Automatic toll badge for non-residents in France?
We drive to our French second home in Charente. It is irritating to use the tolls with a right-hand drive car. Can we get an automatic toll badge as non-residents?
Yes, you can.
For starters, check telepeagelibert.com a website used by all of the motorway toll operators, that invites you to click on the motorway you use the most so as to order a “bip” badge from the company that manages it.
These companies also have outlets in France which you can visit in person, or you can buy online.
It does not really matter which one you get your bip from as they all work on all French motorways and, depending on subscription choice, may work in some neighbouring countries too.
In theory there is no reason not to be able to order one as a UK resident if you have a French bank account or a foreign one that allows Sepa direct debits (this includes some UK current accounts and is expected to continue after Brexit).
One site we checked, bipandgo.com run by Sanef (a network in the north and east) did not allow orders with a UK address.
An advisor said it is possible in an agency in person but they prefer a French bank account to avoid any problems with debiting money. The advisor recommended instead using their UK-based subsidiary emovis-tag.co.uk.
The latter has badges for a €10 application fee, €6 annual account fee, €20 refundable deposit and €5 per month the badge is used (plus the toll fees).
This is more than the fees charged at the standard bipandgo.com site.
We have a dedicated helpguide on Owning a Second Home in France. Order at the helpguide section of connexionfrance.com
