French toll roads
Discussion
I've got a trip next week and part of it involves getting from Caen Ferry port down to Bordeaux area.
Roughly about 6hrs plus stops on toll roads or more otherwise. I'm used to similar hours in the saddle so that doesn't concern me.
I've planned around them to a degree but need to get to Chantonnay before I come off them.
A88, A28, A11 and A87 will be used.
How does it work with a bike? Do all of these have booths or do i pay online? I can't seem to make head nor tail of the French sites.
TOLL TAGS ARE NOT AN OPTION. They were more than what I wanted to pay for 1 days use and it's too late now anyway.
Roughly about 6hrs plus stops on toll roads or more otherwise. I'm used to similar hours in the saddle so that doesn't concern me.
I've planned around them to a degree but need to get to Chantonnay before I come off them.
A88, A28, A11 and A87 will be used.
How does it work with a bike? Do all of these have booths or do i pay online? I can't seem to make head nor tail of the French sites.
TOLL TAGS ARE NOT AN OPTION. They were more than what I wanted to pay for 1 days use and it's too late now anyway.
I've just travelled some of those. They were all booths apart from one which I don't think you'll use, which was like ULEZ. You looked up on their website and paid online within a day, or two.
I'm not sure how the booths knew that I was a car, not a van or bike. Cameras maybe.
Last time I used the autoroutes on a bike was in the 80s and I'm sure it was free
ETA it's the A13 and A14 that are pay online.
I'm not sure how the booths knew that I was a car, not a van or bike. Cameras maybe.
Last time I used the autoroutes on a bike was in the 80s and I'm sure it was free
ETA it's the A13 and A14 that are pay online.
Edited by croyde on Friday 14th March 17:14
You use them.like a car does . It will be an automatic toll booth, ie no people at it. It wil either be to pay or take a ticket.
If its "take a ticket" you ride up to the booth and it dispenses a ticket which you put into another booth at the other end.
If its "pay" ride up to the booth it shows you the price and you pay. As you approach you will see signs above the booths showing coins a credit card or 'T' go to the coins or credit card signs they are usually both. The 'T' is auto tag.
I find it easier with credit card. Some are contactless some not.
You have to be a little prepared ie have your card handy or lots of change somewhere. It's a little time consuming, just don't get flustered.
Some stretches have ticket then pay. Some stretches are straight to pay and some stretches are free. It depends where you are coming on and off.
If its "take a ticket" you ride up to the booth and it dispenses a ticket which you put into another booth at the other end.
If its "pay" ride up to the booth it shows you the price and you pay. As you approach you will see signs above the booths showing coins a credit card or 'T' go to the coins or credit card signs they are usually both. The 'T' is auto tag.
I find it easier with credit card. Some are contactless some not.
You have to be a little prepared ie have your card handy or lots of change somewhere. It's a little time consuming, just don't get flustered.
Some stretches have ticket then pay. Some stretches are straight to pay and some stretches are free. It depends where you are coming on and off.
richhead said:
Just be aware they do time you between toll booths, if you dont take the piss you will be ok, we did and had a huge fine. So a quick petrol stop between tolls is not a bad idea.
Did the fine suddenly turn up at your home with no warning.Asking as I was quite often a bit quick but then you have to be going some to raise your average speed
richhead said:
Just be aware they do time you between toll booths, if you dont take the piss you will be ok, we did and had a huge fine. So a quick petrol stop between tolls is not a bad idea.
No they don’t, I regularly drive through France and have never got a ticket for speeding between toll booths. It would be illegal to do so in France as it’s a breach of personal data. Note however if you see a speed camera sign there will definitely be a camera within the next km or so.The “huge fine” you received must’ve been from a normal camera. I’ve had a few, usually doing 130kmh when it’s dropped to 110kmh and they are around €40 so not exactly huge. I pay it on their app and get on with my day.
Edited by 4Q on Friday 14th March 18:02
4Q said:
richhead said:
Just be aware they do time you between toll booths, if you dont take the piss you will be ok, we did and had a huge fine. So a quick petrol stop between tolls is not a bad idea.
No they don’t, I regularly drive through France and have never got a ticket for speeding between toll booths. It would be illegal to do so in France as it’s a breach of personal data. Note however if you see a speed camera sign there will definitely be a camera within the next km or so.CHLEMCBC said:
4Q said:
richhead said:
Just be aware they do time you between toll booths, if you dont take the piss you will be ok, we did and had a huge fine. So a quick petrol stop between tolls is not a bad idea.
No they don’t, I regularly drive through France and have never got a ticket for speeding between toll booths. It would be illegal to do so in France as it’s a breach of personal data. Note however if you see a speed camera sign there will definitely be a camera within the next km or so.4Q said:
The “huge fine” you received must’ve been from a normal camera. I’ve had a few, usually doing 130kmh when it’s dropped to 110kmh and they are around €40 so not exactly huge. I pay it on their app and get on with my day.
You're very naive assuming that others are only riding at 20kmh over What's the fine for 100+kmh over ?
I'll tell you...
HUGE !
KTMsm said:
4Q said:
The “huge fine” you received must’ve been from a normal camera. I’ve had a few, usually doing 130kmh when it’s dropped to 110kmh and they are around €40 so not exactly huge. I pay it on their app and get on with my day.
You're very naive assuming that others are only riding at 20kmh over What's the fine for 100+kmh over ?
I'll tell you...
HUGE !
I think 4 years ago it was about 60 euros each.
CHLEMCBC said:
Triaguar said:
It is actually illegal to have a device that has speed camera alerts on the machine whether activated or not. My device has an alert for "Dangerous stretch of road "
Ooh, I didn't know that. How do French people use apps like Google maps or Waze?P675 said:
CHLEMCBC said:
Ooh, I didn't know that. How do French people use apps like Google maps or Waze?
Used Waze driving to Paris 2 years ago and it will indicate a long zone where a camera could be, rather than exact location.The idea that French autoroutes issue fines based on toll ticket entry/exit times is a myth. I don’t use a tank bag, having a debit card and the ticket in my left jacket pocket works fine.
I do 200km return most weekends on the A40/A39 going by car from my Swiss place to our French house, and get every 8th trip for free.
Any fines (had 3-4 over the past 12 years of this routine) are sent to my Geneva address about a month later. Cameras are generally fixed, but occasionally there are temporary ones, usually on the 110 downhill section leaving the Jura towards Bourg-en-Bresse.
If I use my APRR car tag on the motorbike, I am (correctly) billed as class 5; I assume it’s a combination of weight sensors and/or cameras that work this out. However make sure you don’t use the lanes with any height restriction, as you’ll get charged as a car.
Bonne (auto)route!
I do 200km return most weekends on the A40/A39 going by car from my Swiss place to our French house, and get every 8th trip for free.
Any fines (had 3-4 over the past 12 years of this routine) are sent to my Geneva address about a month later. Cameras are generally fixed, but occasionally there are temporary ones, usually on the 110 downhill section leaving the Jura towards Bourg-en-Bresse.
If I use my APRR car tag on the motorbike, I am (correctly) billed as class 5; I assume it’s a combination of weight sensors and/or cameras that work this out. However make sure you don’t use the lanes with any height restriction, as you’ll get charged as a car.
Bonne (auto)route!
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