Telepeage transponders

[ruhall]

I'm starting to get a bit weary of unmanned booths on the Autoroutes (even at places like Toulouse and Bordeaux) and the inevitable delay as the person in front hunts for their money, drops it, or can't use the machine (why is it always the car in front of me??), so I'm now thinking about one of the telepeage units.

I understand that it is possible to have one where you only pay for the months that it is used (ie not a standard monthly fee) and wondered if anybody on here could recommend a decent supplier.

Ideally, a website that has an English version would make life easier - I have a French bank account so would be looking for their equivalent of direct debit as means of payment. Are there upfront fees for them, and are they happy to post to UK addresses?

[leyorkie]

I have had one for two years and it works well, try LiberT web site and I think they are changing to Blip n Go.
Charge is 2€ for each month when it is used and normal charge taken from your account by direct debit.
Very handy if in RHD car.

[Cunning Punt]

I think Sanef is the only service that has a site in English and accepts UK accounts/addresses.
€20 deposit for the transponder. Subscription is €6/year plus €5 for each month you use it.

If you already have a French bank account and can get use of a French address, there are cheaper options.

Hope that helps,

'punt

[smifffymoto]

If you have a French account why not just use your card?

[Yachtworker]

This was up the other day and covered all options, worth a read.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

I have an APRR one charged to a UK credit card, works great.

[ruhall]

Thanks for the pointers, I'll have a look at them.

As to the question of using my card,I have assumed that the lanes marked 't', which seem to the one that don't have the queues, will only take transponder devices.

You've now got me thinking as to whether there are card only lanes, are there? I've got so used to heading for the normal booths that I can't remember now. I'd happily use a card if it means you can use booths that don't have the queues.

[Cloggie]

You can just pop into any sales office, normally located at motorway entries and exits, with passport and proof of address. Usually you get the transponder there and then. Automatic payment by credit card or with a RIB if you have a French bank account.

[blueST]

I have the Sanef UK transponder. https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/ It is very convenient but there are various charges which make it feel quite expensive. There is a certain smug satisfaction to flying through the tag only high speed lane!

There's an intial refundable deposit, a delivery fee and a small annual admin fee. Another small fee is chargeable for each calendar month you use the tag, but they cap this to a maximum of two months charges in a single year, no matter how many months you use it in. Then you've got your tolls, which are charged at the normal price, but the exchange rate they use is quite favourable, so you might make a bit back there, especially if you use it a lot. I've a feeling they levy a small foreign exchange fee against the toll charges too.

Everything is paid by direct debit from UK bank account and you have an on line statement

It sounds, and feels, much more expensive than it is. To be honest I think they've made a mistake with this pricing approach. Uneccessarily complex. The sum total of the various charges comes to not a lot, but because there are so many, you're never quite sure where you're up to. They should just make the annual admin fee bigger and scrap all the various small charges. Even if you ended up paying more, it would probably feel like less.

Edited by blueST on Monday 30th April 03:44

[Le TVR]

ruhall said:

As to the question of using my card,I have assumed that the lanes marked 't', which seem to the one that don't have the queues, will only take transponder devices.

There are dedicated télépéage lanes marked 't' but there are also lanes marked 't' that are télépéage and cards combined. Many of the dedicated lanes are now drive through at 20k without stopping and are very clearly marked.

[ruhall]

Updates noted, thanks folks.

[lowdrag]

Had mine nine years and wouldn't be without it. I did not though that the tolls cost me over 1,000€ last year; ouch! However, a heads up on the actual unit; it beeps when you drive through the péage, but if it stops beeping it means the battery is dying. Of course, I found this out one wet and windy night at midnight! Get it changed where there is an office alonside the bigger péages.

[Le Pop]

Another point which may be obvious is that there are lanes on the extreme right hand side toll booths which are for telepeage HGVs only.

Don't ask how I know that

[JulesV]

lowdrag said:

Had mine nine years and wouldn't be without it. I did not though that the tolls cost me over 1,000€ last year; ouch! However, a heads up on the actual unit; it beeps when you drive through the péage, but if it stops beeping it means the battery is dying. Of course, I found this out one wet and windy night at midnight! Get it changed where there is an office alonside the bigger péages.

Thank you, useful advice. I have had my transponder for three years now and was wondering about getting it changed this year on my way to the 24 Hours. I don't suppose you know whether Sanef have an office at any of the peages between Calais and Le Mans?

[lowdrag]

Now there are different operators for different autoroutes, but cofiroute have an office at the exit 22 just north of Le Mans. I've no idea if you can change it there, but a call to SANEF might be in order. I wouldn't worry though, since my latest one (much smaller than the original) has already lasted five years with no signs of giving up.

[Le Pop]

Had ours 6 years now, still going strong...

[JulesV]

Thank you both, I will stop worrying about it.

[oblio]

Got ours now and looking forward to using it. Over the years I havent had many queuing issues in France but the last time we went down to the SoF there was a large queue towards Millau way (IIRC) which kinda p1ssed you off after a long day's drive...hence the purchase for this years French Alps trip

I reckon it;s worth the price if it knocks 30 mins or so off a day's drive. Means you can get to a quicker

Knowing my luck all the tolls will be queue free when we get there

Edited by oblio on Sunday 17th June 18:32

[Yachtworker]

They are upgrading all the SoF tolls to have some 30kmh Telepeage lanes, be aware though, I have had trucks stop dead in them, so still not like the Italian system!

[Gixer]

Had a Sanef tag for a few years now, works great and saves so much time.

Going down to Le Mans the sat before the race, I drove into the tag only lane as usual and nothing happened. Then it occurred to us, we had stopped the card because it had been clonned and they obviously hadn't updated the details after our last trip..... Had to reverse out and do the queue and pay thing all the way to Le Mans. Boy I missed he tag. Our French host called the French Sanef number on her bill and we were back up and running for the rest of the trip

We pay cost of the tolls plus £2 a month for the months we use it

[geordieexpat]

All
I bought 2 x sanef tags and can look at account on big n go

I have one in france on my french plated car and took one to UK to use if I bring a RHD car to France - hence trip to Le Mans and then south of Toulouse in the Sagaris was a breeze - sailed through - only one didnt work, got ticket but at other end went through the t space and it work so they seem to know where you are and work, so no issues with mine at the moment