French Toll Roads for over 3.5T MH's

For what its worth ...

OP - if your unit is marginal on the classes and cost matters then I'd pay at the barrier and argue if overcharged. 

We're Car & Caravan 3.7t 2 +1 axles, 2.8m high = class 2.

We just pay at the booth the requested amount if correct or lower. We prefer to know in advance for ease, and to check what charge it should be, from our printed out via michelin route plan (tick 'Caravan' in 'options' section on left side). 

Would fully accept the Tag is easier but a very finite & trusting method of card payment at a later stage based on your pre-stated stats & assuming the systems & sensors dont overcharge you. Surely regardless of your stated details the sensors will charge you what they think if say you fit an air con unit and now exceed 3m ?

NB: - We have been lower charged on quite a few times. We pay what is asked.

We have successfully challenged over-charging regularly even though we are clearly simple class 2.

A faulty ticket, which machine wouldn't accept, saved us e32 when we buzzed and paid the charge requested by nice monsiuer.

There is an added advantage of having a Tag when you are a motorhomer because my wife finds it quite difficult to get to either the ticket issuing machine or the payment part as the vehicle is too high up which often meant getting out the cab. I can only say that having used a Tag over about five years not (also used by my son solo) I have never had cause to question what I have been charged for tolls.

David

...but when you applied for your tag David, didn't you tell them it was under 3500kg and under 3m high? so little chance of being charged anything but class two.

and this is the point...if the Op applies for a tag and stares he's over 3.5t or over 3m high then it's pretty certain he will be charged the higher rate.

however, in our experience, even with our heavier van (4250kg) we always got charged class two (as long as under 3m) as the booth can't weigh the van...

so, while there might be a slight advantage in breezing through the tolls, it's certainly more than cancelled out if being charged the higher rate.

with this smaller van, we have no weight/height issues and I may go for a tag at some point, but with a heavier van I'd rather go a little more slowly through the booth for class two than 'fly' through and be charged a lot more...

from Nantes to Irun using the Autoroutes, it cost €60+ from memory, that's expensive enough thanks.....increasing this significantly would surely be more than annoying if tolls are needed to maintain pace.

I bought an ATMB tag when we were towing and simply transferred it to the motorhome. I don’t recall ever being asked what type of vehicle I had during the application process. I always assumed that the toll amount was done by sensors at the toll gate.

...but when you applied for your tag David, didn't you tell them it was under 3500kg and under 3m high? so little chance of being charged anything but class two.

BB

My memory might not be what it was but I don't recall having to declare what size vehicle I was going to use the Tag for. My understanding was that the toll booth would decide what class I was in and charge me accordingly. Checking the original instructions, whilst it only illustrates class 1,2 and 5 (5 motorbikes) there are no specific instructions that it can't be used for other classes but of course I have not put that to the test. Things may have changed since 5 years ago.

David

David, I was replying to Bill's (KB) comment and assumed you had don't the same...ie, he applied for a tag of the 'correct' rate (over....3.5t)

"but if you were applying for a Class 2 Tag you need to have a weight within the 3500 kg limit, 3m or under for height and these are the only two restrictions...." 

...where he had obviously had to state his weight....4250kg....which is why (I assume) he pays the higher rate....

whereas with our 4250kg van, similar height, we had no 'pre defined' class and only ever paid class two.....as (again, I assume) the booth can't read weight although might be able to read height.

in that case, it's perfectly possible for an over 3.5t van to be class two until it is either higher than 3m or has a tag axle config.

again, if that is true, I certainly wouldn't have a tag...

When buying a tag from SANEF you are not required to say what vehicle you have, but you do have to agree to the current Terms & Conditions.    That’s where they have you, because the Ts & Cs stipulate clearly the Classes and weights and measures.

 The U.K. office of SANEF, now Emovis, cannot cater for a Class 3 Tag for vehicles over 3500kg and suggest contacting Eurotoll.    However, Eurotoll only like to deal with companies and Fleet Contracts, not individuals.      SANEF did say about a year ago they were working on a Claas 3 Tag, but have not got one yet.

Also, I have a Blue Badge and if I go to a manned booth or one with intercom, I go as Class 1.

BillC

in that case, it's perfectly possible for an over 3.5t van to be class two until it is either higher than 3m or has a tag axle config.

For 4 years we had a Hymer tag axle, 5t, we were never charged anything other than Classe 2.  It was under 3m though, and we always thought that was the reason, so the fact it was a  tag axle wasn't detected.  It would by a (wo)man in a booth obviously, but seemingly not by a machine.  We don't use motorways a great deal anyway, but did use the A75 with the Millau viaduct a number of times and were always charged Classe 2.

NO!

This is a quote from the Emovis web site, referring to motorhome:

“France - Liber-t tag

As long as your vehicle is lower than 3 metres and less than 3.5 tonnes GVW you can use any non height restricted lane that has the Liber-t  symbol illuminated. A vehicle of this size falls into the Class 2 fee structure. If your vehicle is larger than this then please contact our sister company Eurotoll.

Spain and Portugal - VIA-T tag
Providing your motorhome weighs less than 3.5 tonnes you can use the VIA-T lane”

 TAG axle vehicles are never referred to in the T&Cs, but there is one in the diagram showing the drawings of the different vehicles and their classes.

I don’t think there is much interest in the spec’ of vehicles at the toll booths and I have never heard of anyone being stopped to discuss what class they are.

they obviously make so much money it’s not worth the hassle for a few euros,

BillC

Thanks for all the info and advice, just what I needed to confirm my thoughts, the tag would only save a few moments at the barrier and the likelihood is the charge would be the same or lower at the automatic booths, depending how the measurement is taken. 

I'm going to ask a similar question about the Austrian GO-Box but ill do that on a new thread.