France - Expert Knowledge - 'Which Toll Box Do I Need?'

In fact, the ‘toll box system’ in France is more complex than one might think, and there is a lot of misinformation online. If you would like to understand the system and the background to the toll box in France, you will find expert information here – based on many years of experience and official information from the toll operators.

Important Information: Trailers

Trailers affect the actual vehicle class and, consequently, the amount of the toll charge payable. However, when deciding which toll box is the right one, toll operators only take the towing vehicle into account.

You can simply have a trailer of your choice with you without having to notify maut1 or take this into account when deciding “Which toll box do I need?”.

Will I be fined for using the wrong toll box / for not having one?

The use of a toll box is not a legal requirement in France – carrying the ‘wrong’ toll box may simply result in it not being accepted at the exit station, meaning you will have to pay on the spot instead. (In some cases a higher toll fee will be charged.)

Who even notices if I have the wrong toll box with me?

• Your vehicle is automatically detected by sensors and scales at the toll station.
  The relevant question regarding the suitability of the toll box:
  
  What type of towing vehicle is it?:
  
  

  	'light'/'small' vehicle	'heavy'/'large' vehicle
  French Vehicle Classes	Classes 1, 2 or 5	Classes 3 or 4
  or also	Up to 4.5 t and up to 3.05 m and 2 axles	more than 4.5 t and/or higher than 3.05 m and/or ≥ 3 axles

• At the same time, the toll box’s wireless signal is used to determine whether the vehicle is equipped with a small toll box or a big/large toll box. The type of toll box in the vehicle must correspond to the type of towing vehicle (see further in this text: 'Toll box systems':).

•    Otherwise, the toll operators reserve the right to:
  
  
  • not to accept the toll box (this is also possible if, ‘as a precaution’, you decide to carry a ‘large’ toll box in your actually ‘small’ vehicle with you)
    
    or
    
    
    
  • charge a higher toll than would actually have been necessary (if carrying a ‘large’ toll box in a ‘small’ vehicle).

There are two ‘toll box systems’ in France:

1. Towing vehicles of the French vehicle classes 1, 2 and 5 may only use the reserved ‘telepéage lanes’ if a toll box for light vehicles – e.g. our ‘Toll Box for cars and vehicles up to 3 m’ – is installed in the vehicle.
   
   
2. Towing vehicles of the French vehicle classes 3 and 4 may only use the reserved ‘telepéage lanes’ if a toll box for heavy vehicles – e.g. our ‘toll box for motorhomes and vehicles over 3 m’ or ‘toll box for commercial lorries over 3 m in height and weighing over 3.5 t’ – is detected with the vehicle.

You can find the exact breakdown of vehicle classes in France by clicking here.

Official regulations and practical experience of our more than 200,000 customers, with examples:

According to the official rules of the toll operators, vehicles weighing (more than) 3.5 tonnes or with a height of 3 metres or more, require a heavy goods vehicle toll box.

However, experience has shown:

Height is the primary measurement – weight is only secondary. 

Thus, for a motorhome with an actual weight of up to 4.5 tonnes and a height of up to 3.05 metres, the toll box for passenger cars works, contrary to the official rules of the French toll operators. A toll box for heavy goods vehicles would not work and the barrier would remain closed. 

The officially specified weight limit of 3.5 tonnes must be exceeded by 1 tonne for the weight to be relevant. Therefore, when using our toll box, we can offer our recommendation – albeit without guarantee – but based on sound experience.

If your vehicle is both at least 3.06 metres high and weighs more than 3.5 tonnes, you can use our 'Toll Box for vehicles over 3 m'/'Toll Box for commercial lorries over 3 m high and over 3.5 t'.

Vehicles with more than two axles require the 'Toll Box for vehicles over 3 m'/'Toll Box for commercial lorries over 3 m high and over 3.5 t', regardless of weight and height – in France, a tandem axle generally counts as a single axle. 

If the vehicle has 3 axles, it is classified – regardless of weight and height – as a Class 4 heavy vehicle, and the 'Toll Box for vehicles over 3 m'/'Toll Box for commercial lorries over 3 m high and over 3.5 t' may be used.

Please also note the information regarding height and weight on the product pages in our online shop.