Paying French Motorway Tolls

[Samcat]

Looking for a bit of advice; I've driven in France many times but always avoided the Toll roads. This year we are heading from St.Malo to the Loire Valley, and will probably use the toll road once outside Brittany (no toll roads there). I was wondering which is the best way to pay? just cough up the €'s when asked, or get one of those windscreen tag things, and pay later.
Do the tags make it any easier/quicker?
Ta.

[pherlopolus]

The tag seems to be recommended, we are making our first driving trip south this summer and I have a tag waiting to be stuck in my windscreen on the basis of discussion on PH.

It costs a little more, but worth it for avoiding having to wake the passenger, or find cards/coins etc

[Magic919]

You can grab a ticket and then pay the toll using card or cash when that particular toll road ends.

I use the Sanef tag, which costs a bit more, but you just drive up, it beeps, you proceed. There are some 20 km/h lanes where you don't even come to a halt. Costs a few extra Euros, but largely avoids queues.

[PositronicRay]

Mrs PR just shove's a card in the slot. I don't often come across big queues.

I think a tag would be usefull if I was on my own.

[so called]

I've just purchased the auto pay unit as well.
We drive down to Spain every year and have always paid cash. As we are normally in a very low down sports car, it has usually resulted in a few swear words from my wife as I try to avoid kerbing my wheels
Last year however, we went in my CLS and having just had the alloys reconditioned I was more than a bit upset when i kerbed the front near side on the first toll

Not taking chances this year.

[prand]

I was looking at getting a tag for a trip in January. I didn't bother in the end.

Reasons why I didn't:

a) cost of buying one plus ongoing charges on top of tolls

www.saneftolling.co.uk said:

Subscription Fees: a refundable security deposit of 20€ (no TVA payable) for each Tag issued by Sanef ("Tag Deposit"), the annual management fee of 6€ + TVA payable in advance; and a non-refundable application fee of 10€ + TVA.

Total up front fee of 39.20€ (including TVA) of which 20€ is refundable when you return the tag

Monthly Active Service Fee: A monthly fee is payable for each calendar month that you actively use your tag in France but only up to a maximum of €10 in a single year i.e. if you purchase a tag in June and then use your tag in July and August, you will be charged €10 (€5 for July and €5 for August) but you will not be charged a monthly active service fee for the remaining months up to and including the following May. A new 12 month period would start in June.

b) travel was off peak so was not expecting any queues at all at toll plazas

c) wife or I would be in the passenger seat so we could easily pay (if you are by yourself you need to run round to the other side of the car)

d) you don't need to worry about cash or even speaking french to a person . They all are automated nowadays, credit or debit card requires no PIN or signature so is a very quick transaction.

[//j17]

Paying cash/card is quick and simple and not enough trouble for me to spend more than I have to - and I'm often driving solo in a RHD sports car.

Personally I find it nice to jump out the car, walk around and pay. Lets you give the legs a quick stretch and click the back. Use one of the right-hand booths and there's almost always a parking area on the right just after the barrier when you can stop and put your seatbelt on, rather than holding up traffic doing it at the gate.


Pop you route in to Via Michelin and it will tell you how much the tolls will be (though don't do what I did and be shocked by the headline figure - that's the estimate of tolls + fuel that are then split out ^_^).

Edited by //j17 on Monday 1st June 17:27

[gtidriver]

so called said:

I've just purchased the auto pay unit as well.
We drive down to Spain every year and have always paid cash. As we are normally in a very low down sports car, it has usually resulted in a few swear words from my wife as I try to avoid kerbing my wheels
Last year however, we went in my CLS and having just had the alloys reconditioned I was more than a bit upset when i kerbed the front near side on the first toll

Not taking chances this year.

The height of some of the lanes at the toll I'm suprised you didn't kerb your mirrors

[gtidriver]

so called said:

I've just purchased the auto pay unit as well.
We drive down to Spain every year and have always paid cash. As we are normally in a very low down sports car, it has usually resulted in a few swear words from my wife as I try to avoid kerbing my wheels
Last year however, we went in my CLS and having just had the alloys reconditioned I was more than a bit upset when i kerbed the front near side on the first toll

Not taking chances this year.

The height of some of the lanes at the toll I'm suprised you didn't kerb your mirrors

Edited by gtidriver on Monday 1st June 19:24

[Puggit]

You might see queues on the A11 on peak weekends in August, but otherwise that part of the world is pretty quiet. We have a house in the Loire and never see queues on the A28/A88.

[gtidriver]

I ordered my card a few weeks ago, I've activated it online and I've paid all the money. Im hoping it works otherwise ill be that bloody English tt thats blocking the toll

[audidoody]

My tag has only not worked once in five years. No reason. Maybe it was the hire car. Anyway, if it doesn't work the machine spits out a ticket for you to take, the barrier rises and you're on you way. Pay at the other end with a card, cash as usual.

And as the OP asked - a Sanef tag is easily the best way to pay to use the Autoroute. The extra cost is easily offset by the convenience and speed.

However if you don't want to pay an extra €2 for the month you use it and enjoy curbing your wheels to get your passenger close to the ticket machine or running around the other side of the car (if you're solo in a RHD) enjoy.

[Magic919]

You can hand them a ticket and the non-functioning tag. They scan the tag and the cost gets charged to the tag account.

[HoHoHo]

I've ordered one for Le Mans and my trip through France to Italy this summer in my M5 (trying to avoid damaged wheels of course!).

I went to Paris over the weekend working and took the 3.5T van, all tagged up.

Brilliant, utterly brilliant.

Beep and you're through. All the cars that whizzed past us got to the tunnel after us before the last toll got to the tunnel later than us because if the queues getting through tolls.

A few quid up front, same toll fees what's not to like?

I'm back to Paris this Friday and I'll use it again and will no doubt have a little smile as I avoid the other cars and queues.

[Samcat]

Thank you all for your responses.

[Rosscow]

I've ordered one of these for our summer holiday.

Used our booking reference from last weeks Eurotunnel crossing and got a €12 discount:

https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/Eurotunnel-Le-Shutt...

[//j17]

audidoody said:

However if you don't want to pay an extra €2 for the month you use it and enjoy curbing your wheels to get your passenger close to the ticket machine enjoy.

Or have some spacial awareness and a concept of how wide your car is...

[BigBen]

The tags also work in some car parks in France so reduce faffing about. Well worth it IMO.

A bloke down the pub was telling me that if you have certain pre-pay overseas credit cards (can't recall the brand) then the monthly usage fee is waived.

[so called]

//j17 said:

Or have some spacial awareness and a concept of how wide your car is...

I think your very spacial

Edited by so called on Tuesday 2nd June 14:50

[Origin Unknown]

As with others here, I have a Sanef tolling in preparation for our drive to Italy in the summer.

Have a look here OP: http://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/traveller-info/sanef-...

eurotunnel offer said:

• Free application - no fee (save €10)
• €6** annual fee for the first year of subscription, discounted to €3** from the second year onwards
• €20 refundable security deposit on the tag
• €5** active usage fee - only for the months in which the tag is used and capped at €10 in any subscription year

To receive this exclusive offer you must sign up via this page and enter your Eurotunnel Le Shuttle booking reference or frequent traveller number in the promotional code box of the subscription form. Failure to do so will delay the delivery of your tag.