Toll France: All information about the vignette & fees

In France, tolls are charged via toll stations or the electronic Télépéage system. This enables automatic payment by toll box, for example with the vintrica Flow Box, which is installed in the vehicle. Those who do not use a toll box pay the toll at the toll station after certain sections of the route, usually by credit card or cash.

To avoid waiting times, special lanes (‘t’) have been set up on French motorways for vehicles with a toll box. They can only be used with an active subscription and ensure a much faster journey.

France has also introduced the free-flow toll system on several motorways, including the A4 (Saarbrücken-Metz), the A13/A14 (Paris-Caen) and the A79 (Montmarault-Digoin). Here, the toll is collected electronically by licence plate recognition, so there is no need to stop at toll stations and take a ticket.

Toll motorways and low environmental zones

Toll-boxes

Toll boxes offer many advantages. They are valid on the entire French motorway network, regardless of the motorway company, and allow you to pass through toll stations more quickly thanks to reserved ‘t’ lanes. You also have access to over 450 car parks throughout France. Various providers such as vintrica Flow and bip&go each offer their own tariff models. With the vintrica Flow Box, all tariffs are also valid for use in Spain, Portugal, Italy and Croatia.

Toll routes and car parks are billed automatically via the toll box. The box is recognised by radio signal as the vehicle drives through and the corresponding charge is later billed using the stored payment method. On free-flow routes, the box is recognised by a number plate camera.

Tunnel

These French tunnels are subject to tolls: 

Caluire Tunnel

Bridges

These French bridges are subject to tolls:

Low-emission zones

In France, there are several low-emission zones, also known as ZFE-m (Zone à Faibles Émissions mobilité). To drive in these areas, you need a Crit’Air environmental badge, which is divided into six categories (from 0 to 5). Depending on your vehicle’s emissions rating, access to certain zones may be restricted or even prohibited. Vehicles with a Crit’Air 5 badge are banned from many low-emission zones, and in some cities, this restriction also applies to vehicles with Crit’Air 3 and 4 badges. It’s important to check your vehicle’s classification in advance to ensure you purchase the correct environmental badge.

You can easily order your Crit’Air environmental badge online from Certificat-Air. After placing your order, the badge will be delivered to your address by post within a few working days. It must be clearly displayed on your windscreen.

There are two types of low-emission zones in France:

• Permanent Low-Emission Zones: These are in place continuously in major cities such as Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Grenoble, Montpellier, Nice, Reims, Rouen, Strasbourg, and Toulouse. Certain types of vehicles are permanently subject to driving restrictions in these areas.
• Temporary Low-Emission Zones: These are activated during periods of severe air pollution. In such cases, short-term restrictions apply, depending on your vehicle’s emissions category.

From 1 January 2025, additional French cities will be required to introduce low-emission zones. These include Bordeaux, Caen, Le Havre, Lille, Nîmes, and Rennes. In some cities, such as Clermont-Ferrand, Nancy, and Saint-Étienne, ZFE-m zones currently apply only to lorries.

Regulations for cars, motorcycles and campervans