Highway Tolls: Is The ‘Splitting Your Trip’ Method Really Worth It?

As the cost of travel continues to rise, many drivers are seeking ways to cut costs, particularly on highway tolls. One common strategy involves splitting up the journey to save money, but is it truly economical? This method entails taking an exit midway through the highway, paying the toll at that point, turning around at the roundabout, and then re-entering the highway with a new ticket. According to autoroute-eco.com, this technique can result in savings of up to 20% of the total cost. To assess the effectiveness of this approach, La Dépeche examined the tariffs of Vinci Autoroutes on major routes in southern France. For example, a standard trip from Perpignan-south to Toulouse south-east via the A9 and A61 costs €22.20. However, by using the splitting technique with two stops (at Narbonne sud and Carcassonne est), the price drops to €20.70, saving €1.50 on a journey of approximately 200 km. The impact of this strategy becomes more pronounced on longer journeys. For instance, a 270 km route between Montpellier and Vienne can be made significantly cheaper by making three stops (at Nîmes, Orange centre, and Valence sud), reducing the cost from €31.70 to €26.30, a saving of €5.40. While multiple exits do lead to savings, drivers must consider the additional time required and the increased fuel consumption. Ultimately, it comes down to an individual assessment of financial benefits.