Vehicle class type - France Motorway Tolls and Motorhomes

[Big Colin]

Hey funsters,

We'll be traveling through France soon and I was wondering what experience folks have had with toll charges in their < 3.5t conversions. Are the tolls calculated via ANPR through the UK DVLA database, or will I expect to find someone sat in a booth judging what class of toll I pay by my 'size'.

I ask because according to the V5 for my van I'm classed as a LGV. I've read on some french sites that this class of vehicle will be charged a category/class 3 toll. Naturally I'd like to be classed a cat/class 2!

Any advice is welcome, and I thank you for your time! Here's a link to what I assume is the official guidance... https://www.autoroutes.fr/en/vehicle-classification.htm

 

[Jim]

If it comes up as class 3 (which I doubt). just push the help button and shout Class 2. It always worked for me a large American RV

 

[PaulW2]

I think they do it automatically based on height. If you’re over 3 metres it defaults to class 3. Otherwise 2.

 

[Sheddy]

Our 8.5 m Rapido tag comes up at class 2 normally because we are under the 3m height limit, however near Poitiers a few years ago we were given class 3, I pressed the help button and said," Camping car", the stern response from the nice lady on the Comms was "6 wheels" class three. Paid and moved on.

 

[PaulW2]

Our 8.5 m Rapido tag comes up at class 2 normally because we are under the 3m height limit, however near Poitiers a few years ago we were given class 3, I pressed the help button and said," Camping car", the stern response from the nice lady on the Comms was "6 wheels" class three. Paid and moved on.

In my previous motorhome (over 3m height) I had initial success with the “camping car” gambit. But I also suffered rejection…

It should work for the OP though as it seems he is clearly class 2.

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[Speve]

Get yourself an Emovis toll tag it will save you even having to stop by using the 30km gates

 

[Orion]

Get yourself an Emovis toll tag it will save you even having to stop by using the 30km gates

Or the Fulli Nomade + tag, valid for France, Spain, Portugal and Italy. On special offer although sometimes they also include free delivery as well.

Fulli Nomade + : France, Spain, Portugal, Italy - Fulli

The Fulli Nomade + badge is a single badge for travelling between France, Spain, Portugal and Italy. Don't stop at toll booths anymore !

www.fulli.com

 

[Jo662]

If you get anything over class 2 just press the buzzer and say ‘campingcar s’il vous plaĩt “

 

[sedge]

The eMovis thingy has been one of the very best investments - and a very cheap one at that - we have ever made cos muggins was the one who always had to get out and pay the ruddy machine once they did away with manned toll booths in most places. Fiat moho cab windows don't lower down far enough to pay from the passenger seat unless you're a lot bigger than me!

 

[Bodoge]

Get yourself an Emovis toll tag it will save you even having to stop by using the 30km gates

Im on my third one and cant imagine being without it. I chuckle to myself when approaching the 30km gates, you dont get many french followers, they probably think, dumb English man! got it wrong again. Good investment I reckon, makes life easier.

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[Reallyretired]

What about a trailer. Ours is under 3.5t but we are planning on towing a car on a trailer. Anyone know what we should be charged and will we be OK with our fulli tag.

 

[Orion]

Im on my third one and cant imagine being without it. I chuckle to myself when approaching the 30km gates, you dont get many french followers, they probably think, dumb English man! got it wrong again. Good investment I reckon, makes life easier.

Even better is rolling through the unlimited height, barrier free, HGV lane and watching the BMW/Merc/(insert dickmobile of choice), driver who blitzed past 10km or so further back sitting in the queue to pay. I invariably put the auto box into the PWR setting just to put a few more km under the wheels for effect before they catch up.

 

[Speve]

What about a trailer. Ours is under 3.5t but we are planning on towing a car on a trailer. Anyone know what we should be charged and will we be OK with our fulli tag.

We always have a twin axle car trailer behind always class 2

 

[Orion]

What about a trailer. Ours is under 3.5t but we are planning on towing a car on a trailer. Anyone know what we should be charged and will we be OK with our fulli tag.

As per the OP it’s the towing vehicle that sets the classification.

 

[dosser]

Class 2 we have found with the toll tag and driving a 7.5m A Class previouslyand now a 6.5m pvc...

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[Ava the Adria]

Our Fulli tag does it on height of the vehicle - we’re under 3m body height so Class 2.
Even though we’re left hand drive, it saves so much hassle not having to stop, get cards or cash out, dropping change, tickets etc
And the smug feeling overtaking the MoHo that overtook us two miles ago, whist they’re stuck in the queue to pay

 

[gus-lopez]

I managed to get my class 1 increased to class 2

 

[JockandRita]

Our 8.5 m Rapido tag comes up at class 2 normally because we are under the 3m height limit, however near Poitiers a few years ago we were given class 3, I pressed the help button and said," Camping car", the stern response from the nice lady on the Comms was "6 wheels" class three. Paid and moved on.

We had the same problem at Poitiers Nort Peage Ed, however, they wanted Class 4.
They didn't get Class 4, and after intervention from a Highways HGV driver over the intercom, up came Class 2 on the screen.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Steve and Denise]

We have Fulli tag 70% succsess rate but we are 3.2mtrs high other times its class 3 and have to pay even after a discussion

 

[Maxieras]

Since you are probably a right hand drive vehicle your passenger will soon become an expert at leaning out of the window, dropping coins, fumbling for a credit card, losing the ticket .... OR ..get a Ulys tag which sticks to the windscreen.
The system will correctly measure your vehicle and bill you. (I use mine on a Class A, a car and a motorcycle - it always gets it right).

It also works in the "drive straight through at 30km/h lanes". - Which can be a test of nerve if the barrier is slow to lift.

The cost is the same as paying cash plus a small fee only for each day that you actually use it.

Details here (in English) https://ulys.vinci-autoroutes.com/en/

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[denisejoe]

We always get charged Class 4 - we're over 3 metres and have 3 axles. Saying camping car has never worked so we just pay it now - not that we use toll roads very often!

 

[varaizian]

Since you are probably a right hand drive vehicle your passenger will soon become an expert at leaning out of the window, dropping coins, fumbling for a credit card, losing the ticket .... OR ..get a Ulys tag which sticks to the windscreen.
The system will correctly measure your vehicle and bill you. (I use mine on a Class A, a car and a motorcycle - it always gets it right).

It also works in the "drive straight through at 30km/h lanes". - Which can be a test of nerve if the barrier is slow to lift.

The cost is the same as paying cash plus a small fee only for each day that you actually use it.

Details here (in English) https://ulys.vinci-autoroutes.com/en/

I think it is €2 for any month when you use it with the Ulys tag.

 

[Maxieras]

I put the link there so you could read it. Why didn't you ?

0.90 euros for each day used.

 

[PaulW2]

I put the link there so you could read it. Why didn't you ?

 

[PaulW2]

I put the link there so you could read it. Why didn't you ?

0.90 euros for each day used.

More seriously the ULYS one does seem like it's probably the most cost-effective (vs Bip&Go, Emovis, Fulli, Tollbird)

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[Orion]

More seriously the ULYS one does seem like it's probably the most cost-effective (vs Bip&Go, Emovis, Fulli, Tollbird)

€0.90 per day v €1.70 (France) or €2.40 (ES,PT or IT) per month only when used?

 

[Speve]

More seriously the ULYS one does seem like it's probably the most cost-effective (vs Bip&Go, Emovis, Fulli, Tollbird)

All right on the daily charge for just a few days but any more and it becomes expensive the premium one is inclusive of breakdown so I would think good value

 

[PaulW2]

€0.90 per day v €1.70 (France) or €2.40 (ES,PT or IT) per month only when used?

You could go for the €2 per month option rather than the 0.90 per day. So 30 cents more than € 1.70. But as I understand it Fulli also want a €10 delivery charge if you're not in France. (I haven't found Ulys's answer to this question.) Bip & Go want €14 for activation.

And Ulys is €2 per month in Portugal and Spain against the €2.40 of Fulli and €2.50 of Bip &Go.

It may depend a bit on usage patterns. I spend less time in France than in Portugal or Spain.

But there obviously isn't a great deal in it.

Not wild about the deposit idea of Emovis or Tollbird (and some of their other charges).

That aside, Tollbird's option of a €19.90 annual charge which covers France, Spain, Portugal and Italy would potentially be the best price option for people who travel to these places. Like me. Shame about the € 19.90 activation fee. And the €30 deposit if you don't return the precious box afterwards.

 

[Orion]

You could go for the €2 per month option rather than the 0.90 per day. So 30 cents more than € 1.70. But as I understand it Fulli also want a €10 delivery charge if you're not in France. (I haven't found Ulys's answer to this question.) Bip & Go want €14 for activation.

And Ulys is €2 per month in Portugal and Spain against the €2.40 of Fulli and €2.50 of Bip &Go.

It may depend a bit on usage patterns. I spend less time in France than in Portugal or Spain.

But there obviously isn't a great deal in it.

Not wild about the deposit idea of Emovis or Tollbird (and some of their other charges).

That aside, Tollbird's option of a €19.90 annual charge which covers France, Spain, Portugal and Italy would potentially be the best price option for people who travel to these places. Like me. Shame about the € 19.90 activation fee. And the €30 deposit if you don't return the precious box afterwards.

Fulli recently also included a free delivery offer as well so it’s worthwhile checking back on the website occasionally if not in a rush to order.

 

[varaizian]

I put the link there so you could read it. Why didn't you ?

0.90 euros for each day used.

I didn't read it because I KNOW what I pay (€1.67 + 20% TVA) and being French resident I use it most months swapped between a motor home and a car. That is on a Ulys Classic subscription. Perhaps saying "I think..." was a mistake.