Autoroute and Autopista Charge bands

[sabino]

How do they decide which band you fall into?

Our camper is based on the Hyundai i800 which I think is 1.97m high before the Reimo was fitted.

 

We have been many times in France and Spain, but don't know how they decide.

 

Thanks

[BKen1]

For Spain the height is not the criteria its the number of axles and design ie Van Truck Bus etc .Yours would be classed as a Furgonetas/Furgones in the Ligeros (Light) catergory similar to the VW Californias.

If you have a A Class or Tag you might fall into the Heavy 1 cat. Most coach and low profile campers are classed as Ligeros (Light) but I suppose its at the interpretation of the booth operator on the day.

Here is the translation of types

 

Light

• Motorcycles with or without sidecar.

• Passenger cars without a trailer, or trailer, without twin wheel

(dual tire).

• Van Trucks, vans and minibuses 2 axles and 4 wheels.

 

heavy 1

• Trucks and buses 2 axles.

• Trucks and buses 3-axles and 2-axle trailer 1 axis.

• Cars, trucks, vans and minibuses (all 2-axis, 4

wheels) with trailer 1 axle with twin wheel (double tire).

 

heavy 2

• Trucks and buses, with or without trailer, with a total of 4 or more axles.

• Cars, trucks, vans and buses (each with 2 axles,

4 wheels), with two or more trailer axles and at least one wheel axle

mate (dual tire).

 

https://www.autopistas.com/en/prices-and-tolls

 

France will be along shortly :-D

 

BrianK

[StuartO]

In France most motorhomes are Category Two, fauirly cheap, unless:

 

Height over 3 metres, whih makes you Category Three, almost twice as much, unless:

 

You have three or more axles, which makes you Category Four, same as an HGV lorry and v expensive.

 

There is an escape clause in that it's the height of the vehicle's body which counts, and not sticky uppy things like TV aerials. If they charge you Category Three because of height it is worth asking the attendant by saying "Camping car, Category Deux" or by pressing the intercom button if the booth is unmanned.

 

No escape from Category Four if you have tag axles, and it is punishingly expensive compared to Category Two.

[sabino]

Thanks, I knew the official banding. I really wondered how it was decided when you reached the toll.

[Derek Uzzell]

StuartO - 2014-12-17 5:42 PM

 

In France most motorhomes are Category Two, fauirly cheap, unless:

 

Height over 3 metres, whih makes you Category Three, almost twice as much, unless:

 

You have three or more axles, which makes you Category Four, same as an HGV lorry and v expensive.

 

There is an escape clause in that it's the height of the vehicle's body which counts, and not sticky uppy things like TV aerials. If they charge you Category Three because of height it is worth asking the attendant by saying "Camping car, Category Deux" or by pressing the intercom button if the booth is unmanned.

 

No escape from Category Four if you have tag axles, and it is punishingly expensive compared to Category Two.

 

The vehicle height calculation is more complicated than at first sight.

 

“Sticky uppy things” that should be ignored when measuring a vehicle’s height for calculating the appropriate autoroute toll are

 

• A load on the roof of a vehicle or trailer.

• Accessories, such as antennae, trunks or roof bars, flashing lights, taxi signs, satellite-TV aerials, skylights, solar panels.

 

“Sticky uppy things” that ‘count’ when measuring a vehicle’s height for calculating the appropriate autoroute toll are

 

• Items added to the base vehicle, such as dwelling units, air conditioners, refrigeration units.

 

Consequently, if a satellite-TV aerial/dome is mounted on the roof of a ‘Class 2’ motorhome, and doing this increasing the vehicle’s height to 3 metres or over, the motorhome should still be charged the Class 2 tariff. However, if an air-conditioning unit is mounted on the roof of a ‘Class 2’ motorhome, increasing the vehicle’s height to 3 metres or over, the motorhome then falls into the Class 3 category.

 

A useful list of 2014 autoroute tariffs is here

 

http://www.autoroutes.fr/FCKeditor/UserFiles/File/Tarifs%2001.pdf

 

It will be apparent that, relative to the Class 2 tariff that will apply to most motorhomes travelling in France, the Class 3 tariff is roughly 50% higher and the Class 4 tariff roughly 100% higher.

[sabino]

Thanks again.

But do they just guess or do they have technology to check your height? Especially when your vehicle may be on the 2m or 3m level.

[Derek Uzzell]

sabino - 2014-12-18 9:38 AM

 

Thanks again.

But do they just guess or do they have technology to check your height? Especially when your vehicle may be on the 2m or 3m level.

 

On French autoroutes the toll-booths have electronic equipment that measures vehicle height.