French toll roads explained

If you’ve never driven in France before, one of the first things to be aware of is the need to pay road tolls. 

Where are tolls used in France?

Get in the right lane at the toll booth

France operates a countrywide system of motorway toll charges. This is because drivers in France do not pay an annual road tax – toll charges help finance road maintenance. 

Tolls apply on most autoroutes (motorways in France have an A classification), but not all. For any journey of reasonable length in France, using the most direct or the fastest route, you will expect to have to pay tolls of some kind. But it is possible to drive long distances in France without tolls, as long as you plan in advance. 

Tolls are not charged on ‘national’ (N) or ‘departmental’ roads (D), and you can avoid toll roads by using the ‘avoid tolls’ option on mapping apps. This will extend your journey time, and on long journeys may involve significant diversions. You will have to weigh up the money saved on tolls by the extra fuel or battery you will be using. 

Non-motorway roads are indicated by green signage, as opposed to blue for autoroutes. 

How much do tolls cost?

The toll charges will vary, depending on the length of your journey. In 2025 toll charges were increased throughout France. Obviously the longer you drive the higher the toll charge will be, and this may be something to factor while planning your trip. For example, driving from Calais to Marseille in the south of France, your toll charge will be around €105 each way. The single trip toll charge from Calais to central Paris is around €25. Toll calculators will give you information about the cost of fuel for your journey too. 

Here are some example journeys with approximate toll charges from the LeShuttle terminal in Calais, for an idea of how the toll charges increase with distance. 

*Toll charges are approximate (last update: February 2026)

How will I know if a toll booth is approaching? 

You’ll get plenty of warning that a toll plaza is approaching. Marc Mongenet, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Signs will warn that a toll booth (péage) is coming up, with the distance clearly indicated. The first signs appear 1-2 miles before the toll booth. You will also get advance warning about sections of tolled road. The signs will show if the booth is manned, and what payment methods it accepts.  

When you join a tolled autoroute in France, you’ll collect a ticket at the entry toll plaza. At the exit toll barrier, you insert this ticket into the machine, and the amount you need to pay will be displayed. 

How do I pay tolls in France?

If you don’t have a toll tag, you pay by card or cash 

Toll booths accept payments via card, cash, or a toll tag. You will have to get in the right lane for the method of payment you are going to use. If you are paying by card or cash, you will have to stop at the booth. 

Paying by toll tags, like Emovis, mean that you don’t have to come to a complete stop at the booth. Display the tag on your windscreen, and drive slowly enough for it to be scanned by the booth camera. You will need to be in the orange ‘t’ lane (télépéage) if you have a toll tag. Some ‘t lanes’ allow you to drive at up to 30 km/h through the barrier, but these will be clearly signed. 

Increasingly there are some autoroutes in France which operate a frictionless, automated toll system. First introduced in 2023, these are called ‘Flux Libre’ (free flowing), and you pay either in advance or within 72 hours. Registration plates are read at these tolled sections and if payment is not made fines are automatically issued to the registered owner of the vehicle. For example, the A13 between Rouen and Paris is now ‘flux libre’. 

What are the benefits of a toll tag?

Toll tags have a number of benefits. You can skip the queues in the card and cash payment lanes, and while there is no difference in how much you pay, the charges will be processed in GBP if you’re travelling from the UK. The charges will be taken from your account automatically. You don’t have to plan ahead, think about having cash or the right credit card – just head for the ‘t’ lane. You can sometimes drive up to 30 km/h through the télépéage lane.

Exclusive Emovis toll tag offer with LeShuttle

Emovis is the main toll tag provider for UK-based drivers, and LeShuttle has partnered with Emovis on a fantastic offer. LeShuttle customers can save £10 on the application fee for an Emovis toll tag, plus:  

• 50% saving on the annual fee, only €5 (normally €10) from the second year of subscription
• €20* refundable security deposit on the tag
• €7* active usage fee - only for the months in which the tag is used and capped at €14 in any subscription year

How do I know which company to pay?

This is a fair question, because different private companies operate the toll booths on specific motorways in France. These include Sanef, Vinci Autoroutes, SAPN, APRR and Aliae. On the ‘Flux Libre’ routes you will need to check the signage as you pass through the toll plaza to find out which company to contact. Visit the toll operator’s website to pay, or check before you travel and pay in advance. 

How much will I be fined if I don’t pay?

UK drivers can still be fined if they don’t pay the tolls at the frictionless ‘Flux Libre’ tolls. These have to be paid within 72 hours. If payment isn’t made drivers are sent a letter to their registered address with a fixed penalty notice. If not paid within 15 days, this rises to €90, plus the toll charge. After two months the fine increases to €375. 

Keep up to date with driving requirements in France

Tolls are one of the key things to be aware of when driving in France. See our other guides for more rules of the road: 

•    Low emission zones

•    First-time drivers in France 

•    Driving in Paris