The Tolls after the viaduct on journey from Calais

[Jaznay]

Hi. Does anyone know the name of the Toll / Layby just after the Viaduct on the motorway from Calais.
Thought it would be a good place to pull over for half an hour and watch better cars than ours go by.
Unless anyone has any pointers for great car spotting on the journey down.
We are on the 06:50 Tunnel crossing. Team Citrus

[E36GUY]

That's the Boulogne Peage.

Most Peages have a car park to the right after you go through where you can park up safely.

[Jaznay]

Thank You

[Jmorgan93]

This made me look up the toll costs for the trip.... Le Mans Nord toll is bloody expensive when coming from Calais, 24 euros according to michelin planner?

[The Tea Boy]

Jmorgan93 said:

This made me look up the toll costs for the trip.... Le Mans Nord toll is bloody expensive when coming from Calais, 24 euros according to michelin planner?

Even worse if like me you are towing a caravan, michelin rekons £52!!!!

but towing means its easier to stick to them and about 2 hrs quicker for me.

Matt

[Jmorgan93]

True! As it is ive never driven in france before so its easier to just stick it on the motorway and stay there!

[//j17]

Jmorgan93 said:

This made me look up the toll costs for the trip.... Le Mans Nord toll is bloody expensive when coming from Calais, 24 euros according to michelin planner?

If you think the toll between Rouen and Le Mans is "bloody expensive" (£20/130 miles = 15p per-mile) God help you if you live North of Birmingham and have to use the M6 Toll (£5.50/27 miles = 20p per-mile) and Dartford crossing on the M25 (£2/0.88 miles = £2.27 per-mile) to get to the channel!

[E36GUY]

Jmorgan93 said:

True! As it is ive never driven in france before so its easier to just stick it on the motorway and stay there!

Not especially. Driving on the wrong side in France is actually quite intuitive when you are there because everything is laid out accordingly. Takes 5 minutes to get used to. Overtaking is more of a challenge though because it's not as simple as putting half a car out "for a look."

Autoroute is easiest but the old road from N138 from south of Rouen (now D338) is gorgeous if you are not in a hurry.



JUST DON'T SPEED!!!

[Printertosh]

My understanding of French tolls is that each sections toll cost is based on how much that section cost to build so avoid sections with huge viaducts, tunnels or marshland to save cash. Thats why just before any of these the French disappear from the toll roads leaving only the English paying on those sections. Lol
(by the way when I say section I mean junction to next junction)

Edited by Printertosh on Tuesday 13th May 19:06

[lowdrag]

Where on earth did someone get the idea that towing a caravan costs extra? I regularly tow a 6 metre trailer with a classic car and how on earth they can charge you more at unattended péages beats me. Unless you are an HGV and use the left hand toll it matters not that you are just a car or if you are towing a boat, caravan or classic.

[Rick Cutler]

lowdrag said:

Where on earth did someone get the idea that towing a caravan costs extra? I regularly tow a 6 metre trailer with a classic car and how on earth they can charge you more at unattended péages beats me. Unless you are an HGV and use the left hand toll it matters not that you are just a car or if you are towing a boat, caravan or classic.

Vehicles are classified by height I am no expert but maybe there is a radar system that tags the ticket number if a large item follows the car out? Plus some tolls have height barriers.

[Jmorgan93]

Fortunately I dont have to bother with the M6 Toll and rarely go across the dartford crossing, all my long journeys (ie. home to uni) are basically m25/m40!

E36GUY said:

Jmorgan93 said:

True! As it is ive never driven in france before so its easier to just stick it on the motorway and stay there!

Autoroute is easiest but the old road from N138 from south of Rouen (now D338) is gorgeous if you are not in a hurry.

JUST DON'T SPEED!!!

Seen a fair bit said about the N138, it sounds quite enticing... How much longer does it take though? We dont hit the ground in france until around 3 or 4pm French time... As for speeding, that goes without saying! Seen plenty about that on here! Note to self, DO NOT FORGET to leave radar detector at home...

[lowdrag]

Rick Cutler said:

Vehicles are classified by height I am no expert but maybe there is a radar system that tags the ticket number if a large item follows the car out? Plus some tolls have height barriers.

I've towed a caravan for a friend, I tow my race trailer with the high tyre rack, and never have I heard of this, and I've lived in France for 15 years. The only difference is a high ticket machine on the N/S lane to facilitate taking the ticket for the HGV drivers. Next you'll be telling me that you were caught for speeding between péages due to the time stamp on the ticket. That doesn't exist either, but that doesn't stop urban myths proliferating.

[surveyor]

I'd seen this on the toll website. If it's wrong then excellent...

[lowdrag]

Well, you are right but you are wrong. It is just like the majority of UK citizens break the law on Sunday because they don't go to church. The law has never been repealed. To save manpower most tolls no longer have humans operating them so no difference can be made between a Mini and a SUV with caravan. Out of curiosity I've used the right hand lane mainly used by lorries, I've used my télépéage beep (not in the left hand lane though because there are height restrictions) and every which way but loose, all with no change in the standard vehicle rate. I've done it for years when booking the ferry crossing, adding a baggage trailer and taking the 6 metre one. I've been pick up once only for an excess fare, and one can always say you ticked the wrong box.

[The Tea Boy]

Lowdrag,
Are you saying the tolls aren't more for towing a caravan?

I was only going from the route planner on Via Michelin.

Regards
Matt

ps thankks for all of your useful posts lowdrag, they are much appreciated.

[//j17]

The Tea Boy said:

Lowdrag,
Are you saying the tolls aren't more for towing a caravan?

The toll for a caravan is higher but the booths are un-manned so if you, shall we say make a mistake and pay the car, not caravan rate the barrier will open and let you and your caravan through.

If you want to be 100% legal the different vehicle classes can be found here.

[leyorkie]

Just before Easter the start of the A28 the machines were not issuing tickets the fare was calculated by number plate recognition at Le Mans Nord.
Has anybody else had this? Lowdrag?

[lowdrag]

Never heard of ANPR in France - ever. It is probably me behind the times though. To put this discussion on motorway tolls to bed, I have yet to figure out how the hell you can ask the ticket distributor to let you pay more than for a car. You arrive at the barrier, you press the button, the machine gives you a ticket, the barrier opens and off you go. I am now worried, from what some of are trying to say, that when you come to leave the autoroute there will be a lie detector test by the thought police and you will be thrown in the deepest dungeon never to be seen again.

If one of you can actually tell me, not by spouting myths but actual fact, how the hell the ticket machine can differentiate, I bow my head to you. And it can't be height - just think of people carriers with the big top boxes.

[indyxe]

The Tea Boy said:

Lowdrag,
Are you saying the tolls aren't more for towing a caravan?

I was only going from the route planner on Via Michelin.

Regards
Matt

ps thankks for all of your useful posts lowdrag, they are much appreciated.

I think Michelin is wrong with the price, It has never been more than 30 euros from Calais to Le Mans. between Boulogne and Rouen is about 8 or 9 euros, and between Rouen and Le Mans about 18 to 19 euros. unless there has been a vast increase this year ?. Yes I think lowdrag is saying there is no more for a caravan.