Living in the Languedoc:   Driving:   Motorways ( Autoroutes, US Highways)

Most French motorways (Autoroutes) are toll roads. You pick up a ticket from an automatic machine as you drive onto the toll road (péage). When you leave you pay at a toll booth. Cash is quicker but you can pay easily with a carte bancaire and slightly less easily with a credit card.

French motorways are among the most expensive in Europe. They are owned by different companies and prices vary from area to area - sometimes depending on the quality of the road surface. Prices go up at peak times, and motor homes, trailers and caravans cost extra. You can expect to pay around 50 Euros from Calais to the Languedoc. The motorways around major cities are free, so you may have to pay to leave one péage, then pick up a ticket for another one a few miles later. Autoroute tariffs are available from the Association des Societies Françaises at www.autoroutes.fr or for a version in English, here.  For specific areas (including tolls) click on the one of the private companies below:

• Northeast France    Société des Autoroutes du Nord et de l'Est de la France (SANEF).
  Weblink:  http://www.autoroutes.fr/  
• Paris & Normandy Société des Autoroutes Paris-Normandie (SAPN). Weblink:  http://worldserver.oleane.com/sapn/  
• Central France Compagnie Financière et Industrielle des Autoroutes (COFIROUTE). Weblink:  http://www.cofiroute.fr/  
• Southwest France Autoroutes du Sud de la France (ASF), Weblink:  http://www.asf.fr/  
• Southeast France
  Société des Autoroutes Rhône-Alpes (AREA). Weblink:  http://www.area-autoroutes.fr/  
  Société des Autoroutes Paris-Rhin-Rhône (SAPRR). Weblink:  http://www.aprr.fr/  
• Alps Autoroutes et Tunnel du Mont Blanc (ATMB). Weblink:  http://www.autoroutes.fr/  
• Côte d'Azur Société des Autoroutes Estérel, Côte d'Azur, Provence, Alpes (ESCOTA).
  Weblink:  http://www.escota.com//