Sanef tag is it worth it?

sarahg75
sarahg75 Forum Participant Posts: 19
edited July 2016 in Overseas Campsites & Touring #1

Just debating if we should get a toll tag, we are travelling down to spain, omly one toll in Spain to worry about so i was wondering are they really good or could we live without it?

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  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited July 2016 #2
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  • allanandjean
    allanandjean Club Member Posts: 2,401 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #3

    For us it is definitely worth it as the alternative is stopping and me, the driver, getting out to retrieve the ticket and/or pay. Since getting our tag more tolls are automatic and on our last trip in May/June we saw queues at the majority of toll stations
    so having the tag is a good way to avoid stress as well!

  • Marksailor
    Marksailor Forum Participant Posts: 57
    edited July 2016 #4

    I drive regularly in and through France and find my tag very useful. Mine is Sanef and have used it for three years- though soon will be first time with caravan in France!

  • paul56
    paul56 Forum Participant Posts: 937
    500 Comments
    edited July 2016 #5

    We find ours useful too.

    (a) Stops wife having to kneel on seat and stretch to reach the machine when caravan is attached to car

    (b) You can go straight through the 30kph lane and not join queue or stop

    (c) no panicking - wheres the ticket or have I got the money/credit card ready

    Yes you do pay and no you don't need but they are handy.

  • sarahg75
    sarahg75 Forum Participant Posts: 19
    edited July 2016 #6

    Thanks everyone for the replies i think we will go for it, i suffered the squashing of something rather delicate on my body last year hanging out paying for a toll so i think its time for a change.

  • PR1
    PR1 Forum Participant Posts: 96
    edited July 2016 #7

    A really useful bit of kit! Saves a lot of haste and time! We love sailing past the queues as we use the high speed, 30kmph lane!

    The 6 euro fee is only applied for the first two months that you use it each year.

  • Cartledge
    Cartledge Forum Participant Posts: 267
    100 Comments
    edited July 2016 #8

    Yes, yes, most definitely. Have had one for over ten years and it has proved invaluable at busy times, dodging queues and especially the slow-down tolls where you don't have to stop. We travel with a caravan and solo. 

    Some years we don't even go to France but we are content to continue to pay the fee for when we do, as at times queues can be horrendous. Around Lyon seems to be one of the worst places.

    SANEF have had an office in Harrogate for some years now which makes it easy to find someone to talk to in English.

    They are reliable, ours has failed on only two occasions, when the barrier would not open for reasons unknown, it couldn't read the tag. In June this year, in the middle of nowhere coming off the motorway, we enlisted the help of a nearby gendarme who took
    the tag from me and by waving it around the machinery eventually persuaded it to work. Most helpful!

    it can take a few seconds to respond anyway if the computer system is very busy. 

    Highly recommended. 

  • Cartledge
    Cartledge Forum Participant Posts: 267
    100 Comments
    edited July 2016 #9

    Thanks everyone for the replies i think we will go for it, i suffered the squashing of something rather delicate on my body last year hanging out paying for a toll so i think its time for a change.

    By the way, as we don't have a tag for Spain, we took a child's fishing net with us which helped and caused a smile here and there, something I learned to do in France before the advent of the tag, travelling alone in a sports
    car with the roof down.

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #10

    Why buy one from SanefUK and pay them regular monthly fees ? Until 29 August 2016 ATMB are giving them away free with no monhly fee for a year - provide you can cope with their application form in French.

    .

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2016 #11

    Pay for a tag that stops you having to lean out of the car once or twice a day? Seriously??

    If getting out of the car is such a problem, what on earth do you do when you stop for a comfort break?

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2016 #12

    Pay for a tag that stops you having to lean out of the car once or twice a day? Seriously??

    If getting out of the car is such a problem, what on earth do you do when you stop for a comfort break?

    Yes! Seriously! It's not just the saved effort of leaning out of the window, but also the ... where's the ticket from the last toll booth? You had it! I've been driving & never even touched the bl00dy thing ..... type conversations ..... Drive up to the
    barrier, it opens, you drive through (the wider HGV lane) and you have an invoice when you get home! Best thing ever

  • Runrig
    Runrig Forum Participant Posts: 186
    edited July 2016 #13

    I couldn't be bothered with a tag for one trip a year.

    Came down through France yesterday and this morning.

    No problem paying at the booths, not a single queue, Easy as you like and no faffing about ordering tags and paying afterwards. Simples. Unless your in France all the time, can't see the point.

    I bought my Swiss Vignettes on line prior, that was pretty efficient. But even buying them at the border in Basle looked easy and efficient.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,392 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #14

    I cannot see the point if you or your passenger can reach the ticket and pay machine especially if you only do one trip a year. If you have to get out of your vehicle to do the above and use the toll roads a lot then it makes sense to have one.

    peedee

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2016 #15

    For years I said that I couldn't see the point of a tag. Now I've got one I wouldn't be without it. Changing to a Motorhome this year, OH just would not be able to reach out to the ticket booth. She even had to get out of the cab at passport control! We
    have also experienced long queues at toll booths in Southern France even travelling out of season.

    All depends how much you value convenience.

  • meecee
    meecee Forum Participant Posts: 304
    edited July 2016 #16

    We used to travel mainly by N or D roads and by motorways when convenient in the days of manned booths, however as we've got older we use motorways more to lessen journey times/go further - tag makes life easier.  As others have said it depends what suits you, how mobile you are, how much use you'll get, what offers are available..............

  • Marksailor
    Marksailor Forum Participant Posts: 57
    edited July 2016 #17

    My Sanef tag is invaluable as I am often solo abroad- and if on motorways with my other half they are usually dozing! That and avoiding a massive queue a number of times on the Pont du Normandie in the past has made it worthwhile!

  • paul56
    paul56 Forum Participant Posts: 937
    500 Comments
    edited July 2016 #18

    I am more than happy to pay a handful of euros for the convenience of a tag.

    I used to love approaching the toll booths to pay - often queuing and avoiding the concrete but just close enough so my 5 foor nothing wife could kneel up on her seat, hang out the window and feed my Clarity card into the machine and hope she doesn't drop
    it. No brainer.

  • sarahg75
    sarahg75 Forum Participant Posts: 19
    edited July 2016 #19

    Got it the next day can't way, no crushed boobs for me!!!!

  • sarahg75
    sarahg75 Forum Participant Posts: 19
    edited July 2016 #20

    Pay for a tag that stops you having to lean out of the car once or twice a day? Seriously??

    If getting out of the car is such a problem, what on earth do you do when you stop for a comfort break?

    Write your comments here...I shall wave as i pass you in the queue :0)

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,695 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #21

    We have a SANEF tag and have found it good.  I just wished they would extend its use to other countries too e.g. Italy and the UK (Dartford Crossing, M6 Toll etc).  Apart from the convenience, it means you haven't got to worry about whether you have enough
    cash on you to pay the toll (we never carry much cash), or whether the machine will accept your card.

    David 

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2016 #22

    Pay for a tag that stops you having to lean out of the car once or twice a day? Seriously??

    If getting out of the car is such a problem, what on earth do you do when you stop for a comfort break?

    Write your comments here...I shall wave as i pass you in the queue :0)

    I doubt it......we've never had to queue.....

  • DJG
    DJG Forum Participant Posts: 277
    edited July 2016 #23

    If you are using out of season, once or twice a year.......wast of money. 

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #24

    How can a free tag from ATMB be a waste of money?

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited July 2016 #25
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  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #26

    €1.60 not €6 a month

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2016 #27

    €1.60 not €6 a month

    Mine costs the same as Another Dave says ... minimum 2 month charge whether you use it or not, hence €6 a month twice

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited July 2016 #28
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  • Batleygrimmy
    Batleygrimmy Forum Participant Posts: 14
    edited August 2016 #29

    I think there worth every penny, saves messing abouty at every toll booth , just drive up to the barrier it opens and away you go , no messing about with cards, coins, or bumping the car door on those high kerbs

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2016 #30

    Or, because of the need to allow for the width of the caravan on the walls, fall out the blooming door or hang your other half out the window by her ankles.

  • Slartibartfast
    Slartibartfast Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited August 2016 #31

    We've got one. There's no doubt it's a luxury - but  just like SatNav,s MP3 playing radios, AirCon, Lock 'n' Levels, two Aquarolls, Alde heating, an inside toilet, LED lighting, solar panels, it's a luxury I'm happy to have!

    Nicholas.

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