French tolls!! How much?

[funflair]

Some of you will know my aversion to using toll roads, it's well documented in another thread "to Spain without toll" to be honest it started as a bit of a laugh but I enjoyed the driving through the back roads and villages.

So we are on our way to Spain again (Roses area) but travelling with friends, we have had two days off tolls and seen some beautiful French countryside in Spring colours which has been fabulous, but yes it makes for a long day when you have miles to cover.

Yesterday we had Brive la Gaillard to Narbonne to do and fancied a shorter day and a look around Narbonne when we arrived so we elected to use the tolls.

WOW €68 for 200+ miles, we are class 3 and that's what we paid, as a one off it got us where we wanted to be when we wanted to be there but at a cost for sure.

Martin

 

[DBK]

But the French toll roads are very good in my experience - smooth and ideal for eating the miles. For someone with limited time who wants to reach the sun quickly they are a valid option, taking into account the other costs of a trip. And in pounds per mile a lot cheaper than ferries or the tunnel.

 

[funflair]

Yes the roads were fine and as I said they got us where we wanted to be when we wanted to be there BUT at a cost and gets a bit boring as well, it was only the wagons sneaking past at 1mph more than me and then loosing it one the hills that kept me awake.

Martin

 

[DavidG58]

I feel your pain Martin, many years ago we suffered the reverse with friends in cars who said they couldn't afford the tolls, I couldn't even convince them the large town ring roads were free so we saw every town and city centre down to Royan. That was 20 years ago

The class 3 cost penalty is pretty severe compared to class 2, as a fellow 3er, it more or less doubles the charge which seems unfair

We have got away with a couple of reductions by querying the class at the pay booths, but not all and really know that by height alone we are class 3, possibly by number of wheels as well

The only gain is miles covered in less hours, you really need to be on a restricted days trip, or hurry to get somewhere to even consider it, but class 2 it will make more sense all round

 

[buttons]

£25 per hundred miles is not a kings ransom and if you want to just get from A to B then it is good value. I find a mix to be the best way to travel.

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[gus-lopez]

I hate French ones. They are expensive even for a car. The fuel is at least 20% dearer . The service stations are all identical in what they sell for "food" ,which is all prepacked rubbish & extremely expensive. The only "coffee" , no you can't even call it that, is from a machine,expensive & undrinkable .Never even seen a restaurant .
Unless I was in the car & in a hurry & wishing to cruise at high speed then I wouldn't bother with them. Last time I used them from here to Dunkirk it cost more in tolls than diesel !

 

[Cavs]

Don't try it in a tag axle then they're Class 4 based on the number of axles. The Class 3 is based on height and weight - over 3 m or 3.5 t. Twin wheel axles don't make any difference.

We have occasionally been charged Class 2 at a manned toll booth but they're few and far between these days so unless time is crucial we stay off the French toll roads.

 

[StitchesnFluff]

They are great for covering long distances in a set time period but other than that you can miss some great locations if you take the toll

 

[Encantador]

Don't try it in a tag axle then they're Class 4 based on the number of axles. The Class 3 is based on height and weight - over 3 m or 3.5 t. Twin wheel axles don't make any difference.

We have occasionally been charged Class 2 at a manned toll booth but they're few and far between these days so unless time is crucial we stay off the French toll roads.

Always been charged as Class 3 in our tag.

 

[Easyliving]

We do a bit of mix and match when it comes to French toll roads. If we are in a mountainous area for example and we are liable to come across 1 in 3 hills and hairpin bends we use the motorway but if the ordinary roads are okay and we are in no hurry we use free routes.

This website will give you an idea of how much the tolls would be for a given journey, doesn't give a motorhome option alas, only car and caravan!

Paul

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[StitchesnFluff]

Do all French tolls have the same charging rate?

 

[busby]

Ok if you are in a big hurry but if not you miss the beauty of French towns and villages,,,thats what touring is all about. Stop and explore when and where you want to,,,Off on sunday and if it takes me two weeks to get to Spain i just do not care,,,BUSBY

 

[sdc77]

We just paid the sanef bill of 145 quid for a couple of weeks up and down france...
Limited time ... easy drive between locations. Great roads. Got no problems with it.

 

[PhilandMena]

There is a useful download in the resources section 'about France. com' which shows best non toll routes across France, amongst other useful information. There is also one for Spain too.

 

[Lenny HB]

On our recent trip to Portugal & Spain both ways we traveled across France in 2 days without any tolls, if we had of used toll roads it would have still taked 2 days just a few less hours on the road so no real advantage apart from an empty wallet.

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[Ivory55]

I have heard the argument that they get on a French motorway put cruise control on around 50mph and the fuel saved compared to stop start at junction etc helps off set the toll cost. How much it saves etc I have no idea, but must save tyres etc as well , in less braking and turning of the wheels.

 

[Taran_Las]

WOW €68 for 200+ miles, we are class 3 and that's what we paid, as a one off it got us where we wanted to be when we wanted to be there but at a cost for sure.
Martin

I'd need to lie down for a good while after that enormous expense!​

That's £55 by today's exchange rate - half a tank of fuel or 40 bottles of vino. I definitely need a lie down now

Safe journey​

 

[Hollyberry]

Do all French tolls have the same charging rate?

No, I think the toll rate is set at a more local level, rather than National.

There's a website called mappy that will give you a route, either with or without tolls, estimate fuel cost and give you total toll charges.

 

[busby]

I have heard the argument that they get on a French motorway put cruise control on around 50mph and the fuel saved compared to stop start at junction etc helps off set the toll cost. How much it saves etc I have no idea, but must save tyres etc as well , in less braking and turning of the wheels.

But you do not see anything of the towns and villages. Imagine coming off the ferry at Dover and travelling via M20, M25 M1 and M6 to Scotland,,,you would not think much of our lovely country..BUSBY.

 

[Ivory55]

I guess it depends on time of year. If it's in the winter and your running for the sun to Spain you probably wouldn't be site seeing. We normally just jog along but that is in the summer months, we all have different needs.

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[sdc77]

But you do not see anything of the towns and villages. Imagine coming off the ferry at Dover and travelling via M20, M25 M1 and M6 to Scotland,,,you would not think much of our lovely country..BUSBY.

Unless you needed to get to Scotland. ...
It's easy to imagine but if i followed your logic I would never get to the sun ... I'd be meandering around central france when I'd want to be somewhere near the med

 

[busby]

I guess it depends on time of year. If it's in the winter and your running for the sun to Spain you probably wouldn't be site seeing. We normally just jog along but that is in the summer months, we all have different needs.

If its winter we go Santander,,,,bugger the cold and wet,,,BUSBY.

 

[Ivory55]

I thought we would go Santander, then someone tells the other half how rough the bay of biscay is and its back to driving all the way again. Haha.

 

[busby]

I thought we would go Santander, then someone tells the other half how rough the bay of biscay is and its back to driving all the way again. Haha.

We have used that crossing over a dozen times,,,never really had a bad crossing. Always take my sea sick pills though just in case,,,,BUSBY

 

[busby]

Unless you needed to get to Scotland. ...
It's easy to imagine but if i followed your logic I would never get to the sun ... I'd be meandering around central france when I'd want to be somewhere near the med

Only twelve to fourteen hours down to The Med at Beziers from Dieppe using toll free roads,,BUSBY.

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[sdc77]

Sorry but we use the tunnel and find the quickest and easist way down to Nice or even round towards Spain is on toll roads. Were quite happy with it.

 

[Chris]

We bombed it down to Spain from Calais at Easter on the tolls the whole way via Dijon.

I haven't checked the total cost but I think it was about £180 -£200

One way

 

[sdc77]

Did you pay class 3?

 

[bungy]

were toll roads out to our furthest point and meander back until its time to get on the toll roads to get to the ferry...haven't the luxury of time unfortunately

the one time we did go toll out and none toll back doing similar mileage the costs of fuel V toll werent really worth worrying about, and it was almost same route to

 

[DavidG58]

We bombed it down to Spain from Calais at Easter on the tolls the whole way via Dijon.

I haven't checked the total cost but I think it was about £180 -£200

One way

and wasn't that in a car?

x 2 or even 3 for anything over 3.5t

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