Vignette France
In France, tolls are charged at toll stations and toll boxes. "Le télépéage" (the electronic toll) is linked to a licence plate number and can be registered online at bipandgo.com. If you do not have a télépéage, you must pay the toll at a toll station after a certain section of the route.
To avoid waiting at toll stations, the toll box was introduced for French motorways. This allows you to pay the toll obligation online. You can also expect many other advantages, such as driving in an extra "t" lane. Please note that you take out a subscription when you buy a toll box.
France has introduced the free-flow toll system on several motorways, including the A4 (Saarbrücken-Metz), the A13/A14 (Paris-Caen) and the A79 (Montmarault-Digoin). With this system, the toll is collected electronically by licence plate recognition, so there is no need to stop at toll stations and take a ticket. It is expected that the entire French toll system will be converted to the free-flow system by December 2024, which should enable even smoother and more efficient processing of tolls.
Toll motorways and low environmental zones
In France, almost all motorways are subject to tolls. The motorway fee depends on the distance traveled and the specific motorway. Various companies, such as APRR in the east or ASF in the southwest and south, operate the French motorway network. Additionally, there are toll exceptions for certain sections of urban motorways and bypasses in Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Marseille, and Toulouse.
| Road | Fee obligation |
|---|---|
| Motorways (A) | chargeable |
| National roads (N) | toll-free |
| Country roads (D) (white) | toll-free |
Toll-boxes
Toll boxes offer many advantages. Not only can you use the entire motorway network in France, regardless of the motorway company, but you also have access to over 450 car parks throughout France. Additionally, you can choose between tariffs that also allow you to drive on Spanish, Portuguese and Italian roads.
Payment for toll routes and car parks is made via the toll box. Cameras and sensors check your licence plate number after certain sections of the route. The applicable fee is then deducted from your toll box credit account.
The télépéage pass gives you access to exclusive motorway lanes "t".
Tunnel
These French tunnels are subject to tolls:
Tunnel Prado Carénage Marseille
| Category | One-way trip |
|---|---|
| All toll categories | 3,30 € / 2,75 £ |
Tunnel Maurice Lemaire
| Category | One-way trip |
|---|---|
| 1 | 6,80 € / 5.65 £ |
| 2 | 10,60 € / 8.85 £ |
| 3 | 18,90 € / 15.75 £ |
| 4 | 31,70 € / 26.40 £ |
| 5 | 4,10€ / 3.40 £ |
Mont Blanc-road tunnel (France-Italy)
| Category | One-way trip | Return ticket |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1 | 54,80 € / 45.60 £ | 68,40 € / 56.90 £ |
| Category 2 | 72,60 € / 60.40 £ | 91,20 € / 75.90 £ |
| Category 3 | 199,10 € / 165.70 £ | 309,90 € / 257.90 £ |
| Category 4 | 400,10 € / 332.95 £ | 628,40 € / 522.95 £ |
| Category 5 | 36,30 € / 30.20 £ | 45,60 € / 37.95 £ |
Fréjus-road tunnel (France-Italy)
| Category | One-way trip | Return ticket |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1 | 54,80 € / 45.60 £ | 68,40 € / 56.90 £ |
| Category 2 | 72,60 € / 60.40 £ | 91,20 € / 75.90 £ |
| Category 3 | 199,10 € / 165.70 £ | 309,90 € / 257.90 £ |
| Category 4 | 400,10 € / 332.95 £ | 628,40 € / 522.95 £ |
| Category 5 | 36,30 € / 30.20 £ | 45,60 € / 37.95 £ |
Tunnel Duplex A86
| Category | One-way trip |
|---|---|
| All toll categories | 1,60 € - 14,50 € / 1.38 £ - 12.48 £ (Depending on section, day of the week and time of day) |
Tunnel Puymorens
| Category | One-way trip |
|---|---|
| Category 1 | 7,80 € / 6.50 £ |
| Category 2 | 16,00 € / 13.35 £ |
| Category 3 | 26,20 € / 21.80 £ |
| Category 4 | 43,20 € / 35.99 £ |
| Category 5 | 4,60 € / 3.85 £ |
Tunnel Prado Sud Marseille
| Category | One-way trip |
|---|---|
| All toll categories | 2,80 € / 2.15 £ |
Caluire Tunnel
| Category | One-way trip |
|---|---|
| Category 1 | 2,60 € / 2.17 £ |
| Category 2 | 3,80 € / 3.15 £ |
| Category 3 | 4,50 € / 3.75 £ |
| Category 4 | 10,20 € / 8.50 £ |
| Category 5 | 1,30 € / 1.05 £ |
Bridges
These French bridges are subject to tolls:
Pont de Tancarville
| Category | One-way trip |
|---|---|
| 1 | 2,80 € / 2.39 £ |
| 2 | 3,50 € / 2.99 £ |
| 3 | 4,20 € / 3.59 £ |
| 4 | 7,20 € / 6.15 £ |
| 5 | For free |
Viaduc de Millau
| Category | 15 June to 15 September | 16 September to 14 June |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13,30 € / 11.37 £ | 10,90 € / 9.32 £ |
| 2 | 20,00 € / 17.10 £ | 16,30 € / 13.93 £ |
| 3 | 36,30 € / 31.03 £ | 36,30 € / 31.03 £ |
| 4 | 46,00 € / 39.32 £ | 46,00 € / 39.32 £ |
| 5 | 6,50 € / 5.56 £ | 6,50 € / 5.56 £ |
Ile de Ré
| Category | 20 June to 11 September | 12 September to 19 June |
|---|---|---|
| 1 & 2 | 16,00 € / 13.77 £ | 8,00 € / 6.88 £ |
| 3 | 18,00 € / 15.49 £ | 18,00 € / 15.49 £ |
| 4 | 40,00 € / 34.41 £ | 40,00 €/ 34.41 £ |
| 5 | 3,00 € / 2.58 £ | 3,00 € / 2.58 £ |
Pont de Normandie
| Category | Toll costs |
|---|---|
| 1 | 5,90 € / 5.04 £ |
| 2 | 6,80 € / 5.81 £ |
| 3 | 7,40 € / 6.33 £ |
| 4 | 14,70 € / 12.57 £ |
| 5 | For free |
Low-emission zones
In France, there are several low-emission zones, also known as ZFE-m (Zone à Faibles Émissions mobilité). To drive in these areas, you need a Crit’Air environmental badge, which is divided into six categories (from 0 to 5). Depending on your vehicle’s emissions rating, access to certain zones may be restricted or even prohibited. Vehicles with a Crit’Air 5 badge are banned from many low-emission zones, and in some cities, this restriction also applies to vehicles with Crit’Air 3 and 4 badges. It’s important to check your vehicle’s classification in advance to ensure you purchase the correct environmental badge.
You can easily order your Crit’Air environmental badge online from Certificat-Air. After placing your order, the badge will be delivered to your address by post within a few working days. It must be clearly displayed on your windscreen.
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Green | 100% electric or hydrogen vehicles |
| 1 | All gas vehicles and plug-in hybrids Light commercial vehicles petrol Euro 5, 6 Lorry petrol Euro 6 Lorry biogas Euro 6 2-wheeled vehicle Euro 4 |
| 2 | Light commercial vehicles petrol Euro 4 Light commercial vehicles diesel Euro 5, 6 - Lorry petrol Euro 6 Lorry diesel Euro 6 2-wheeled vehicle Euro 3 |
| 3 | Light commercial vehicles petrol Euro 2, 3 Light commercial vehicles diesel Euro 4 Lorry petrol Euro 3, 4 Lorry diesel Euro 5 Lorry biogas Euro 5 - 2-wheeled vehicle Euro 3 |
| 4 | Light commercial vehicles diesel Euro 3 Lorry diesel Euro 4 Lorry biogas Euro 4 2-wheeled vehicle without standard from June 2000 to June 2004 |
| 5 | Light commercial vehicles diesel Euro 2 Lorry diesel Euro 3 Lorry biogas Euro 3 |
There are two types of low-emission zones in France:
- Permanent Low-Emission Zones: These are in place continuously in major cities such as Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Grenoble, Montpellier, Nice, Reims, Rouen, Strasbourg, and Toulouse. Certain types of vehicles are permanently subject to driving restrictions in these areas.
- Temporary Low-Emission Zones: These are activated during periods of severe air pollution. In such cases, short-term restrictions apply, depending on your vehicle’s emissions category.
From 1 January 2025, additional French cities will be required to introduce low-emission zones. These include Bordeaux, Caen, Le Havre, Lille, Nîmes, and Rennes. In some cities, such as Clermont-Ferrand, Nancy, and Saint-Étienne, ZFE-m zones currently apply only to lorries.
Regulations for cars, motorcycles and campervans
| Car | Depending on the total height |
| Motorcycles | Trikes and motorcycles with sidecars also belong to the category |
| Trailers | Trailers from 3 m height |
| Campervans | Campervans from 3 metres in height and/or 3.5 tonnes total weight (the total height includes fixed superstructures such as air conditioning units) |
Vehicle categories
| Category 1 (light vehicles) |
Motor vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes permissible total weight including trailers (folding, luggage, folding trailers), height up to 2m |
| Category 2 (medium vehicles) |
Motor vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes permissible total weight with a height between 2 and 3 meters (e.g., campervans), as well as combinations with a towing vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes GTW and a height between 2 and 3 meters |
| Category 3 (Lorry and buses with 2 axles) |
2-axle motor vehicles with a permissible total weight over 3.5 tonnes or with a height of 3 meters and above |
| Category 4 (Lorry and buses with 3 axles) |
Motor vehicles with 3 or more axles, with a permissible total weight over 3.5 tonnes, or with a height of 3 meters and above. Combinations with a towing vehicle over 3.5 tonnes GTW or a height of 3 meters and above |
| Category 5 (Motorcyles) |
Motorcycles (including those with sidecars) or trikes |
Payment and prices
Tollboxes
bipandgo offers three different subscription models for the billing of toll charges:
| Model | Condition | Payment method | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| À-la-carte | You take the motorway several times in France | Payment per month travelled | 1,70 € (£ 1.46) /month travelled |
| Flat rate | You use the motorway in France for several months of the year | Payment per month; annual payment also possible | 1,33 € (£ 1.14) /month (12 months term) or 16 € (£ 13.76) /year |
| Liber-t Vacances | You have holiday vouchers | Top up your credit with digital holiday vouchers or in paper form | Minimum top-up of 10 € (£ 8.60) (if credit is empty 2 € (£ 1.72) /month travelled) |
Fines
Payment of the toll via the free-flow toll system must be made within 72 hours of the journey, either online by credit card, via a toll box or in cash at the nearest motorway service station. Failure to pay on time can result in severe penalties.
Are there adhesive or e-vignettes in France?
No. The conventional adhesive vignettes and e-vignettes are not for sale in France. The French motorway network is controlled by eleven different operating companies depending on the route.
Are there toll-free motorways in France?
Yes, motorway use in Alsace and Lorraine is free of charge. Large parts of Brittany are also free of charge. The A 75 motorway between Clermont-Ferrand and Montpelier is also free to use.
Toll obligation in neighbouring countries
Further information on the toll regulations in neighbouring countries can be found here:
Switzerland
Germany
Italy
Spain
Belgium