Use these websites to check against numberplate fraud on barrier-free French motorways
Email alerts inform you when your number plate is registered as passing through toll
The A13 is the most recent motorway to become barrier free. Photo for illustrative purposes only
wuthrich didier / Shutterstock
An increase in the number of motorways becoming toll booth-free is leading to concerns over an increase in number plate fraud among drivers.
The A13 is the most recent as well as the busiest motorway to remove barriers and become toll booth – but not toll – free and sees thousands of vehicles drive through each day.
Some people are concerned it will see an increase in unscrupulous scammers using fake number plate information to avoid paying the tolls, passing these costs onto other drivers.
These drivers, if not paying the tolls within the 72-hour timeframe, may then face increasing penalties.
Alert systems in place
Whilst it is not yet clear if the new free-flow systems will correspond to a reduction in fraudulent behaviour, it is possible for drivers to reduce the risk of being impacted by scammers using their number plate information.
Drivers can sign up for alert systems that send them an email or text every time their number plate is registered as passing through a free-flow toll.
Two major motorway operators with flux-libre roads currently have these systems in place.
All drivers can sign up regardless of whether or not they use the routes.
The systems to sign up for are:
‘Info Passage’ by ALIAE (for the A79 motorway) – https://paiement.aliae.com/fr/alert
‘Péage à payer’ by Sanef (for the A13 and A14 motorways and Péage de Boulay on the A4 motorway) – https://www.sanef.com/. Scroll down to the ‘Pour vos futurs passages’ section then ‘Activer gratuitement le suivi de vos passages sur les autoroutes à péage en flux libre’
In both cases all you need to do is provide your vehicle’s number plate and an email address (to which the alert will be sent).
If you have a ‘Bip&Go’ télépéage toll badge, you can sign up to similar alerts via your subscriber space on the website. Information on how to do so is available on the official website.
The next motorway set to become partially flux-libre is the controversial A69 motorway in south-west France, currently under construction. It is probable that a similar alert system will be available when the motorway is opened.
Numerous drivers have recently complained about the new system claiming it is more difficult to use than the traditional tolls.
Read more: Barrier-free French motorway: driver complaints increase over extra fines
