Autoroutes in France. Tolls on French Autoroutes. Motorway tolls.

Motorway tolls in France:

Pay-as-you-go tolls are charged on most motorways in France. For a useful French Autoroute toll calculator visit the web site for French Autoroutes, where you will find a ready-reckoner to calculate French motorway charges.

You can pay by credit card - you just hand over the card, nothing to sign and often no receipt unless you request one. On many motorways you can use booths which display a carte bleu sign - insert your card, wait for it to be returned and drive off. Otherwise make sure you have plenty of change available so you can use the automatic booths, although manual booths are always able to provide change.

An easy option is to sign up for a Télépéage electronic device. This is stuck to the windscreen behind the mirror and is read as you pass through the toll. This requires a credit card for online purchase, a deposit of 30 euro and a fee of just 2 euro per month which is only charged for months used (plus of course the toll itself). The benefits are rapid passage through the tolls and no leaning across the car to pay at left-sided toll booths. Visit www.sanef.com but the site is in French.

Alpine Tunnels from France to Italy:

Mont Blanc Tunnel - A car costs about 35 single or 45 return. For information on the tunnel and everything in the Mont Blanc area go to the Chamonix web site.
The alternative route is via the Frejus Tunnel (about 10 kms long), from Albertville (Modane) to Turin, which also costs about 35 single for a car.

New Autoroutes

The A28 now runs from the A16 south of Calais to Le Mans, and then onwards to Tours, where it joins the A11. This will benefit UK drivers travelling from Calais and Dieppe towards the Loire Valley, La Vende, and South-West France, who will now enjoy almost unbroken motorway, except for still needing to use the non-motorway Rouen bypass.

The now-famous and beautiful bridge across the valley near Millau means the A75 takes you unencumbered all the way to the Languedoc coast near Montpellier.

Tips on driving in France