The toll system in France

Driving to Disneyland Paris from the UK for the first time? Then it is useful to know how the French motorway toll system works.
Many French motorways charge a toll, while Route National and other non-motorway roads are generally free to use. If you arrive in France via Calais or Dunkirk, the quickest route to Disneyland Paris normally includes toll roads for part of the journey. You can avoid them, but this will usually increase your journey time.

On the road, look out for signs marked “Péage”. On traditional toll motorways, you will either pay a fixed amount at a toll plaza or take a ticket when you enter the toll section. Keep this ticket until you reach the next toll plaza, where the amount you pay is calculated according to the distance travelled.

If payment is due immediately, simply pay the amount shown and continue your journey towards Disneyland Paris. Most toll plazas accept major credit and debit cards, so there is usually no need to carry large amounts of cash.

The system is generally straightforward and works quickly. However, some French motorways now use free-flow tolling without barriers or toll booths. On these roads, your number plate is recorded automatically and you have to pay the toll separately. We explain this system in more detail further down the page.

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Paying the motorway toll

As you approach a toll plaza, slow down and check which lane is suitable for you. The lane you need depends on how you want to pay.
Look at the illuminated signs above the individual toll lanes, as these indicate whether you can pay by card, cash or electronic toll collection.

In the picture, the three lanes on the left accept card payments, while the two on the right accept cash. The orange “t” indicates a lane for télépéage, the French electronic toll system. To use these lanes, you need a compatible toll tag fitted inside your car. The tag is detected automatically as you approach the toll point and the charge is added to your account. Some dedicated télépéage lanes allow you to pass through at up to 30 km/h without stopping.
A toll tag can make passing through French toll plazas considerably quicker, although it does not reduce the toll itself. Depending on the provider and tariff, subscription, activation or delivery charges may also apply.

If you want to pay in cash, you will need euros. Follow the signs for a lane that accepts cash and have coins or smaller banknotes ready.
Card payments are also straightforward. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, as are some other debit cards. American Express is not listed among the cards accepted by the French motorway operators, so you should not rely on it for paying motorway tolls.
If you are driving a right-hand-drive car from the UK or Ireland, the payment terminals will usually be on the passenger side. Having someone travelling with you can therefore make paying at the toll booth rather easier.

If you would like to use télépéage, you need to arrange a compatible toll tag before your trip. Several providers offer tags that can be sent abroad, including to customers in the UK and Ireland. The toll itself remains the same whichever payment method you use.

The payment terminal

A card payment terminal at a toll plaza looks like this:

Just like at a car park payment machine, you insert your card into the slot provided. The corresponding amount is charged to your card and the machine returns it. If you wish, you can also print a receipt.
At machines where you also need to insert the ticket you collected earlier, the process is much the same. Simply insert the ticket first and then your card.
If you need help, press the button marked “aide” / “help” on the left-hand side of the machine and explain the problem to a member of staff.

Once you have paid the toll, the barrier at the Péage will open and you can continue your journey. Bear in mind that there are often more payment booths than traffic lanes beyond them, so pull away slowly and watch for vehicles merging from either side.

Have a safe journey!

The routes to Disneyland and their toll charges

Here is an overview of the approximate motorway tolls on some of the most common routes from the Channel ports to Disneyland Paris. The figures apply to a standard Class 1 car and are intended as a guide, as tolls can change and the exact amount depends on the route you take.

From Calais: via the A16, A1, A104 and A4 – around €25 each way. This is the most relevant route if you travel via LeShuttle or one of the Dover–Calais ferries.
From Dunkirk: via the A25, A1, A104 and A4 – around €19 each way.
From Dieppe: depending on the route towards Paris and Disneyland Paris, expect roughly €8 to €20 each way.
From Le Havre, Caen or Cherbourg: toll costs vary considerably depending on the route chosen, but you should generally allow around €18 to €30 each way. Routes using the A13 and A14 towards Paris now include sections with free-flow tolling.
From Roscoff: particularly relevant if you are arriving by ferry from Ireland, the faster route towards Paris can cost around €32 in motorway tolls each way.

These amounts do not include the cost of the Channel crossing or ferry. If you are travelling in a motorhome or another vehicle that falls into a higher French toll class, the charges can also be significantly higher.