France Toll Roads - Exact Change Only?

Question

A co-worker just alarmed me by claiming the toll roads accept exact change only. Is this correct? Or possibly they have an "automatic" exact-change only lane like Spain?

Our itenerary requires us to jump in the car and drive right upon our arrival at the airport from the US, and it will be hard to have small change on hand, except for 20s and 50s!

I know it will be expensive, after the first day we will hardly drive at all and stick to the N-routes. Don't want it to be even more expensive then it has to be!

Answer 1

As a french limousine driver, I drive on the french highways everyday.

Here are the different options at each and every toll .

-Manual: U pay cash, or credit card to an employee in his booth

-automatic:(2 options) 1-you drop coins in the basket and get your change right below. 2-you insert your credit card in the machune slot( an enven can ask for a receipt)

-by subscribtion; you buy an little electronic beeper, stick-it inside your windscreen and drive through a special lane (orange paint on the way and big "T" sign on top of the tollway). The cost is directly drawned from the credit card you used when you purchased the subscribtion.

These subscribtions are valid on all french highways and the cheaper is a one-month contract.

Answer 2

We drove all over France this May, and the toll roads had a large variety of options, from real human toll-takers, to automatic booths that take credit cards, to booths that give change.  I saw no toll areas that took nothing other than exact change as the only option.  Just make sure that in an area with lots of lanes, you approach slowly and try to figure out what's what.  Don't get into a lane that takes only monthly passes or only exact change.  They are well marked, but you need to get used to the signs.

Answer 3

About France.

I don't think so. They have the change at all tolls I have seen, until then and an overwhelming majority of tolls are not automatic. Actually, the entry on higway is always automatic, but not the exit where an employee will ask you to pay. You can pay with Visa credit card too.

Answer 4

No

There is variety of methods of paying.

Where there is an attendant they will give you any change required.

Some kiosks are automatic so you put your ticket in a slot and a display will tell you how much to pay. You put the coins in a slot and you will receive change.

There are also telepeage where you have to have aprepaid card or carte bleu which take credit cards but these are only on exits which also have attended kiosks . Look for the green cross over it.

There are usually shops at the airport where you can get small change.