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 | 3,20 € / 2.75 £ |
Tunnel Maurice Lemaire
| Category | One-way trip |
|---|---|
| 1 | 6,70 € / 5.73 £ |
| 2 | 10,50 € / 8.98 £ |
| 3 | 18,70 € / 15.98 £ |
| 4 | 31,40 € / 26.84 £ |
| 5 | 4,00 € / 3.42 £ |
Mont Blanc-road tunnel (France-Italy)
| Category | One-way trip | Return ticket |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1 | 54,10 € / 46.15 £ | 67,50 € / 57.61 £ |
| Category 2 | 71,60 € / 61.11 £ | 90,00 € / 76.81 £ |
| Category 3 | 196,50 € / 167.70 £ | 305,70 € / 260.89 £ |
| Category 4 | 394,80 € / 336.93 £ | 620,10 € / 529.21 £ |
| Category 5 | 35,80 € / 30.55 £ | 45,00 € / 38.40 £ |
Fréjus-road tunnel (France-Italy)
| Category | One-way trip | Return ticket |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1 | 54,10 € / 46.17 £ | 67,50 € / 57.61 £ |
| Category 2 | 71,60 € / 61.11 £ | 90,00 € / 76.81 £ |
| Category 3 | 196,50 € / 167.70 £ | 305,70 € / 260.89 £ |
| Category 4 | 394,80 € / 336.93 £ | 620,10 € / 529.21 £ |
| Category 5 | 35,80 € / 30.55 £ | 45,00 € / 38.40 £ |
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 | 7,70 € / 6.57 £ |
| Category 2 | 15,90 € / 13.57 £ |
| Category 3 | 26,00 € / 22.19 £ |
| Category 4 | 42.90 € / 36.61 £ |
| Category 5 | 4,60 € / 3.93 £ |
Tunnel Prado Sud Marseille
| Category | One-way trip |
|---|---|
| All toll categories | 2,50 € / 2.15 £ |
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 £ |
| Klasse 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 |
Environmental zones
There are also various environmental zones in France. For these environmental zones, you need a Crit'Air environmental badge, which is divided into six categories. If your vehicle belongs to Crit'Air class 5, you may not be able to enter many environmental zones. It is important to check in advance which class your vehicle belongs to in order to buy the required environmental badge.
At Certificat-Air you can order your Crit'Air environmental badge and purchase it at affordable prices. The Crit'Air environmental badge will then be sent to the provided address within a few working days.
| 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 |
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