Buying fuel in France and tolls in France

engineer398

What's the best method of buying Diesel in France.

Is it better to pay in Euros cash or to put on credit / debit card?
Same for the tolls ? Is cash better or put on credit \ debit card?

Thanks

maman

engineer398 wrote: »

What's the best method of buying Diesel in France.

Is it better to pay in Euros cash or to put on credit / debit card?
Same for the tolls ? Is cash better or put on credit \ debit card?

Thanks

I've taken our diesel (called gazole in French) car to France many times.


Whether you pay in cash (euros) or on a card will depend what sort of card you have. The same applies to all other spending. I have a credit card that doesn't charge fees for overseas transactions so I use that. I'm sure you can find out in the travel section of the site which cards are best.


I buy all my diesel at supermarkets in just the same way as you would at home.


Tolls are also much the same as here in that there'll usually be options of paying by card, to a person or throwing cash in. We tend to keep a bag of small change in euros in the car because sometimes you need to just travel a short journey on a toll motorway. When it's a longer journey a card can be convenient.


It's just the same as here really. I rarely use cash except for small purchases (coffees, things in markets, round of drinks) cards for all bigger bills (supermarkets, restaurants etc.) otherwise You're having to take a lot of cash with you or keep topping it up.


So key is which cards you have.


http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-travel-money#bestbuys

engineer398

Thanks maman,

I haven't looked into great detail regarding pre paid cards, maybe something I'll look into.

Will the rate on card be as good as just paying cash?

maman

engineer398 wrote: »

Thanks maman,

I haven't looked into great detail regarding pre paid cards, maybe something I'll look into.

Will the rate on card be as good as just paying cash?

Sorry I don't know about prepaid cards, just ordinary credit cards and debit cards (maybe the link went to the wrong place?). Go up to travel on the banner at the top and you'll find them.


The rate using cards is the bank rate on the day I believe. I suppose it depends how long you're going for and so how much risk there's be carrying cash.

mgdavid

engineer398 wrote: »

Thanks maman,

I haven't looked into great detail regarding pre paid cards, maybe something I'll look into.

Will the rate on card be as good as just paying cash?

Read the link in the previous post !! If you don't want to then I'd say the rate can't be that important to you.
If you drive in France more than a couple of times a year, a Sanef toll tag makes life easy...
https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/

benjus

If you have a fee-free credit/debit card and someone in the passenger seat the tolls are easy. Just drive through a lane marked with the "Carte Bleue" symbol and get the person in the passenger seat to put the toll ticket, then the card in the slot. Not as fast as a Sanef toll tag, but not far off. It's still doable without a passenger, but you'll have to take off your seatbelt and lean right across. Most GB-plated cars seem to form a queue at the cash payment booths, but the card booths are usually clear.

Moto2

benjus wrote: »

If you have a fee-free credit/debit card and someone in the passenger seat the tolls are easy. Just drive through a lane marked with the "Carte Bleue" symbol and get the person in the passenger seat to put the toll ticket, then the card in the slot.

Usually followed by.............
"you weren't close enough again, you're doing it on purpose"

As if

maman

Moto2 wrote: »

Usually followed by.............
"you weren't close enough again, you're doing it on purpose"

As if

:rotfl:helps to have a passenger with long arms!


Reminds me of the time the gendarmes stopped us for a routine check and went to breathalyse my BIL sitting in the passenger seat! Even they managed a smile:).