Motorcycle Toll Tags

Do Motorbikes Pay Tolls?

If you're a motorcyclist planning a trip to Europe, it's important to research how to pay a motorbike toll on toll routes before you go. Just like cars, motorbikes need to pay a bike toll to travel on toll roads on the continent. While this may seem straightforward, it's not quite so simple to pay a motorbike toll as it is when you're in a car. This is why many motorcyclists choose the benefits of a toll tag.

Why Use Motorcycle Tags?

So, what are the benefits of tags to pay a motorbike toll? They help you avoid a number of frustrating scenarios, such as the following.

Scenario 1 - You've taken a ticket on entry with your biker gloves on, only to lose grip of the ticket with your gloves or have it blow away as your ride off. As you approach the exit, you're charged a 'full length of road charge' as they won't know where you joined the road without your ticket.

Scenario 2 - You reach the toll machine and have to remove your biker gloves to reach your cash or card and pay for your toll. You then have to put your card or cash away and your gloves back on all before the barrier goes back down.

Scenario 3 - You get near enough to the toll machine to insert card or cash only to be misclassed. You would need to press the intercom in the lane, wait while they answer and explain what has happened in a foreign language over the intercom.

Being registered with a toll tag enables motorcyclists to avoid all of these scenarios.

How Does a Toll Tag for Motorbikes Work?

Motorcycle Toll Tags in France - Liber-t tag

Motorcyclists using the automated lane just need to put the tag in their top jacket pocket, facing it the correct way as described in the instructions it came with. The transponder at the barrier will read the tag through your jacket! It's important to ride in the middle of the lane and get as close to the barrier as is safe. Take care that there are no other vehicles or bikes in the lane as the equipment in the lane may register you as a larger vehicle by accident which would lead to a car charge (Class 1).

It's also essential to check which roads motorbikes are allowed to use. For example, motorbikes are forbidden on the A86 tunnel as the height clearance makes it unsafe for motorcyclists and you must use the designated motorbike lanes on the Pont de Tancarville and the Pont de Normandie to be not charged the car rate.

A handy feature of the toll tag is the ability to check your transactions in the 'My Account' area a few days after your journey. This allows you to check you've been charged correctly or request a toll adjustment if you were incorrectly classed. Please note, you can only request a toll adjustment if you used the non-height-restricted Liber-t lane as all vehicles using the 2-metre car only height-restricted lane will be classed as a car with no option to adjust this retroactively. Find out more about French toll tags here.

Motorcycle Toll Tags in Spain and Portugal - VIA-T tag

Motorcyclists using the automated lane just need to put the tag in their top jacket pocket, facing it the correct way as described in the instructions it comes with. Again, ensure you are riding in the centre of the lane and ride right up to the barrier without any other vehicles or motorbikes in the lane. Find out more about Spanish and Portuguese toll tags here.

Find out more information about how toll tags work or read our FAQs and buy a tag today.