French toll roads introduce automated payment

Regular British visitors to France are now offered the opportunity to take advantage of the automated payment toll lanes. The French toll road operator, Sanef, has launched a UK-based initiative, selling ‘Liber-t’ tags to UK motorists.

The opportunity comes as part of the nationwide French movement to implement a direct debit payment system for tolls, in place of the current widely-used option to pay by debit or credit card at the point of sale. French toll road operators hope to have completed this transition by the end of 2012, where payments will be automatically debited from French bank accounts.

UK residents who make frequent trips to France are invited to opt for this automated monthly debit service via Sanef’s wholly-owned British subsidiary, Sanef Tolling, which will accept payments solely from UK bank accounts.

The service is based on the use of a small electronic transponder (Tag) that should be attached to the interior of the windscreen, behind the rear-view mirror. Upon reaching the toll barriers, the unique reference will be read by a device which will recognise the car owner as being a carrier of the Liber-t Tag and will open the barrier automatically, allowing them to pass without having to make payment there and then. At the end of the month, an invoice will be sent to the Tag holder comprising of all toll fees collated in that month and payment will be automatically taken via direct debit from a UK bank account.

More information about Sanef Tolling and the automated toll system can be found on the organisation’s website.