Motorhomes just over 3m high and french tolls

whilst the rules for french tolls have restrictions on height and weight, the 'normally' charged rate is class 2.

we are on a 4.25t chassis but actually only weigh around 3.5 t, and are 2.89m high...always class 2.

if you have an automatic lane and it bills ypu for class 3, press the button, call a staff member and say 'classe deux, s'il vous plais' and Robert est votre oncle 

Thanks BB.  I should have made clear that weight is not an issue for me, my licence these days limits me to 3.5 tonnes.  Up to now neither has height been, our current motorhome is 2.58m high, according to the handbook.

I suppose all that I want to know is whether I could continue to use the Sanef tag without any issues for a motorhome at this height range?  It is a small consideration in whether we buy one or not

I have been told that Motorhomes are always Class 2 but cannot say for certain. Ours is just under 3m but I imagine that the aerial etc. pushes it over the 3m. So far this trip we have been using the automatic gates and I checked my bill and all the tolls were charged class 2. Driving towards Montpelier today there were big queues at most of the booths and we just drove easily through the auto lane. So cool!

It seems to me it all depends on the operator of the autoroute as to how you are charged when over 3 meters. Sometimes I get away with class 2 and others not. Quasar email Sanef

peedeee 

If over 3m you will be stopped as the French use height monitors at most if not all tolls. Any discussions thereafter are at your discretion.

I have a SANEF Tag from my caravan days but now have a MH of 2.98 high and well over 3.5t.   SANEF and the toll regs clearly state that if over 3m in height or over 3.5t you are Class 3.   But they cannot tell at the gate because I use my tag and am billed as Class 2!!

I hope no Harrogate based SANEF staff are CC members!

Bill C

I have been told that Motorhomes are always Class 2 but cannot say for certain. Ours is just under 3m but I imagine that the aerial etc. pushes it over the 3m. So far this trip we have been using the automatic gates and I checked my bill and all the tolls were charged class 2. Driving towards Montpelier today there were big queues at most of the booths and we just drove easily through the auto lane. So cool!

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The suggestion that motorhomes are always class 2 is definitely not correct. All French motorways are charged by height, weight and axles, with the exception of certain types of busses I think.

Most motorhomes in France are class 2 because they are made that way, i.e. less than 3m high and less than 3.5t. The legalities of it are that if you are over 3m or 3.5t, whilst you may get charged less on occasions, as peedee says he does, I would suggest if you were to speak to an operator and get a reduced fee you were not entitled to then you would be committing fraud/deception. I suspect given the overall charges the companies get they can’t be too bothered to argue and let it go as a class 2 in the whole scheme of things.

Not sure where it stands about the height being increased to over 3m by the fitting of an aerial, I would have thought it would relate purely to the vehicle height as manufactured and not such additions. I could not find any definitions when I looked on the tolls web site about aerials etc. Regards, Roy

We travelled in France a couple of years ago with our Auto Trail Apache, 3.07 mts high.

Very soon we were charged as class 3. I tried to explain to the man in the kiosk that we were a camping car. His response was that we were 'plus trois metres'.

We travelled on the 'N' thereafter without any problems.

Just got caught by the b****y time out again, and lost my post.

The gist of it was to say thanks for the replies so far, that views are mixed, and to wonder why UK constructors do not consider this issue when designing their vehicles.

Whilst not of itself a deal breaker, this will certainly be on our list of things to consider in choosing our next motorhome.

Quasar I would not worry too much about the height when choosing a van. There are more important things and unless you are still working & need to make good time by using the toll roads it is not an issue. We are class 3 due to weight and only use the toll roads in France to bypass a busy city such as Tours etc. The N roads are very good & the journey is all part of the holiday to us. The last time I checked, as a class 3, we would spend just short of 300€ to get to where we wanted in Spain that would cost us around 100€ in a car. If I bought new again I would try to ensure I was 3.5t which is more important when in other countries. I think only France includes a height of 3m. We need a Go Box for instance in Austria at around 24c a kilometer! & in Switzerland we need heavy vehicle tax on any roads all due to weight. Regards Roy