Between the A13, the A14, the A79 and the next deployments planned on the A69 or the A412, free-flow tolls are gradually becoming established on French motorways. The problem: forgetting to pay within 72 hours means exposing yourself to a fine which can climb up to €375. The simplest parade? An electronic toll badge, which pays the bill automatically, each time you pass. And at the moment, Ulys is offering it for 6 months.
In 2026, the electronic toll badge will no longer just save time at barriers, it will become real security against forgotten payments. On the market, it is Ulys, a subsidiary of VINCI Autoroutes, which largely dominates, with more than 7 million motorists equipped (see our opinion on Ulys).
The good news is that until May 31, 2026, your electronic toll badge is offered for 6 months with the code ULYSO625. It’s without any commitment and free in the months when you don’t use it.
Furthermore, this offer is timely: with May 1st and May 8th being a Friday, the bridges are lined up and the main roads like the A7, the A10 or the A13 will quickly fill up. You might as well have the badge stuck on the windshield before departure, and pass the tolls without thinking about it.
To take advantage of it, click here:
I’m taking advantage of the 6 months free offer at Ulys
Concretely, beyond the 6 months offered, the badge costs €2.20 per month, and only in the months when you take the motorway. The other months, it’s zero euros. No setup fees, no minimum duration, and no penalties if you decide to stop partway through. In short, an offer which does not commit you to anything, but which can save you from very unpleasant surprises.
Free flow: why the electronic toll badge is becoming essential
If you follow the news at all, you should know that since June 2024 on the A14, then December 2024 on the A13, the Paris-Normandy axis has been entirely free-flowing. In other words, these sections of highway no longer include any barriers. The old toll booths have been replaced by gantries equipped with cameras that read your license plate (or badge) as you pass, without stopping or slowing down.
These installations are also present on the A79 in Allier, at exit no. 36 of the A4 in Boulay-Moselle, or at the tolls of Tours Nord on the A10 and Tonnay-Charente on the A837. And this is only the beginning, since this trend is accelerating: the A69 (Toulouse–Castres), the A40 in Haute-Savoie and the A412 (Machilly–Thonon-les-Bains) will very soon be equipped with it.
Ultimately, all new French motorway concessions will switch to this model. The problem is that this system is not “toll-free”, it is now “barrier-free”. If you do not have a badge, you have 72 hours to pay for your trip on the dealership’s website (Sanef, ALIAE, etc.) or at a tobacconist in the Nirio network.
I’m taking advantage of the 6 months free offer at Ulys
After this period, you risk €10 in compensation if you pay within 15 days, €90 beyond that, and up to €375 in an increased fixed fine if nothing is settled after two months (decree no. 2020-1494). All for each unpaid journey: a forgotten return trip means two procedures. By taking the Ulys badge, everything is adjusted automatically.
The gantry detects the box, the invoice arrives at the end of the month, and everything is centralized on the Ulys mobile application. You therefore have no plate to register online, no form to fill out, no risk of forgetting. Today, this is the only way to be completely safe from unpleasant surprises, and it is also the reason why more and more drivers are taking the plunge even before their first free flow passage.
Ulys: much more than a badge for passing tolls
Beyond its practical side for avoiding fines in the event of forgetting to pay on free-flow sections, the Ulys badge obviously works on all classic tolls on the French network. Simply stick it on the windshield of your vehicle (two minutes, adhesive support provided), take the dedicated lanes marked with a yellow “t” and slow down to 30 km/h for the barrier to rise by itself.
No more looking for change, the window you open in the rain, or the lost ticket that blocks everyone behind you and raises stress to its maximum level. In addition to its use on motorways, the Ulys badge gives access to more than 1,000 equipped car parks (stations, airports, shopping centers), with automatic entry-exit and centralized billing on a single account.
It’s as practical for everyday trips as for weekends in the city. If you are going on vacation abroad, you have two options that allow you to use the badge: €2 per month for Spain and Portugal, and €2.40 per month for Italy. Again, you only pay for the months you use them, and you can turn them off at any time.
If you have an electric car, the Passe Electric Ulys formula gives you access to more than 30,000 charging stations in France, on and off motorways. Finally, the Ulys application (free on iOS and Android) allows you to centralize everything. From the latter, you have a quick overview and monitoring of your consumption, real-time notifications, traffic information, and the location of motorway areas, parking lots and charging stations.
In short, you understand: at a time when barriers are disappearing one after the other, the electronic toll badge is almost essential. With the 6 months offered, you have a great opportunity to familiarize yourself with it and test it on the free flow portions before total generalization. A small box, two minutes of installation, and no more anxiety at €375.
To find out more, click here:
I’m taking advantage of the 6 months free offer at Ulys
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