More ticket-free toll motorways due in France despite driver confusion

More French motorways are to adopt ticket-free toll systems from spring, as operators press ahead with plans to remove traditional entry barriers.

From the end of May 2026, sections of the APRR and AREA networks will switch to a ticket-free model on routes including the A41N (Lyon–Annecy), A43, A48 and A49 (Lyon–Valence via Grenoble).

The company is investing close to €50million in the upgrade, according to regional daily Le Dauphiné Libéré.

How the new system works

Under the new arrangement, entry toll booths disappear. In their place, overhead gantries record vehicles as they join the motorway. Cameras read number plates and sensors detect electronic télépéage badges.

Unlike full “free-flow” systems already in place on routes such as the A13 and A14, exit barriers on these AREA routes will remain. The recorded entry point is used to calculate the toll due when drivers leave.

The aim is to improve traffic flow and safety by removing stop-start congestion at entry points.

The rules are the same for all vehicles, whether they are registered in France or another country, with the detection systems picking up all number plates.

The rules on payment - and methods for paying - remain the same for non-French vehicles, including the 72 hour deadlines (where applicable).

Drivers who do not pay may be liable to fines being sent to their address, including, in many cases, if cars are registered abroad. 

France began rolling out barrier-free tolling in 2024, notably on the A79. More sections are planned, including part of the A40 by 2027.

The transport ministry has previously indicated that up to 40% of France’s concession motorways could eventually move to free-flow systems.

Payment deadlines and fines

Drivers with a télépéage badge have their journeys recorded and billed automatically.

Those without a badge must pay online via the relevant operator’s website or at an authorised Nirio tobacconist within 72 hours of travel.

Failure to pay on time triggers escalating penalties: an initial €10 surcharge, rising to €90 after 15 days, and up to €375 if payment is not made.

Complaints over clarity

The expansion comes despite complaints from some motorists that barrier-free tolling lacks clarity.

Speaking on RMC, television presenter Jacques Legros voiced the frustration that many drivers feel as they struggle to identify precisely when a toll section begins or know whether their badge has been correctly detected.

“You never quite know when it starts, when it ends, or how much it will cost,” he said, adding that he had received a payment reminder despite believing his badge had worked.

Operators maintain that signage is installed several kilometres before gantries and that data handling complies with privacy regulations.