There is a trick to saving time at tolls but many motorists don’t know it.
Every time we go on vacation or during long weekends, it’s the same story. Before sipping a cocktail by the pool or taking your first sea swim of the summer, you already have to spend long hours in your car to reach your little corner of paradise. Unless you leave at dawn, and even then, it’s impossible to avoid traffic jams on the highway. The fault is the very large number of vehicles which invest the main roads at the same time, the breakdowns, the accidents, but also the toll barriers.
But not all motorists are equal when it comes to tolls. There are those who have an electronic toll subscription and who can pass without stopping under the gantries overlooked by the letter “t” in orange. And then there are the others, all those who are forced to stop at the barrier to pay. Waiting times are obviously longer, but there is a little trick that can save a lot of time.
To do this, you have to choose your line carefully. Several solutions are available to drivers who do not have a subscription: choose a lane indicated by a green arrow open to all vehicles, choose a lane indicated by a credit card or choose a lane indicated by banknotes and coins. cash. No doubt because fewer and fewer French people pay in cash, many motorists often prefer lines marked with a credit card. The cars are therefore generally more crowded behind these counters, while the passages are often smoother in the other lines.
First tip, you can take the paths topped by a green arrow. These accept all means of payment, credit card or cash. For checks or holiday vouchers, however, it is better to take a route equipped with a teller in person. Second tip, if it is less busy in front of you, head towards the lanes where cash payment is indicated. So should you fill your wallet with coins and notes before hitting the highway? No need because it is often possible to pay your motorway costs with a credit card when you go to the gates indicated by notes and coins. And too few drivers know that! Finally, last tip, know that most toll terminals are now equipped with a contactless payment system. That’s still a few seconds saved…
Tolls are often used to finance the construction, maintenance and operation of highways. Toll revenue goes directly to these needs, helping to keep roads in good condition and funding new infrastructure projects. This year again, on 1er February, toll rates increased. They cost on average 3% more than in 2023.