French motorway tags

[NeillyG]

Has anyone used a French motorway tag for their grand California? Notice some of the ones on offer are only for under 3.5t or height restrictions. Got a few long journeys planned and thought it might be worth getting a tag this year.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Has anyone used a French motorway tag for their grand California? Notice some of the ones on offer are only for under 3.5t or height restrictions. Got a few long journeys planned and thought it might be worth getting a tag this year.

There is normally a non stop tag lane for taller vehicles on most. Our Cali always has a stack of boards on the roof and it’s never been an issue.

Worst case is you go through a normal lane, but it will still recognise the tag and barrier will raise.

 

[dominichayhoe]

Yes have the French (Liber-T) and Spanish (VIA-T) one, you drive to the far right lanes which have no height restrictions.

Got mine from https://www.emovis-tag.co.uk/. Don't remember anything about weight or height, but it may be part of the ordering process.

 

[mattpartridge]

Has anyone used a French motorway tag for their grand California? Notice some of the ones on offer are only for under 3.5t or height restrictions. Got a few long journeys planned and thought it might be worth getting a tag this year.

Hi,
I have the French Liber-T tag, my experience of driving to the alps is that the 30 Km/h non stop tag lanes are for vehicles under 2m in height. Even if you have to go in another tag lane, it’s still much easier than fumbling around for coins or your card, especially if your partner is asleep in the passenger seat!
Matt

 

[andyinluton]

Has anyone used a French motorway tag for their grand California? Notice some of the ones on offer are only for under 3.5t or height restrictions.

In Emovis FAQ it states that they are for vehicles up to max 3.5tnne and max 3m tall & if you are bigger than this contact eurotoll to get a very expensive HGV tag


The VIA tag that emovis supply for Spain & Portugal is ok for up to 6tnne

A standard California ocean is class 1 - under 2m under cost of tolls Calais to Paris 23.4 euro

Grand California under 3m under 3.5tnne is class 2 same route - 34.9 euro. (50% extra)

Grand California over 3.5tnne or over 3m is class 3 89.38 euro 4x the cost

Other notable charges class1 milieu bridge =10 euro class 3 = 32 euro

It appears a lot of Brits use a emovis standard car tag on class 3 motorhomes & get away with only paying for class 2 - the system assumes that you must be class 2 or you wouldn’t be using the tag!


Also note 110kmh limit on autoroute for +3.5tnne in France and only 90kmh if you get as far as Spain

 

[dominichayhoe]

In Emovis FAQ it states that they are for vehicles up to max 3.5tnne and max 3m tall & if you are bigger than this contact eurotoll to get a very expensive HGV tag


The VIA tag that emovis supply for Spain & Portugal is ok for up to 6tnne

A standard California ocean is class 1 - under 2m under cost of tolls Calais to Paris 23.4 euro

Grand California under 3m under 3.5tnne is class 2 same route - 34.9 euro. (50% extra)

Grand California over 3.5tnne or over 3m is class 3 89.38 euro 4x the cost

Other notable charges class1 milieu bridge =10 euro class 3 = 32 euro

It appears a lot of Brits use a emovis standard car tag on class 3 motorhomes & get away with only paying for class 2 - the system assumes that you must be class 2 or you wouldn’t be using the tag!


Also note 110kmh limit on autoroute for +3.5tnne in France and only 90kmh if you get as far as Spain

Well spotted, I really had to dig to find that info! Thankfully I have the 600 not the 680.

Be aware driving all the way to northern Spain and back is not cheap on toll roads! We did the east and west route last year and it came to over £200.

 

[NeillyG]

In Emovis FAQ it states that they are for vehicles up to max 3.5tnne and max 3m tall & if you are bigger than this contact eurotoll to get a very expensive HGV tag


The VIA tag that emovis supply for Spain & Portugal is ok for up to 6tnne

A standard California ocean is class 1 - under 2m under cost of tolls Calais to Paris 23.4 euro

Grand California under 3m under 3.5tnne is class 2 same route - 34.9 euro. (50% extra)

Grand California over 3.5tnne or over 3m is class 3 89.38 euro 4x the cost

Other notable charges class1 milieu bridge =10 euro class 3 = 32 euro

It appears a lot of Brits use a emovis standard car tag on class 3 motorhomes & get away with only paying for class 2 - the system assumes that you must be class 2 or you wouldn’t be using the tag!


Also note 110kmh limit on autoroute for +3.5tnne in France and only 90kmh if you get as far as Spain

This is what I had gleamed. Wonder what happens if you just go through the card contactless lanes. That’s what I’ve always done previous trips but was in a T5 or T6. Will probably get a tag and see how it goes. I tried some journeys on non toll roads but some of them can be agonisingly slow if travelling a longer distance.

 

[dominichayhoe]

This is what I had gleamed. Wonder what happens if you just go through the card contactless lanes. That’s what I’ve always done previous trips but was in a T5 or T6. Will probably get a tag and see how it goes. I tried some journeys on non toll roads but some of them can be agonisingly slow if travelling a longer distance.

I had forgotten to update my rego for my last trip and it worked fine.

In their FAQ's I see it isn't actually necessary for France but is for Spain/Portugal.

It also states you can share the tag between vehicles, so unless you update your rego everytime, I can't see how they would know your vehicle is the incorrect classification from a camera.

 

[WelshGas]

I had forgotten to update my rego for my last trip and it worked fine.

In their FAQ's I see it isn't actually necessary for France but is for Spain/Portugal.

It also states you can share the tag between vehicles, so unless you update your rego everytime, I can't see how they would know your vehicle is the incorrect classification from a camera.

They are not interested in the registration as all charges go to the person registered against the tag and each vehicle is measured, height/ length to determine the class.
Where the registration comes in is if the vehicle is incorrectly classified at the toll gate eg: a California with loaded roof rack as it is vehicle height not vehicle + roof rack height. Makes it easier to get the classification corrected.

 

[Ozzy Pete]

Well spotted, I really had to dig to find that info! Thankfully I have the 600 not the 680.

Be aware driving all the way to northern Spain and back is not cheap on toll roads! We did the east and west route last year and it came to over £200.

Probably around the same price as the fuel used. We very rarely use toll roads as we love to stay in the little French village campsites. Each to their own I suppose.

 

[andyinluton]

I can't see how they would know your vehicle is the incorrect classification from a camera.

In Portugal the system works on numberplate recognition with no physical barrier & you can pay later same as the uk dartford crossing. The only way tie together the payment and the vehicle is the numberplate.
The French ones have a barrier that won’t lift until someone pays, whether that’s cash or tag doesn’t matter & makes the numberplate irrelevant.

 

[NeillyG]

Probably around the same price as the fuel used. We very rarely use toll roads as we love to stay in the little French village campsites. Each to their own I suppose.

I too enjoy the small French town sites. It’s just when trying to get a bit further afield in short period of time it helps to cut some time off those journeys then you can potter about once you’re there.
Getting from Scotland to the south of France without breaking it up into too many days is a long trek. I like to get somewhere then spend a few days there without driving at all and then move on.

 

[dominichayhoe]

They are not interested in the registration as all charges go to the person registered against the tag and each vehicle is measured, height/ length to determine the class.
Where the registration comes in is if the vehicle is incorrectly classified at the toll gate eg: a California with loaded roof rack as it is vehicle height not vehicle + roof rack height. Makes it easier to get the classification corrected.

How do they measure the height/width?

Certainly my GC is bigger than my previous vehicle when I didn’t change the rego and a 3m tall 6m long vehicle could be class 2 or 3 so the dimensions don’t actually give anyone the class immediately.

 

[dominichayhoe]

I too enjoy the small French town sites. It’s just when trying to get a bit further afield in short period of time it helps to cut some time off those journeys then you can potter about once you’re there.
Getting from Scotland to the south of France without breaking it up into too many days is a long trek. I like to get somewhere then spend a few days there without driving at all and then move on.

Exactly, I can’t imagine the journey to Spain without toll roads, it would literally take you at least twice the time, and we’re not all retired and can take all the time in the world.

 

[WelshGas]

How do they measure the height/width?

Certainly my GC is bigger than my previous vehicle when I didn’t change the rego and a 3m tall 6m long vehicle could be class 2 or 3 so the dimensions don’t actually give anyone the class immediately.

That's where the problem can arise if using an automated system. you pay the wrong class and then have to appeal. The M6 Toll uses a similar system of height measurement.

 

[bob_summers]

Exactly, I can’t imagine the journey to Spain without toll roads, it would literally take you at least twice the time, and we’re not all retired and can take all the time in the world.

yeah usually we travel around France stopping on nice wee sites but every couple of years we drive up to the north of England from northern Spain - would rather pay the tolls and use the excellent motorways. Although it makes the entire journey up the UK motorway system even more unbearable in comparison!

 

[dominichayhoe]

yeah usually we travel around France stopping on nice wee sites but every couple of years we drive up to the north of England from northern Spain - would rather pay the tolls and use the excellent motorways. Although it makes the entire journey up the UK motorway system even more unbearable in comparison!

Ha very true! I always say the worst bit of the drive to Northern Spain is the UK roads, and I mean it!

 

[NeillyG]

How do they measure the height/width?

Certainly my GC is bigger than my previous vehicle when I didn’t change the rego and a 3m tall 6m long vehicle could be class 2 or 3 so the dimensions don’t actually give anyone the class immediately.

From what I have read there are sensors. Some things are classed as included in total height other things might not be. I believe the aircon unit will take the 680 6.5cm over 3m. May need fill the garage with wine before we hit a toll road. Some folk say you can press the button and insist class 2 until they eventually let you through. Could be a tedious journey if that was the case. Assume for the 680 you would not be able to appeal as it is 3.5T+.
Well I’ve ordered a tag and will see what happens.
Have ordered the sticker for Paris emissions and now just need to hope the vets have got to grip with the ridiculous new pet travel scheme.

 

[bob_summers]

Ha very true! I always say the worst bit of the drive to Northern Spain is the UK roads, and I mean it!

as i recall last time (June 2020) it was 11 hours from my front door to the Chunnel, stopping for fuel only, then 3h from Dover to the bottom of the M1, another 90 minutes stopped at Stafford at 11pm. Gave up at that point and kipped in a park4night. Amazing how 4 or 5 lanes can collapse like that

 

[Ozzy Pete]

Exactly, I can’t imagine the journey to Spain without toll roads, it would literally take you at least twice the time, and we’re not all retired and can take all the time in the world.

Hopefully one day you will be retired and you can take all the time in the World. On French B roads.

 

[Barbara]

If you want to plan a route with and without tolls try https://www.viamichelin.com/
You can set vehicle type, fuel and tolls free. Sometimes an extra 30 mins no a toll free road is good but you will use more fuel in towns.

 

[NeillyG]

Could someone that has used the Liber-t tag in France let me know where they positioned it on the windscreen. I know the instructions say it is to be on the black area behind the mirror though there is little space there. Also I have just got the brandrup isolate windscreen cover which will also interfere with placement. It also suggests on the site that in some motorhomes it may need to be placed in the middle at the bottom of the windscreen as as not too high.
I think I will need to use Velcro to position it during the day and take it off when using the window blinds.

 

[andyinluton]

I would put it where it suggests - on the black bit next to the mirror mount. Our Isolite cover fitted over our tags fine.
Their comment about some motorhomes needing it lower is more about the ones with a huge front overhang that shield the windscreen & block the signal.

 

[NeillyG]

Thanks for that. I’m sure it will all work fine. First time back over since brexit and in the new bigger van so the old seem less routine we were familiar with us out the window. The dogs are the biggest change. Needing to get them some vegan food for the first night or so. Change may be as good as a fresh start but when it comes to travelling by van to mainland Europe I would have preferred things to stay as they were. Once we’ve done it this time I am sure it will become just a minor inconvenience thereafter. Here’s hoping. Can’t wait to get away… 1 week today

 

[dominichayhoe]

Could someone that has used the Liber-t tag in France let me know where they positioned it on the windscreen. I know the instructions say it is to be on the black area behind the mirror though there is little space there. Also I have just got the brandrup isolate windscreen cover which will also interfere with placement. It also suggests on the site that in some motorhomes it may need to be placed in the middle at the bottom of the windscreen as as not too high.
I think I will need to use Velcro to position it during the day and take it off when using the window blinds.

Mine is in the middle tray on the dash. Works fine.