 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
@bolderz, be interested to hear how that works exactly. Do NatWest honour a d/d in euros from a sterling current account or is it done in some other way?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
After just coming back from our trip to the south of France in the MH, I don't see the point of going through the hassle of getting a toll tag.
The toll road near Rouen is now "free flowing" so you log on up to 72 hours later and pay what you owe ( I think this is like the dartford crossing)
The other tolls (there was not that many) we just stopped with no cars in front of us and got a ticket/paid the ticket............ job done.
Granted there is someone in the left hand side of the van............ but if there wasn't I would just take it as an opportunity to stretch my legs as usually the booths are a couple of hours apart
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
@kiteman69, you haven't travelled at peak times with queues though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
@kiteman69, ever since we sat in a queue for over an hour watching those with a tag sailing through the barriers at a toll station just north of Angers, I vowed to get a tag. That was in the summer of 2005 and we’ve had one ever since with no regrets. The additional bonus these days of course is the sheer panic we cause behind us as we approach the 30kmh lane in a UK registered vehicle. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
@kiteman69, in your situation you are correct, it offers little.
We usually drive overnight and it's useful because nobody has to wake up (except the driver of course) or open windows.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
I suppose you are correct, we don't travel in french school holiday season .................... but this year Pentecost was VERY late and everywhere was full of germans ............. like 95% on the french med coast.
As for driving through the night, my "navigator" has a great knack of being woken up, reaching for a ticket then going back off to sleep again 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Hells Bells, the only time I've queued at a toll both was entering Chmabery on a Christmas trip. Actually the queue was after the booths and affected both normal and telecharche lanes the same. Almost always it is drive straight up to the ticket issuing machine and try and collect the ticket without actually stopping then at payment push the card into the machine swipe the debit card and drive off. But I always have someone in the left hand seat. From what I can see the majority of French cars do not use transceivers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Personally I just like stuff to be as efficient as possible.
It's no biggie.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
I have travelled into Italy with mine alone before. Trust me when it's snowing buckets it is so much easier than jumping out and running round to put card or coins in. It means I can snooze in the passenger seat when hubby's driving. We have hit queues before despite our best intentions not to. Villefranche and Lyon ones particularly in Summer, and Reims in Winter. I've seen plenty of French drivers using them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@rdsweb,
Cue a pleasant feeling (especialy when I'm in the Defender with a trailer on the back!). . . . . .
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
The small extra cost of having a tag is well worth it just driving through
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
| Quote: |
The additional bonus these days of course is the sheer panic we cause behind us as we approach the 30kmh lane in a UK registered vehicle.
|
Why? What are you doing to cause panic?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@johnE, its obvious...a British car driving through the 30kph lane..people assuming there is no tag
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
Can't say I've ever noticed anyone panicking when we're approaching the lanes. Loads of UK, Dutch, Belgians using them too.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
@holidayloverxx, @johnE, I think this happened years ago when tags were rare for Brits, not seen any panic for years now.
Apart from me when I see a Dutch car go into the Toll Lane as they 100% won't have one 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
@Hells Bells, @Boris, i agree but it was clear what the poster meant, and likely a joke
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
| robs1 wrote: |
| The small extra cost of having a tag is well worth it just driving through |
Better still, with my ATMB tag, there's various deals that make it cheaper than paying cash/card. It's a complete no-brainer.
And ATMB sometimes used to run various other discounts ranging from ski passes, to MB tunnel access. Haven't seen a good once since COVID sadly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
i have had a "doofer" for about 10years now, and normally even with someone in the left hand seat, it is so much easier than having to stop and faff about with the ticket/payment machine.
i drove down solo from Calais to Honfleur this Sunday, and the paege aire just outside Le Havre was a mess, as the payment machines were malfunctioning, and there was a big queue at each "pay" barrier, i was surprised at how many french cars did not seem to have a "doofer"
there were about six barriers there, 2no "doofer" barriers, one for the 30kph and one for lorries but it looked like someone had pulled into the 30kph barrier by mistake (or chancing their arm) and everyone was trying to reverse back away from them.
i just managed to notice the mayhem as i was driving into the 30kph barrier, and was able to swerve over to the far side and sail through the other barrier where a lorry had previously been 
on another note, does anyone else lose track of whether you are going through an entry or exit to a paege section of toll road with a "doofer"?
obviously at the start of a journey it is clear, but after several paege barriers on a journey i lose track and start to think that a long section of motorway has been free of charge (i wish)
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
@Hells Bells, That sounds rather like Turin as well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
@Hells Bells, yes, it seems there are several sections like this on the motorway network.
no doubt my emovis invoice in a few weeks will let me know which parts i am getting charged for!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We’ve just had a golfing weekend. We have a tag, our friends don’t. He’s a terrier driving, and always wants to be the “lead” car. At each booth we sailed passed and gained a surprising amount of time/distance on them. Every time a couple of minutes later we saw him steaming up behind us at 100mph+ to get past us again. His wife was still going potty at him over it at supper on the first night!
He’s vowed to get a tag for next time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
Every time a couple of minutes later we saw him steaming up behind us at 100mph+ to get past us again. His wife was still going potty at him over it at supper on the first night!
|
What a plonker. I can do without friends like that!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
| Nemisis wrote: |
| @Hells Bells, That sounds rather like Turin as well. |
Definitely. I think we go onto the autostrada just after Oulx and immediately pay a fee, even though we haven't been anywhere yet.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Our last trip down to the South of France had much more confusion and upset at the barriers. At Lyon one of the 30k lanes was closed the other had a queue so quick divert to an empty ordinary Telepeage booth which took a few seconds longer, at Lyon there was a similar problem but saw it in plenty of time so was able to use the right hand 30k lane.
My reason for getting the tag was purely the convenience of not having to put up with the issues of dropping the ticket, dropping my card, having the stress of judging how close I have to get to the terminal on my left so that wife wife can reach while still making sure I dont scrape my wheels on the kerb or having the card refused.
On a normal one and half day journey to the South of France the tag probably saves no more than 5 minutes in time but a huge amount in stress. Travelling over a busy weekend it saves a lot more.
Over many years the following is how I see the trip south
First peage out of Calais the tag is always worth it as there seems to always be at least one English car that hasn't got a clue - But there is always that slight first use worry "Is it going to work?"
Reims - Peage de Courcy - Marginal benefit
Free section around Reims
Reims - Peage d'Ormes- Marginal benefit
Lyon - Peage de Villefranche-Limas - Always busy, Major benefit
Free section through Lyon
Lyon - Peage de Vienne-Reventin - Always busy, Major benefit
Péage de Lancon-Provence - Always busy, Major benefit
Péage de La Barque - Always busy, Major benefit
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
@Doccam, one day I will buy you a beer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
|
Without a tag, you don't get to do wacky races. It's worth it just for that.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hubby once managed to lose the toll ticket somewhere between Beaune and Reims. That was one reason for buying the badge, as we were charged for a much longer journey.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| Doccam wrote: |
We’ve just had a golfing weekend. We have a tag, our friends don’t. He’s a terrier driving, and always wants to be the “lead” car. At each booth we sailed passed and gained a surprising amount of time/distance on them. Every time a couple of minutes later we saw him steaming up behind us at 100mph+ to get past us again. His wife was still going potty at him over it at supper on the first night!
He’s vowed to get a tag for next time. |
Always amuses us when this happens, we've just had three days near Montpellier using a higher car and having to use the non tag gates was slow especially in one where the gates were having trouble and a two out of four were shut
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
We haven't got a doofer, I think my wife likes checking my butt out as I lean out to get the ticket. Her excuse for allowing a big gap is protecting the alloys.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Also really like having the tag when we're pulling the caravan, I follow the lorry lane which tend to be wider than the normal ones and with an 8ft wide van it's always a bit nervy going through standard tolls.
Charged as Class 2 and generally works well - odd instance when it decides we're a lorry and need to press a button
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
@robs1's point about a hire car - I can't recall now - but is the doofer associated with a particular car or can you swap between? The glue on ours has come loose - combination of car standing in the sun and having to remove it for a replacement windscreen. So while we've reattached it, was thinking there' no need real need for a permanent solution - and if can use in a occasional hire car that might be an added bonus.
FYI - for those, like me and @Timc, who do have that nervousness at the first French toll, I've reduced the stress this year as a by-product of travelling the M6 toll road a few weeks ago. "Tag not recognised" comes up on the screen as you go to pay - which tells me it is at least being read!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
@Arctic Roll, not associated with a particular car = we changed car last winter and didn't need to or do anything.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
| Arctic Roll wrote: |
| @robs1's point about a hire car - I can't recall now - but is the doofer associated with a particular car or can you swap between? The glue on ours has come loose - combination of car standing in the sun and having to remove it for a replacement windscreen. So while we've reattached it, was thinking there' no need real need for a permanent solution - and if can use in a occasional hire car that might be an added bonus. |
I am currently with Fulli and only use my tag in France. With Fulli you have to have a car reg recorded but for use on the normal motorways it doesn't match the reg no. I've used mine quite a few times with hire cars with no problems. Just have to remember to take some BluTack to temporarily fix to windscreen. In countries where it is matched Snowheads, in previous posts, have stated that they have sat in the hire companys car parks, logged in their account and changed the recorded reg no to match the hire car and then successfully used it
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| terrygasson wrote: |
i have had a "doofer" for about 10years now, and normally even with someone in the left hand seat, it is so much easier than having to stop and faff about with the ticket/payment machine.
i drove down solo from Calais to Honfleur this Sunday, and the paege aire just outside Le Havre was a mess, as the payment machines were malfunctioning, and there was a big queue at each "pay" barrier, i was surprised at how many french cars did not seem to have a "doofer"
there were about six barriers there, 2no "doofer" barriers, one for the 30kph and one for lorries but it looked like someone had pulled into the 30kph barrier by mistake (or chancing their arm) and everyone was trying to reverse back away from them.
i just managed to notice the mayhem as i was driving into the 30kph barrier, and was able to swerve over to the far side and sail through the other barrier where a lorry had previously been
on another note, does anyone else lose track of whether you are going through an entry or exit to a paege section of toll road with a "doofer"?
obviously at the start of a journey it is clear, but after several paege barriers on a journey i lose track and start to think that a long section of motorway has been free of charge (i wish) |
heading to Les Menuires for the New Years Day Week, my GPS shows me another route where we could (theoretically) save around an hour (yeap, it was so bad). After around 40 min, i went through the barriers so many times, that i really never understood if i was driving in the highway or not, or if i missed something and made circles around the same spot
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'm sure how much it is going to spread but the autoroute from Chambery to Geneva now has no tickets to collect. Your numberplate is scanned on entry and you only pay on exit. Just push your debit card onto the reader and you are away in 5 seconds.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
Folks - we already have an Emovis tag but need to take a second car for our next trip down to French Alps = need second tag. Is the leshuttle Emovis deal still the lowest cost / best option given we only make one or two trips / year and mainly France? Just trying to tick off one or two minor points whilst the crew decide which apartment we should book...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@JP Wolf, I’m with Bip&Go and have just been offered a second tag on the same account for a 25% discount off the purchase price. I don’t need one but 2 tags on the same account would only mean 1 monthly activation fee I presume. Maybe Emovis will do the same thing but they certainly don’t have a reputation for being the cheapest
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
