Everything you need to know about free-flow motorways and its impact on your journey.

All classes of vehicle are detected by the gantries, whether you are travelling in: a light vehicle (cars), a commercial vehicle (vans, small lorries), a camper van, a heavy goods vehicle or a two-wheeler.

With an electronic toll payment badge, you can travel freely without having to do anything to pay. Your badge is detected automatically and your toll charges are deducted from your bank account the following month. This is the case not only on all free-flow motorways in France, but also on the entire motorway network in France, Spain, Portugal and Italy. So you can take advantage of the reserved fast lanes! In addition to these benefits, you can also pay in more than 1,300 car parks in Europe, charge your electric vehicle with ease and take advantage of the many Bip&Go subscriber services on the dedicated app.

An electronic toll payment badge is the easiest and safest way to drive on a free-flow motorway. However, if your badge is incorrectly positioned or faulty, it may not be detected by the gantries. Rest assured! As a Bip&Go subscriber, if you have activated the notification of undetected free-flow journeys and entered the number plate in your subscriber area, you will be contacted and will be able to pay for your journeys using your electronic toll payment badge or bank card. The notification will only be valid if you make a successful first pass with your electronic toll tag.

The easiest and safest way is to get an electronic toll payment badge if you regularly drive a temporary vehicle. Remember to remove the badge from the windscreen before returning the vehicle! Otherwise, within 72 hours of each journey, you can visit the website of the route in question, sometimes with physical payment solutions depending on the network.

Motorway companies do not have your contact details by default. If you want to be notified directly after your journey, you can opt for an electronic toll payment badge or fill in your number plate on the motorway website.

In France, motorways are the property of the State. Therefore, after the 72-hour period, in accordance with article R419-2 of the Highway Code, your case will be passed on to sworn officials to identify the owner of the vehicle concerned. The amount to be paid corresponds to the amount of the toll, plus a fixed penalty of €15 if payment is made within 15 days, otherwise €90 within a further 45 days. Once this period has elapsed, the case is transferred to the State for a 4th class fixed fine of around €375.

Free-flow technology first appeared in France at the Boulay toll plaza on the A4 motorway. Then the A79 motorway crossing the Allier département was built entirely using this system. Finally, from June to December 2024, the entire Paris-Normandy route will become the first nationwide free-flow motorway. Work is scheduled for completion in 2027, with only a minor impact on the entire route.

Free-flow has only recently been deployed in France. These transformation projects are long-term, in partnership with government departments.

The personal data processed by Bip&Go and the French motorway companies strictly comply with European regulations and follow the standards set out in the GDPR.

In general, we recommend that you contact the motorway company responsible for the route on which you travelled: the Sanef Group for the Boulay toll on the A4 motorway or the Paris-Normandy route (A13/A14), aliaé for the A79 motorway. If your request concerns your electronic toll payment badge, you can contact Bip&Go directly via your subscriber area.