Voie Rapide : French toll motorways

Free-flow toll motorways

November 2022 saw the launch of the first in a new generation of toll motorways - the péage en flux libre or free-flow toll.

You still pay to use the motorway, but instead of having to stop at toll booths, cameras and sensors mounted on overhead gantries record passing vehicles (like in the image above). Payment is taken away from the motorway, similar to what is in use at the Dartford Crossing and Runcorn-Widnes bridges in the UK.

For more information on toll motorways in general, please take a look at our dedicated page.

Using the free-toll motorways

Like ordinary toll motorways, free-flow routes are signposted , so you'll always know beforehand that a toll section is coming up. They are signposted such on both the motorway itself, as well as approaching and at junctions. Free alternative routes are also signposted if you decide not to pay.

Once you are on the motorway, you use them just like a free route. Overhead gantries record all passing vehicles using infra-red cameras (so work even in bad weather), and are linked to radar detectors that are able to detect télépéage tags.

Free-flow motorways are currently found on the following stretches of motorway:

A4 junction 38 at Boulay-Moselle, a Sanef test site so only on the westbound entry and eastbound exit slip roads.
Pay for toll online.
A10 junction 19 at Tours North, bit only on the nortbound exit and only available to télépéage users.
A13-A14 full motorway system. Includes the short section of A154.
Pay for toll online.
A79 full motorway system
Pay for toll online.

Ticketless entry system

in eastern France, a hybrid version of the free-flow system has been introduced known as entrée sans ticket. Affecting large parts of the A41, A43, A48 and A49, motorists are only required to stop when they leave the toll network. Entry is free-flow, with gantries registering car movements as normal instead of needing to take a ticket.

At the other end, motorists still need to stop at a toll booth as normal, but the automatic number plate recognition system transmits the information to the payment machine. You can use télépéage tags as normal.

Paying your toll

There are several ways to pay for your toll. The easiest ways are by télépéage or by registering your vehicle for automatic payment; there's no need to remember to pay afterwards, as charges are automatically added to your account or debited from your bank account.

Alternatively, you can pay for your tolls on the motorway operator's website (see above) or at a payment station located at service areas and some journeys. If you don't pay immediately, don't leave it more than three days as late payment fees may be added.