Here is where to ride without paying the toll

Yes, there are highway portions, even full highways, which are still Free in France. That is to say thatThere is no toll on these axes. There are not many, but still represent 2,000 km over the 12,000 km of the French road network.

We explain to you.

Two types of highways

Concretely, there are two categories of highways in France. The channels conceded and those that are not.

The highways conceded are managed by private companies (such as SANEF), under contract with the State. These are paid axes. These companies finance the construction, maintenance and exploitation of roads thanks to tolls.

For their part, Free highways are managed directly by the state. It is the taxes that finance the interview.

Why are they free?

These highways are free for a particular reason: they are strategic.

These sections often go through low -populated regions that require toll -free urban axes to develop economically and socially.

It is important to note that Services on free sections are often less developed : more modest rest area, etc.

The list of free motorways

• A75: Between Clermont-Ferrand and Béziers.
• A31: Between Toul and the Luxembourg border (attention certain sections in the south are chargeable).
• A20: Between Vierzon and Montauban.
• A84: Between Rennes and Caen.
• A28 (partial): between Abbeville and Alençon.
• A35: Between Strasbourg and the Swiss border.

End of concessions

The situation of the 12,000 km of highways could evolve in the coming years. Indeed, among the 9,300 kilometers of the paying network, almost 90 % are managed by seven companies, whose concession contracts will reach their end between 2031 and 2036.

This means that concessions will be put into play in the next ten years. With changes on the number of kilometers of free highways? In 2006, the A20 section between Brive and Montauban thus became free after being conceded.

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