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French motorway tolls? French motorway tolls?
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Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else This is an opportunity to ask any question, and post any notice you wish that doesn't fit into one of the other sections.
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  #1  
Old 10 Jul 2011
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French motorway tolls?
I only want to use these for part of my next trip, to get to the good bits quickly!

Am I correct in thinking that I need to go to manned booths in order to only pay for a motorbike? I'm fairly new to travelling, and have only been to France once. The last time I went through a toll booth, I couldn't work out how to opt for a motorbike charge and ended up having to pay for a car.

Any thoughts?
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Old 10 Jul 2011
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Pay at a manned booth - it's much cheaper for bikes.
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Old 10 Jul 2011
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If there is no manned booth, it should detect that you are a moto and charge you for Class 5

If not, press the button for assistance... always good for a laugh

Check your costs here: Autoroute: les principaux tarifs de l'autoroute en 2011 - ASFA

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Old 10 Jul 2011
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Some of them have a both for push bike's. Look on the road for a bike markings. You can get a mottor bike through with out paying. Done that a few time's. Make's up for the time I've been charged as a car.
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Old 10 Jul 2011
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Thanks for the info - looks good! I can't remember whether there's any way of selecting 'class 5' if you arrive at any unmanned points?
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Old 11 Jul 2011
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I am sure i used a automated machine and paid via card...bloody expensive though
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Old 11 Jul 2011
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Originally Posted by gixxer.rob View Post
I am sure i used a automated machine and paid via card...bloody expensive though
Thats the point of the advice above to use manned booths.

The automated lanes (cash or credit card) only detect a vehicle and assumes it is a car and does not give the lower rate for motos (about 55% of car rate, if I remember correctly).

On motos always go to the manned lanes - whether you are paying by cash or credit card.
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Old 11 Jul 2011
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The automated booths in my experince had problems recognising motorcycles were there and on more than once we were stuck by a toll both waiting for some one to manually sort it.

My advice go to a manned booth.
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Old 11 Jul 2011
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Originally Posted by Tony P View Post
Thats the point of the advice above to use manned booths.

The automated lanes (cash or credit card) only detect a vehicle and assumes it is a car and does not give the lower rate for motos (about 55% of car rate, if I remember correctly).

On motos always go to the manned lanes - whether you are paying by cash or credit card.
There you have it. Use the manned booths.
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Old 11 Jul 2011
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Originally Posted by gixxer.rob View Post
There you have it. Use the manned booths.
- and leave your money at home.....

A bit .

I was in Spain and in a car, but this may be of use.
I stopped at a toll booth and was a bit horrified to find I genuinely had no cash. And in those days they didn't take credit cards (about 2002 I think).
It was a fairly straightforward process to hand over my passport for the cashier to write down all the details. That was all I think happened.
In the back of UK passports there's a page to put a couple of names and addresses on for 'emergency contacts'.

A month or so later my Mum said to me "What do you think this is? It came in the post with a Spanish stamp on it and looks like a bill, but I can't make head nor tail of it. Yet it has my name on it! Will you sort it out for me?"
"Where's your rubbish bin?" I asked.

Have a good trip.
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Old 11 Jul 2011
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There's a wide range of free motorway-standard dual carriageways in France.

What route are you doing?
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Old 12 Jul 2011
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I'm getting to Calais at around 6.30pm and am heading for Paris via the A26 and the A1. I want to get there ASAP, hence the Motorways. For the rest of the trip (Paris - Cannes, back up via the Alps / Germany / France, de-tour to Brugges and back to Calais) I'm trying to remember all of the information you (Tim) went through at Ripley, and use my Garmin to plan far more interesting, scenic routes! It's just the initial blast to Paris that will feature Motorways.
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Old 12 Jul 2011
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Originally Posted by Endurodude View Post
I'm getting to Calais at around 6.30pm and am heading for Paris via the A26 and the A1. I want to get there ASAP, hence the Motorways.
The cost for a moto will be 12.40 Euro.

Everyone has their favourite route for regions in France - including me. But these are personal, and what appeals to one may be pretty flat to the next person.

A good general indicator of routes and places of interest are the Michelin Green Guide books (available in English) for most/all regions as well as one, more general, for all of France. They include much historical, geological and natural history information too, as well as details of local folklore, festivals, museums, places of interest, charges, times etc.
Buy the yellow Michelin maps in a supermarket and look for roads lined in green for the best scenery. They know - it's their Country!

But, Hey, every inch of France is fascinating - thats why I am shortly leaving Russia for my holidays there.
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