Sanef

We had a 10 week leisurely tour down the eastern side of France this year, Annecy, Avignon, across to Toulouse, Bordeaux and back up to Calais.

Can't remember ever seeing a toll booth, but did see some wonderful countryside, villages and towns albeit with numerous roundabouts and chicanes but then I have a touring caravan.

An update on the Tag.

I have had an ATMB Tag for a couple of years and on this wet and windy day I thought I'd have a look how much it's cost this year.

I've done 1451 kilometres on the Péage sections of the French Motorways in 2018 at a cost of €212 – approx 14.5cents per kilometre.

The charges from ATMB for the five different months I've used it are €1.90 each month - €9.50 in total.

I have been through the Péage Booths 29 times at a cost of approx 32cents each time.

There are no other charges, and no other charges in earlier years, for using or having the Tag except the initial start up charge to obtain the Tag.

We use the Motorways at the start and end of the holidays to get to our preferred area (Loire, Dordogne, West Coast) as quickly as possible and then meander around.

Weighing up the ease of use of a Tag (slow down a bit – speed up again) against our earlier paying at the Toll Booths by card or cash then we are quite happy to pay extra for not having any hassle when on holiday.

Hi K&M, I think it might be cheaper than you think! ATMB reduce the monthly fee if the tag is used three times in any one month. By my reckoning of your use 29 times in 5 months you should have qualified for the lower charges. €1.90 is the higher band. I think it’s €1.60 on your usage, perhaps you went through more tolls than you thought!

Ken

I’m on the fence, my husband is against. We’ve discussed these tags every time the subject comes up on a forum.

Last year I timed myself paying - 19 seconds. I get the ticket and/or card ready, as soon as we stop I open the door, step onto the step, put the ticket and card in, take the card and receipt, sit back down and close the door. Not hard or time consuming. There’s always a warning that the booths are coming up so plenty of time time to get your card ready. Ours is always in the cup holder with the ticket. 

Not even 2 minutes and definitely not holding anyone else up.

Nora

Nora

You obviously approach the toll booths with the precision of an F1 team changing a set of tyres No need for anyone to have a Tag but those of us that use them find them one less thing to think about. No taking of tickets, no need to pay at the time and generally quicker through the booths. Perhaps as we are on holiday we shouldn't bother about such things? Lost count of the times we have been behind a French registered car at a toll booth obviously scratching around for change to pay the toll. You do wonder if they are taken by surprise that they have to pay!!!

David

I'm always surprised by how many French vehicles don't seem to have tags, given that they must use the autoroutes far more often than we tourists do. As said several times the cost is minimal and the saving in inconvenience dramatic.

As an aside, we visit Greece once a year and hire cars whilst there. I must investigate getting a tag for their system as hunting for Euros when we've just got off a plane is stress inducing....

I just like being smug.

Many the time a French car has zoomed past us to get to a booth before us.

Then we approach a different booth, barrier up straight away and off we go.

French driver disappears in my wing mirrors as they scratch about for card or cash and they eventually pass us a couple of miles down the motorway.

Talk about the Tortoise and the Hare …......

I'm a bit unclear here. Emovis/Sanef (CAMC offer) is €5 per month. ATMB is €1.90 up to a max of 3 x if used. Does that mean a max of €5.70 in any one month of usage or per annum?

On the face of it, the ATMB tag looks cheaper. It doesn't appear to have an annual fee either, only a security deposit.

Just paid my Sanef fees via direct debit. Went to see friends in Carcasonne in September and as we were a bit short on time (only 3 weeks available) and wanted to spend some time in the Tarn Gorges going down, we used the toll motorways heavily. Even though we used some Route Nationals the cost in tolls was £109. They are not cheap but they are convenient and we wouldn't be without our tag these days.