French tolls

[ProfDave]

do these work across Belgium and Holland too or only France??

[ProfDave]

.......... and even the Severn Bridge???

[Roderick]

We usually drive from Italy where there are also tolls where we have a ‘Telepass’ gadget, through Austria where we get a stick on vignette and pay a separate toll for the Brenner Pass crossing to Germany where it is free use of autobahns (though a toll charge may be introduced 2016) dipping into France near Strasbourg down to Calais or on this occasion down to Dieppe for the ferry to Newhaven. (no delays there). However, the French autoroutes though very good, are very expensive to use. We found several short stretches wanting a few Euros. The bother was irritating. We considered the Sanef UK arm for a Tag but found it all very costly not to mention complicated, ie. from their website re costs;

1.1. What does it cost?
i. Overview - full detail of the charges are provided in items ii & iii of this section
a. Maximum of 16€ (+TVA) per year (2 trips per year or more) consisting of
• 6€ annual account management fee (+TVA)
• 5€ per month that the tag is used but maximum of 10€ in any subscription year (+TVA)
• Transferable – can be used in any car
• Pay in £ via direct debit (we use an average mid market exchange rate for the relevant month + 2% (less than bank/Credit card))
i.e. if you only make one trip it would be 11€ for the year or if you did not use it at all it would be 6€ for the year to keep your tag
b. + Tolls (no discount on the tolls)
c. Setup costs
• 20€ refundable security deposit (no TVA)
• 10€ application fee (+TVA)
Summary: the tolls are the same cost that you would pay at the barrier. This new service simply allows you to use the automated lanes saving you time and reducing the hassle of manually paying tolls in euros.
ii. Subscription Fees
• a refundable security deposit of 20€ (no TVA payable) for each Tag issued by Sanef ("Tag Deposit");
• the annual management fee of 6€ + TVA payable in advance; and
• a non-refundable application fee of 10€ + TVA.
Total up front fee of 39.20€ (including TVA) of which 20€ is refundable when you return the tag
iii. Monthly Active Service Fee
A monthly fee is payable for each calendar month that you actively use your tag in France but only up to a maximum of €10 in a single year i.e. if you purchase a tag in June and then use your tag in July and August, you will be charged €10 (€5 for July and €5 for August) but you will not be charged a monthly active service fee for the remaining months up to and including the following May. A new 12 month period would start in June.
iv. Toll Charges
All toll charges incurred.
All fees and tolls will be collected by direct debit in £GBP. (the exchange rate used in outlined in section 1.4 below)
….and no the Sanef system does not work on the Dartford Tunnel.

Our return earlier this month we opted for Stenaline via Harwich arriving at Hoek of Holland onto Dutch motorway (no tolls) straight into Germany and beyond etc. Huge ferry was great, comfy cabin, shower, good nights sleep and enjoyed a decent full English breakfast before onward journey. Downside was the rather long wait to disembark.
Will probably use this route again as the distance to travel is about the same and avoids Dover and all the problems occurring there of late. Having said that it’s all down to personal preference and destination. For us it’s Belgian roads are even worse than UK ones, French autoroutes are very expensive and boring, German ones are good but currently suffer from a lot of two lane autobahns being converted to three lane and other major roadworks, Austrian roads are fine but their service areas leave a lot to be desired as do some Italian ones too plus there are tolls there too, but cheaper and easier than French. Eg, can travel all the way from Ancona to the Austrian border which costs €39.60 and a distance of 565km, 351mls using only one ‘ticket’ – brilliant.
Sorry I somehow have got carried away writing this. So if going abroad this year enjoy whatever route you choose!