French Motorway Tags

[Tommy Gunn]

Apologies because I know this has been done to death on here many times but being a simple fool and despite having done internet searches I'm still very confused.
I'm hoping to head to France next month and would like to make the Peages as simple as possible.
There appear to be a myriad of options out there so I'm wondering if anyone can recommend a particular option and explain to me how the process works in terms of ensuring I'm only charged for riding a motorcycle and not a car please.
Apologies and thanks again in advance.

[leadfarmer]

I use the APRR tag, now called Mango

Normally it costs you 1.70 euros per month that you use it in France & nothing when you don't use it, there’s an offer on at the moment so No charge for months used in France

They work perfectly, car or bike so you can swap vehicles, 4 countries covered, no more faffing or queueing

https://www.mango-mobilitesbyaprr.com/en/topeurop-fepi

Check this post for details but as long as you avoid the lanes reserved for cars you will be automatically charged as a motorcycle

https://www.ukgser.com/forums/showth...=1#post6148926

[wessie]

There are sensors in the road and height sensors. They mostly work when you ask for a ticket as there is a display. This should say Class 5.

Now, if you stop or go slowly when using the TAG you can also see the display on the screen with your class 5 appearing briefly as you pass

The simplest way to check you are charged the correct amount is look at the bill, usually issued monthly. These should list the Class for each transaction as well as the location. I have never known a wrong transaction. You can raise a query if it is wrong.

On an odd occasion the sensors do not pick up the TAG or bike. In this case push the button and bellow, "TAG motard" and the operator will rescan for the TAG and has always picked it up. I think it is usually not seeing the bike rather than the TAG.

Just make sure you do not use the lanes marked "cars only" as these might charge you incorrectly and might decapitate you as they are low.

[Wapping]

I use the SANEF tag.

Despite all sorts of horror stories on this site, I have never been ripped off.

[wessie]

I use the APRR tag, now called Mango

Normally it costs you 1.70 euros per month that you use it in France & nothing when you don't use it, there’s an offer on at the moment so No charge for months used in France

They work perfectly, car or bike so you can swap vehicles, 4 countries covered, no more faffing or queueing

https://www.mango-mobilitesbyaprr.com/en/topeurop-fepi

Check this post for details but as long as you avoid the lanes reserved for cars you will be automatically charged as a motorcycle

https://www.ukgser.com/forums/showth...=1#post6148926

I have had this APRR/Mango TAG for some time and I have used it in Spain, France & Portugal. As you will see in the other thread, getting one if you are in the UK can be problematic now.

The other thing to bear in mind is that some of these TAGS will levy a charge if they are not used very often. With the Mango/APRR one they will charge 10 euros if you do not use it in a calendar year. I have had this for 2021 as I made no trips abroad.

If you make regular trips, like I would in a normal year, then the TAGS are very worthwhile, especially in Portugal where they read your number plate with ANPR, not the TAG. Therefore, make sure you keep your account up to date with the vehicle details. With APRR, this is easy on their website.

[Tommy Gunn]

Some great advice there, TY Comrades.

[Wapping]

Even with the very modest additional charge they might make for the month of use, they are an invention of genius.

I forgot mine on my last jaunt in November. I had forgotten what a faff it is on a motorbike, even when using a credit card to pay. It’s not much less of a faff in a car. Get one and faff less.

[er-minio]

Even with the very modest additional charge they might make for the month of use, they are an invention of genius.

Yes.

I have to travel again, by car, down south and still without tags.

As wessie correctly pointed out above, obtaining Mango tags is difficult (it was impossible for me) at the moment.
I've had issues and, while investigating about it, found a number of people online getting stuck for the same roadblock I faced.
Emovis doesn't work with the Telepass (Italian motorway) system.

[Wapping]

Yes.

I have to travel again, by car, down south and still without tags.

As wessie correctly pointed out above, obtaining Mango tags is difficult (it was impossible for me) at the moment.
I've had issues and, while investigating about it, found a number of people online getting stuck for the same roadblock I faced.
Emovis doesn't work with the Telepass (Italian motorway) system.

Maybe get a SANEF - Emovis tag, if only for the French part of your journey?

But, doesn't the Telepass tag work? They seem to list Italy, France and other countries, apparetly on one tag or so it seems from a quick read.

[er-minio]

Did you get them in France directly?
I remember vaguely you posting about your tags a couple of years ago maybe?


SANEF - Emovis does France and Spain and Portugal only, but yes, it might still be worth it.
When I travel to Rome now I do a new (sometimes faster) route that skips most of the motorways after passing Genova/Liguria.

And it will still cut the "stretch-across-the-car-to-reach-the-machine" routine by 50%.
Warning NSFW content: https://www.instagram.com/p/BikqeJGH9NC/

The Italian Telepass would work in France from what I know (long time since I had one). But I cannot have a Telepass thingie because I essentially don't "exist" financially in Italy anymore. I have no bank accounts there, and it's complex to subscribe contracts, etc.

[Wapping]

I bought the French tag directly from the SANEF-Emovis office in Leeds (or somewhere similarly northern) and two subsequent renewals the same way. Very efficient service, as the tags arrive near enough by return.

https://www.emovis-tag.co.uk/subscription/

I'll get their similar tag(s) for Spain and Portugal when I next go.

[er-minio]

I just ordered them online from the Emovis website.
They use UK-sided billing so there shouldn't be any issues this time.

I'll try to through a mixed Telepass/card gate when back in Rome. There is a couple of low traffic tolls where I can give it a try without pissing anyone off.

[barak666]

Hello Bill. I've just signed up for the Mango device following the info found on here....no real issues, just supplied the iban code for my Starling account as the payment source, and they didn't have a problem. Had an email this morning saying the device has been posted and looking forward to trying it in France and Italy in May/June.

[wessie]

I see Telepass has an all Europe account https://www.telepass.com/en/consumer...otorway-europe - seems to work via IBAN. Is this like Mango and needs an Italian based bank account or will they accept foreign IBAN details?

[er-minio]

The main issue I can see is that you have to get the Telepass at any Punto Blu.
Punto Blu are essentially some shops you find immediately after the toll where you can park and make your telepass subscription. It has to be in person though.
I'll go ask them in March.

[er-minio]

supplied the iban code for my Starling account as the payment source, and they didn't have a problem. Had an email this morning saying the device has been posted and looking forward to trying it in France and Italy in May/June.

Let me know how it goes.
Mango was my first choice.