Article written by Elisa
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Here’s a quick guide to free-flow tolling in France. Here, you will learn where to find free-flow highways in France, how open-road tolling works, and what drivers should expect when driving in France.
Free-flow tolling – also called open road tolling or cashless tolling – allows cars and motorbikes to pass under gantries without stopping or slowing down. These gantries are equipped with cameras and sensors to record license plate numbers and detect toll badges.
Free-flow tolling in France is being set up to ease traffic flow. By eliminating the need to stop at toll barriers, CO2 emissions are reduced, which also means a positive impact on the environment.
Table of Contents:
- Free-flow Toll in France Map
- Free-flow Toll Highways in France: How it Works
- How to Pay Free-Flow Tolls in France
- What if I Forgot to Pay a Free-Flow Toll?
- Free-Flow Toll and Car Rental in France
French vocabulary:
- péage (toll)
- autoroute (highway /motorway)
- free-flow toll (péage à flux libre)
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Free-flow Toll in France Map
While France counts 142 highways, only a few work with open-road towing. This system, widely used in Norway, USA, and Canada, only started working in France in November 2022.
Here’s the list of highways with free-flow tolls in France in 2025. Free-flow sections are clearly indicated by signs ahead of time, with the mention “Flux Libre.” You can also check it online on the websites of the different highway operators.
- A79 highway – the section between Sazeret (Allier) and Digoin (Saône-et-Loire)
- A4 highway – some heavily trafficked areas in the Ile-de-France region
- A13 highway – the section between Poissy (Yvelines) and Caen (Calvados)
- A14 highway – the section between Hauts-de-Seine and Yvelines
- A10 highway – some heavily trafficked areas in the Ile-de-France region
- A837 highway – some heavily trafficked areas in the Ile-de-France region
The list of highways with open-road tolling in France will increase over the next months, so keep clicking for the latest updates!
TIP: Check out the best road trips in France
Free-flow Toll Highways in France: How it Works
Here’s how your journey will look (transcription in English):
- You’re about to enter a free-flow toll section of the highway
- Signs will indicate the start of the free-flow toll section
- Gantries detect your travel and your vehicle type*
- End of the free-flow toll section: the amount due is automatically calculated.
- You have 72 hours to pay for your journey!
* Data processing carried out in connection to free-flow tolls complies with the GDPR (data protection)
How to Pay Free-Flow Tolls in France
There are three main ways to pay for a highway with free-flow towing: before, during, or after your trip. The highways with free-flow tolls in France are managed by different operators (Vinci Autoroutes, SANEF, and Aliae), so payment methods may vary slightly between operators.
Gantries are equipped with high-definition cameras that record your plate when you pass at normal speed. Here are all the ways to pay a free-flow toll in France.
First, I will list all the ways to pay a free-flow toll in France in general, followed by a more specific table by highway.
A- Before or During your journey
- With an electronic toll payment badge
- Online, with a customer account in the portal of the highway company concerned
- Some apps like Fulli also allow you to pay and track journeys
With a toll payment badge or a customer account and a payment method linked to your plate, the amount is automatically deducted when your vehicle passes under the gantry.
Toll Badge or Customer Account? An electronic toll badge works with all French operators and abroad in Spain, Portugal, and Italy, while an account is operator-specific.
If you opt for the toll badge, ensure your passage was registered correctly (you need to hear a double bip). When in doubt, you can check your toll data online (on the highway operator’s website) by introducing the plate number.
B- After your Journey
- Online, on the portal of the highway company concerned (such as Sanef or ALIAE) by entering your license plate
- Physical terminals or Nirio-approved FDJ points
Can I pay Free Flow Tolls in Cash? You can pay in cash at the Nirio-approved FDJ points of sale.
Payment Methods by Highway
HIGHWAY | OPERATOR | ONLINE PAYMENT | PHYSICAL TERMINALS/ FDJ POINTS | ACCOUNT CREATION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
A79 | Alie | |||
A4 | SANEF | |||
A13 | SANEF | |||
A14 | SANEF | |||
A10 | Vinci | Ulys Account (required) | N/A | |
A837 | Vinci | Ulys Account (required) | N/A |
What if I Forgot to Pay a Free-Flow Toll?
As mentioned above, you have 72 hours to pay a free-flow toll in France. After this time, a reminder will be sent to the owner of the plate. This reminder includes the amount of the non-paid toll plus a fine of 90€, which will be reduced to 10€ if the toll is set within the next 15 days.
- If you settle within 15 days, a 10€ fine will be applied in addition to the toll fee.
- After 15 days, the fine will increase to 90€
- After two months, the fine will increase to 375€
Free-Flow Toll and Car Rental in France
The payment methods are identical for drivers using car rentals in France.
When entering the license plate on the payment portal, you have the option to select the time slot of the rental, which allows you to pay only for trips made during this period. You will be able to pay the toll fees for your hired car with peace of mind once your route is completed.
Do you have a personal electronic toll payment badge? You can use it in the hired car as long as you activate it and deactivate it at the beginning and end of your use on the relevant sections of the road.