Autoroute tolls with kayaks

[steve crofts]

I am planning on taking my kayak to France this year to paddle some of the Massif Central rivers.
My estate car is 1.60m high and with roof bars and kayaks on top it comes to 2.05m
The autoroute charges go up steeply for vehicles over 2m so I am wondering if kayaks/roofboxes etc are offically classed
in the vehicle height.
Anyone got any experience of this ?

Regards

Crofty

[AlexN]

We've never been charged extra with boats on. That includes taking a Sharan with boats, probably a bit taller than your estate. If you take the Tunnel let them know its tall. It doesn't cost any more but they need to know to allocate numbers of tall and short spaces on the train.

[Adrian Cooper]

If you use the automatic barriers, the machines will assume you are a tall vehicle, if you use a manned barrier, the operator will be able to tell the difference and will charge you accordingly.

[steve crofts]

Thanks for that lads,just thought I would check.

[quicky]

Don't forget your breath test kits for the car up to French regs. Also triangle and hi vis coat.

[steve crofts]

Thanks Quicky I am onto it.Probably get a kit with all the stuff triangle/bulbs etc and a breath test kit from Halfords.
Regards
Crofty

[adamheason]

When you get to the end where you pay it will charge you depending on you class (1 for cars, 2 for vans, 3 for lorries basically)
it will display what class you have been charged as, if they do try and class you for class 2 because of the height with the boat just press the buzzer and they will lower it to class 1.
We travelled to the Ardeche last week in a Mercades sprinter with 3 open boats on the roof and it kept trying to charge for class 3! we had to press for assistance on every toll but it was always lowered to the correct price.
I hope your not coming down here too soon, the levels are super low!
Adam

[David Hepworth]

Just so you are aware you now need a hi viz jacket for each passenger in the vehicle, and alchol limits in France are now the same as in the UK

[-Ginge-]

Just so you are aware you now need a hi viz jacket for each passenger in the vehicle, and alchol limits in France are now the same as in the UK

Source?

[Big Henry]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/9095573/Motorists-will-have-to-carry-portable-breathalyser-in-France.html

[SPL]

Just so you are aware you now need a hi viz jacket for each passenger in the vehicle, and alcohol limits in France are now the same as in the UK

Alcohol limits are LOWER in france, be safe dont drink and drive.

[steve crofts]

Thanks for all the advice.
I will get enough yellow jackets and probably 2 breath test kits as recommended in the Telegraph article.
Adam was,nt coming down till July when in all likelyhood levels will be even lower.

[Adrian Cooper]

http://www.alcosense.co.uk/alcosense-singles.html

[AlexC]

hen you get to the end where you pay it will charge you depending on you class (1 for cars, 2 for vans, 3 for lorries basically)

Not quite true, it depends on the van. My T5 Transporter gets class 1

[thefryers]

If I remember correctly, the height is measured by an auto sensor in both the auto pay and attended booths. The system takes the height at the top of the windscreen as it flattens into the roof so roof racks are not included. I've only ever been charged for class 1 (car) in my T5 with boats on the roof or not.

Feel free to correct me if my info is out of date!?!

Cheers,

Graeme

[harry_paddle]

Don't worry about the breath tests yet. While you technically DO need them, they can't/won't start fining people till sometime in November this year. just so you know :)

[scottdog007]

Don't worry about the breath tests yet. While you technically DO need them, they can't/won't start fining people till sometime in November this year. just so you know :)

Emm. Can I have your name and address and also quote what you said to the nice French police office as he gives me an on the spot fine? Where did you get that information from?

[harry_paddle]

Its on all the websites when I've heard about this breath test thing. For instance:

New regulation – Breathalysers – effective 1st July 2012, sanctioned 1st Nov 2012. As of the 1st July 2012 it will be compulsory for drivers of all motor vehicles including motorcyclists, excluding mopeds to carry a breathalyser in their vehicle while travelling in
France. This will not be enforced until the 1st November 2012, where persons failing to produce a breathalyser will receive a fine on the spot of €11.

Taken from website:
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/to ... monaco.pdf
bottom of page 2.

[PeterG]

Some of the automatic booths issue the ticket from a higher slot if they detect the kayaks, if you wait a bit the machine takes it back and issues the cheaper ticket from the car height slot. Manned booths always only charge for the car rate whatever ticket you have picked up, but the automatic ones may try to charge you as a commercial vehicle, just press the 'contact a human button', they have you on CCTV so can change it.