use Portuguese toll roads their automatic system doesn't recognise UK registration plates and so can't send you a bill

 

[sueandjohn]

Your post is really useful. Perhaps consider putting it in resources

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[teddybear]

Thought I had read on another post that they can now read GB plates in Portugal

 

[Speve]

I would have thought if you had a sanef tag they don’t need the number plate as the tag is registered to you?

 

[Gaston aires]

Thought I had read on another post that they can now read GB plates in Portugal

We travelled Portugal this September and the system does recognise UK plates. Not expensive though.
Phil

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