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

 

[Maxieras]

And, being a French Resident, I KNOW what I pay, I use it most months swapped between a motorbike, a car and a motorhome.

 

[varaizian]

And, being a French Resident, I KNOW what I pay, I use it most months swapped between a motorbike, a car and a motorhome.

Touché!

 

[varaizian]

Ah the popcorn emoji debate. What does it mean? Leaves me cold to be honest but I try not to rise to provocative responses.

 

[Ava the Adria]

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.

Fulli had an offer (don’t know if it’s still on) so it was “free” with no upfront cost, deposit or delivery fee when we got ours end of September.

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[Orion]

Fulli had an offer (don’t know if it’s still on) so it was “free” with no upfront cost, deposit or delivery fee when we got ours end of September.

If you click on the link (post #7) the current Fulli offer doesn’t include delivery. As I said, they change their offers from time to time so it might come back to include the free delivery, so possibly worthwhile hanging on if anyone isn’t in a hurry to obtain the tag.

 

[PaulW2]

Ah the popcorn emoji debate. What does it mean? Leaves me cold to be honest but I try not to rise to provocative responses.

Oh, it’s nothing. Was just joking about having a ringside seat to an unfolding argument.

 

[cyberyacht]

Stay off toll roads - problem solved.

 

[PaulW2]

Does anyone know whether these tags work for both types of Portuguese toll road?

There’s the purely electronic type with overhead gantries and ANR, for which estrangeiros need to put their card details in when they cross the border.

Then there’s the more conventional manual type where you either take a ticket and pay on exit, or have an electronic tag that lets you sail through at reduced speed.

I expect it works for both, but it would be helpful to have confirmation.

 

[Bodoge]

Stay off toll roads - problem solved.

Doesn't really solve the need. I wish I had the time to meander through France, basically going anywhere very slowly but if its your preference happy motorhoming.

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[Ian Bosman]

And, being a French Resident, I KNOW what I pay, I use it most months swapped between a motorbike, a car and a motorhome.

You will note that the class is to do with the max height of the vehicle, not the weight. up to 3 metres is The lowest class.

 

[Camper634]

You will note that the class is to do with the max height of the vehicle, not the weight. up to 3 metres is The lowest class.

That was our experience.Our Autotrail is 3.1 metres high.Got sickof pressing the help button to often get a stern reply of over 3 metres class 3!Glad others have been luckier than us.Now go no toll roads and TBH haven't noticed a great deal of difference regarding ETA .Can do without the hassle of will it open/wont it open.

 

[PaulW2]

That was our experience.Our Autotrail is 3.1 metres high.Got sickof pressing the help button to often get a stern reply of over 3 metres class 3!Glad others have been luckier than us.Now go no toll roads and TBH haven't noticed a great deal of difference regarding ETA .Can do without the hassle of will it open/wont it open.

After initial successes that was my experience too, in a 3.3 metre high vehicle. It became tiresome and I just gave up and let them charge me what the machine said. (Now drive a smaller vehicle.)

 

[tonyysue]

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

That doesn’t save you - the system still measures your vehicle height and your monthly bill will show you were charged as Class 3!

 

[Speve]

That doesn’t save you - the system still measures your vehicle height and your monthly bill will show you were charged as Class 3!

Never have been charged class 3 as long as you are under 3m you will
be ok and from the OP his van is a PVC so unlikely to be more than 3 m high

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[Tony50]

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

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As I haven't got a clue about this way of paying, do I pay by direct debit ,say monthly ?
How do you stop paying,if you don't want it anymore ?
Do they supply a screen disc or something ?

 

[Orion]

As I haven't got a clue about this way of paying, do I pay by direct debit ,say monthly ?
How do you stop paying,if you don't want it anymore ?
Do they supply a screen disc or something ?

The electronic ‘tag’ is clipped into a mount affixed to your windscreen and means you can simply drive through the toll booths without having to stop and pay - some even allow 30kph roll through without stopping. You only pay for the months it’s in use - or a €10 fee if not used for 24 consecutive months, although you could just cancel the account if you didn’t want to continue using it.

I found the best way to pay was to open a free Revolut account and link that to the Fulli account. Fulli then notify me when they have generated an invoice, which will be taken from Revolut in a day or so. It gives me time if needed to make sure I have enough funds in the Revolut account to cover it. I haven’t had a glitch to date from using it in France, Italy and Spain, nor with the payments being taken automatically.

 

[Tony50]

The electronic ‘tag’ is clipped into a mount affixed to your windscreen and means you can simply drive through the toll booths without having to stop and pay - some even allow 30kph roll through without stopping. You only pay for the months it’s in use - or a €10 fee if not used for 24 consecutive months, although you could just cancel the account if you didn’t want to continue using it.

I found the best way to pay was to open a free Revolut account and link that to the Fulli account. Fulli then notify me when they have generated an invoice, which will be taken from Revolut in a day or so. It gives me time if needed to make sure I have enough funds in the Revolut account to cover it. I haven’t had a glitch to date from using it in France, Italy and Spain, nor with the payments being taken automatically.

Excuse my ignorance, but what's a
Revolut account,and. Fulli account ?

 

[ghoster]

Fulli had an offer (don’t know if it’s still on) so it was “free” with no upfront cost, deposit or delivery fee when we got ours end of September.

I had mine free but it was a few months ago. When they tried to reclaim the money, when I used it, the bank refused and I paid by credit card. Yet when I set it up they only allowed a bank.

 

[Orion]

Excuse my ignorance, but what's a
Revolut account,and. Fulli account ?

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

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[VXman]

To answer original question - as others have said it goes on height not weight or length.

I find is amusing that people get so smug about not having to slow down for a toll booth. Personally I don't use tolls unless I am in a absolute rush - which is rare as we are usually in the motorhome for a holiday. A lot of France has perfectly good non toll roads and they are far more interesting.

When on a toll road stopping at a booth provides a welcome relief to the boredom of them and is hardly difficult to take a ticket or insert a bank card.

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

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!

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]

When on a toll road stopping at a booth provides a welcome relief to the boredom of them and is hardly difficult to take a ticket or insert a bank card.

Everyone to their own personally I find the tolls quite interesting as they are usually higher up and you get lots of nice scenery and views and if you are towing a trailer it’s much easier than negotiating all of the roundabouts and speed bumps on the minor roads call us smug if you wish but as far as I’m concerned tolls are more practical and less stressful for me

 

[MichaelT]

That was our experience.Our Autotrail is 3.1 metres high.Got sickof pressing the help button to often get a stern reply of over 3 metres class 3!Glad others have been luckier than us.Now go no toll roads and TBH haven't noticed a great deal of difference regarding ETA .Can do without the hassle of will it open/wont it open.

Here is one journey we did this year, we paid the toll 1 hour 30 extra or spend all day driving instead of looking about town.

 

[miklin]

We are 3.2 high and over 35t. Fulli tag didn't work in France but it did in Spain!!

 

[Buddy Paul]

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.

Hello Blokey sounds like a plan I'm going from UK to Granada through France,, where can I get one if them cards from .cheers ..great info..all the best Paul..4.5 tonne hobby tag axle

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[Jonno1103]

Hello Blokey sounds like a plan I'm going from UK to Granada through France,, where can I get one if them cards from .cheers ..great info..all the best Paul..4.5 tonne hobby tag axle

Strangely they're based here in Harrogate. Use the right hand HGV booth and you'll sail through.

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