How can I pay French free-flow motorway fees in rental car without toll badge?

Reader Question: You recently answered a question about using a toll badge in a rental car, but how do we pay tolls on the new motorways if we do not have one?

Our recent article looked at how you can use your own toll badge (télépéage) in a hire car if you wish to.

Read more: Can télépéage motorway toll badges be used in French hire cars?

As we also mentioned, some – but not all – hire cars come with a télépéage badge you can use. 

This is not always the case, however, and drivers can opt to hire vehicles without them and pay with their own coins or bank cards at traditional tolls. 

On new flux-libre (free-flowing) motorways where these traditional barriers have been replaced, drivers of hire vehicles are in general advised to use the same methods to pay the toll as if it were their own vehicle. 

If not using a télépéage badge, they are recommended to log onto the accompanying motorway operator’s website, insert the number plate of the hire vehicle, and pay the tolls associated with it during the time they had the vehicle rented out.

Alternatively, they can pay the tolls at a tabac (for some but not all flux-libre tolls). 

There is a 72-hour limit to pay these tolls; the same for both privately-owned and rented vehicles.

If paying through the motorway operator’s website, you should not create an account for the vehicle but pay the tolls in a one-off manner. 

These are the general rules, but certain hire companies may have slightly different methods in place – if you are expecting to drive on a free-flow motorway with your hire vehicle, you can ask the company about this.

You can find out more about the newest free-flow motorways in France – the A13/A14 in our article below. 

Read more: Toll barriers have now ended on this major French motorway

If you are driving a non-French registered car, our article below explains how you can pay free-flow motorway tolls. 

Read more: How do I pay on new free-flow motorway tolls with UK car? 

What happens if you do not pay? 

A notice and accompanying fine for non-payment of these tolls are sent out if the 72-hour limit has elapsed. 

The fine reaches up to €90 (reduced to €10 if paid within 15 days of receiving the notice), and can increase beyond this for repeat offenders. 

These notices contain information on the date and time of the incident – hire companies that receive one will be able to use this to see who had the vehicle hired at this time. 

In most cases, the person renting out the vehicle at that time will then be designated as the recipient of the fine and be legally responsible for it by the hire company, who will forward the relevant information. 

Read more: What to do if télépéage badge not detected on French free-flow motorway?