Over 75% of France鈥檚 autoroute motorway system is made up of toll roads. They are one of the fastest ways to drive around France, but speed comes at a price.
Since February 1, it has cost even more to use motorways in France, with an average increase of 0.92% nationally at toll booths.
The price rises depend on the management company but some readers recommend skipping autoroutes altogether for a more leisurely 鈥� and cheaper 鈥� journey.
鈥淟ast September we did 2,500 miles on a trip around half of France and all without paying any tolls,鈥� said Rodney Curtis.
鈥淚t was a conscious decision since apart from saving money, it is the best way to see the real France, enabling us to stop at any time we liked at any place. The scenery is far more enjoyable away from motorways and the more relaxed pace is very beneficial to drivers.鈥�
鈥淪tudy a map and plan a route using the old routes nationales,鈥� agreed Jim Robertson. 鈥淣o tolls, long straight roads between major towns, more interesting.鈥�
鈥淲e switch on 鈥榓void tolls鈥� on our Google maps so use non-toll roads all the way from north Deux-S猫vres to Caen port, which saves us about 鈧�50 each way,鈥� added Susan Witten.
Electronic toll badges and tags
Many readers use electronic toll badges or tags, which can be an easier way to pay tolls and a faster method of passing through them.
The badges are usually fixed to the windscreen of a car, and are detected by barriers in designated electronic toll payment lanes, which then open automatically. The amount to pay is also automatically deducted, so no more scrabbling around for change or your bank card.
Several companies offer the badges, some of which also allow access to car parks or tolls in other European countries (for an extra fee 鈥� usually around extra 鈧�2 per month).
A Bip&Go tag lets motorists drive freely on motorways in France, Spain, Portugal and Italy, and works for over 1,300 car parks. For driving in France, it costs 鈧�1.90 per month when used, and is free during months it is not used.
鈥淚 have used Bip&Go for the last 12 years and have been very satisfied,鈥� said Trevor Taylor. 鈥淚 pay a nominal fee only for the months in which I use it, so if it鈥檚 not used in any one or more months it costs me nothing.
鈥淭he invoices are clear and detailed and each toll is clearly listed. I would highly recommend their services. One can access their site online and it is available in English.鈥�
Read more: Reader tips on how to save money buying food in France
鈥淚 love my Bip&Go tag,鈥� agreed Catherine Morris. 鈥淚 used it for a trip to the UK and it saved lots of fuel and took nearly an hour off the journey.鈥�
Trudi Punch added: 鈥淲e also have a Bip&Go, delivered to the UK, as we are not full-time in France. It doesn't save money, but is so much quicker at the toll booths.鈥�
The Ulys e-toll badge is also available in France, Spain, Portugal and Italy. Its Classic e-toll plan costs 鈧�2 per month used in France (or 鈧�0.90 per day for the Ulys 鈥楩lex鈥� plan), and there is no charge for the days/months it is not used.
鈥淟ove my Ulys 鈥� I have a Flex plan which means I only pay 鈧�0.90 on the days I use it. It means an easy and fast getaway from 辫茅补驳别蝉, especially in the summer months,鈥� said Sarah Mortimer.
鈥淲e love the app too,鈥� said Ian Muddle. 鈥淭he charge pops up on screen in real time and the route planner helps you plan costs of journey and minimise journey costs.鈥�
Helen Burns. goes even further, hailing Ulys 鈥渙ne of the most satisfying pieces of French (government/official admin) tech I鈥檝e used!鈥�
鈥淚鈥檝e used it for years,鈥� added Shirley Supple. 鈥淛ust a tip: when the battery runs out, the unit needs to be exchanged (free of charge).鈥�
Another option is the Fulli tag, which works in France, Spain and Portugal and costs 鈧�1.90 per month for travel in France.
Being smart when choosing fuel stations
When it comes to saving on fuel, most readers recommend filling up away from the autoroutes.
鈥淚 top up with fuel when I see it at a good price, rather than waiting until the tank is low. Leclerc at weekends is usually the best bet,鈥� said John Holloway.
鈥淏uy fuel at local supermarkets rather than on motorway services,鈥� agreed Jim Robertson.
Read more: Tips to save money when hiring a car in France
鈥淧umps at 蝉耻辫别谤尘补谤肠丑茅蝉 are available 24 hours a day, so you can go even when the shop is closed,鈥� added Steve Cobham.
Drivers in France can use an interactive map to check fuel prices at petrol stations nationwide, so they can get the best deal wherever they are.
The map, called Carte des prix des carburants (Map of fuel prices) is available at the government website .
The map is 鈥榸oomable鈥�, so you can take a closer look at prices near you, and colour-coded to make it easier to see prices at a glance.
Opting for car sharing
Car-sharing could also significantly cut the costs of your journey overall.
One of the most popular apps for car-sharing in France is BlaBlaCar, which lets you hitch a ride with a driver who is already planning on going to a pre-agreed destination. Normally, you share fuel and other associated costs.
Similarly, the taxi app Uber has a ride-sharing option, called UberPool, which lets you hop into other users鈥� journeys along the route, with all passengers sharing the overall cost at the end.
Finally, if you decide you want to save money by driving more economically, top tips include:
- Reducing the weight of the vehicle, such as by carrying fewer passengers and less luggage
- Reducing or turning off the air conditioning
- Braking using the engine and not the brake pedal
- Reducing your speed by 10km/h on the motorway
- Driving confidently and smoothly, with less slowing down or fast speeding up.
鈥淚 use the cruise control to avoid fluctuating speed 鈥� constant speed uses significantly less fuel than constant accelerating and slowing down,鈥� said John Holloway.
