French Tolls.
Checking toll costs for the spring on this site....
http://www.autoroutes.fr/en/routes.htm
Motorhome under 6 mtr and under 3 mtr high and also less than 3500Kg.
I think we are classed as 'Group 2' but don't recognise that on the site.
If I select 2 axles it indicates 'truck'....is this right or should it be a 'car'?? Please
Comments
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Our motorhome is 6m long and 2.6m high and we quality as Class 2 going through the tolls in France.
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Here's a pictorial of the way vehicles are classed - which may help.
Classification of vehicles for French tolls
The font is rather small, and it's in French, but you can click on the plus sign at the bottom right and enlarge it. It's self explanatory.
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Thanks for that, i know we are class 2 but couldn't work out on the site I indicated....no classes are listed as such.
From Calais to Marseille a car is 88 Euro whereas a 2 axle 'Truck' comes up with 198 Euro.
Perhaps there is a better site that indicates the classes?
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A Classe 2 motorhome is the same cost as a car and caravan (which are also Classe 2) and the cost from Calais to Marseilles for Classe 2 is €134. With all these route planning websites you can just select car and caravan and know that the cost is going to be the same.
Viamichelin, which is the website I use, gives exactly the same toll. However, beware in using British sites and asking for the toll cost in pounds as the conversion rate they use from euros to pounds isn't always correct.
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I think EJB was asking how he actually calculated the tolls he would pay. He's right in that many of the websites don't offer the option for calculating a 'Camping Car' or other similar vehicles.
Does anyone know of a route-planning website which does offer Camping Car or other options? Whilst they do offer various 'types' of car from compact to luxury, it seems that it would be more sensible to offer something which applies to motorhomes. Perhaps an email to some of the providers of these websites might get this option added!
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Thank You....The crux is can I see the cost where I select Class 2....which Val has answered.
The site I mentioned offers two different price compared to the one Val has noted.
We tend to travel one way fast and pay tolls then return via the none toll routes. Don't mind paying tolls but an idea of cost saves a deep intake of breath at the machine!!!!
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I know this is slightly off topic, but it might be worth getting a SANEF tag or similar. It means you can go through the automatic tolls and they will bill you direct - no need for cash or cards.
We got ours in 2014 and I wouldn't go back to the 'pay at the toll booth' system now.
David
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Cheers David....I don't mind the toll booths it's just getting a rough idea of the cost before we go.
We visit places like Norway (or Switzerland for a one off 40 Euro) and without doing anything on route we get a bill some weeks later for up to £30 after 3 or 4 weeks of travelling!
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Because it intriigued me as to why motorhomes are not included in the pricing, especially when so many French people use them, I've emailed Viamichelin to ask that question.
I'll let you know if I get a reply. (They did change the way they calculated tolls in GB pounds as a result of a previous email!).
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Here's the reply (already impressed) from Viamichelin:
At this stage, our mapping databases do not enable us to offer a dedicated service to camper van/caravan owners due to the specific constraints that such vehicles face (size, tonnage, etc.) Development is underway to offer this service when the
next website update takes place.
Michelin is at your service and thank you for your trust.0 -
We are a six wheeler Kon-tiki and fall into the silly money cost of tolls, so the simple answer is dump the motorway, and toll free, often on dual carriageways etc.
Paris, Nice, Montpellier, Avignon - you name it, it's toll free.
To get to the south of France, comfortably, will take a driving day longer maybe, but far more enjoyable through villages and nicer placers to stop and eat. One cake shop insisted we stay on their car park for the night!
This is a list of toll free routes we have tried and tested. We do sometimes tweek them a bit, for example, by passing Saverne using one motorway junction
for 1.10 euro!Russ
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Like KontikkiKid, we always use non-toll routes, apart from those around 'difficult' cities, such as Orleans, Toulouse, Aix en Provence where we sometimes spend a couple of euros. Other cities have free sections where there is almost a free by-pass around the city, so we take that where possible.
It's perfectly possible to get down to the Mediterranean without paying a cent in tolls - it will take longer, but not that much, so unless you have only a fortnight, two children in the back constantly asking 'Are we there yet', then perhaps it's worth trying. The only thing I would ask is not on the days when we're travelling please - we're used to fairly quiet roads, empty campsites, and plenty of available spaces in the roadside picnic spots!
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Hi BB,
I am very interested in your assumption that as long as everything else is ok, a weight of over 3.5t does not matter. From next month I will be driving a KT 635 which is just under 3m high, on two single axles but has a MTPLM
of 4250kg. I was assuming that I would be Class 3 and would not be able to use my Tag.I have attached below the table, in English, that I have been using. Is your assumption linked to the * used in the MH detail.
http://www.autoroutes.fr/en/vehicle-classification.htm
Looking forward to getting to the bottom of this, which could make a big difference for me. I would like to get away from depending on toll roads all of the time but on occasions it is more practical to jump on a toll road and clock some miles quickly.
BillC
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Hi BB,
I am very interested in your assumption that as long as everything else is ok, a weight of over 3.5t does not matter. From next month I will be driving a KT 635 which is just under 3m high, on two single axles but has a MTPLM
of 4250kg. I was assuming that I would be Class 3 and would not be able to use my Tag.I have attached below the table, in English, that I have been using. Is your assumption linked to the * used in the MH detail.
http://www.autoroutes.fr/en/vehicle-classification.htm
Looking forward to getting to the bottom of this, which could make a big difference for me. I would like to get away from depending on toll roads all of the time but on occasions it is more practical to jump on a toll road and clock some miles quickly.
BillC
There are checks in place that measure the height of the van but none in place to measure the weight. It would be exceptional if a single axle van under 3m was charged more than classe 2.
Having a tag makes you open to prosecution not having a tag allows you to plead ignorance if "wrongly" charged classe 2.
Moral dilemna for you - but there must be a number of regulars on here who pay more in road "tax" to the French than our government.
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If you get stuck at an unmanned tool booth which tries to charge you as class 3, EJB, you can press the button and speak to the control centre. However, as you've declared on another thread that you "don't speak any French apart from 'Bonjour'." you
may have a problem!
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If you get stuck at an unmanned tool booth which tries to charge you as class 3, EJB, you can press the button and speak to the control centre. However, as you've declared on another thread that you "don't speak any French apart from 'Bonjour'." you may have a problem!
All you need to be able to say is 'Classe Deux S'il vous plat' (Class Duh Seel Voo play). You don't need to enter into a conversation - they want you out of the way asap as you're holding up the queue!
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DSB makes a good point about getting a SANEF Tag as many tolls are now unmanned so you have to pay by card or money in the slot. Last year on seven occasions I was stuck behind fellow Brits. who could not use the machines and had to get out of my car and help them. Not one thanked me. Had to make a cautious reverse and leave one ignorant bloke stuck there, the French were going bananas.
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DSB makes a good point about getting a SANEF Tag as many tolls are now unmanned so you have to pay by card or money in the slot. Last year on seven occasions I was stuck behind fellow Brits. who could not use the machines and had to get out of my car and
help them. Not one thanked me. Had to make a cautious reverse and leave one ignorant bloke stuck there, the French were going bananas.I'm wondering in what sense they could not use the machines. If they have a credit card it is simplicty itself with or without the language - and amazingly quick. If paying with money I must admit I am not sure of the process. I always thought the unmanned
machines were card or nothing but I admit I don't know that for a fact - it is just what I assumed.I use a tag now. Had it for three years now and would not be without it - especially as I am usually on my own and used to have to get out of the car to use the machine.
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You're toddling down the Motorway and the rains coming down in chats and chiens and you're approaching the Motorway Toll booths in a Motorhome.
Without Tag – wind window down, pull in wing mirror, faff about finding card or cash and wait behind car in front while he/she also faffs about, insert card or cash, wait for machine to respond, barrier lifts, remove card, driver sets off and wing mirror
is pushed out, window wound up and dry the rain soaked arm.With Tag – slow down a bit and then speed up again.
And all for €1.60 for the month you use the Toll booths and nothing else to pay the rest of the year.
With a Tag you pay for the Tolls by direct debit as you would if you inserted your credit/debit card without a Tag.
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A couple of years ago we got stuck behind a Frenchman who had no money. Imagine trying to reverse a large caravan to use another lane with more cars coming up behind!
I have mentioned elsewhere that I believe the 30 kph automatic lanes have far better sensors due to the need to react quickly.
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