toll road with rental car

I do not think the free flow system will be implemented when you're here, but if it is you can either pay online or at paystations along the way

We stayed in Paris then took the train out to Rennes. We rented a car in Rennes, France through Enterprise two weeks ago and drove through Brittany and Normandy. Once we were in the Rouen area and then on to Lille, we encountered lots of toll roads. All you do is tap your credit card, and you are on your way. Very easy.

It’s not very expensive if you pick up and drop off a rental in France with different locations, but I understand picking up and dropping off in different countries is expensive. We dropped the car in Lille then took the train to Belgium.

thank you all for information. I also will go through A4 and it is flow-free already. So seems I can either pay at toll booth or from toll road website.

Not only is the free flow system not yet in service on the A13, but this highway has been closed to traffic for several days due to significant cracks in the roadway.

Agree with KD.

hey hey fun
please check driving rules and laws for the different countries you plan to be in.
do you need and IDP (international driving permit), translation of your driver's license in their language, go to AAA.com or CAA.com
to obtain same day. $25, 2 passport size photos for each driver. be on the safe side and have on. some ugly stories out there, friends of friends didn't have one at rental car desk and denied car, another one stopped by local police for any reason, asked they had and let them go on their way. another one didn't have and car taken back to rental shop. another rental may not ask and rent to you. you just never know, why have a vacation ruined.
read up about renting one country and returning to another country how much will cost $$$$$$$. few years ago friends did that, rented car in the french basque area and returned to barcelona spain, cost them $800 OUCH.
we drove venice to lake garda, pulled a tag from toll machine (had no clue what to do) kept tag and went off hiway/freeway near lake garda, ran tag thru machine and we paid cash or debit card, can't remember. keep it close by. easy peasy and off we went to bardolino and it's annual wine festival for weekend.
good luck, you'll be in crazy paris with all the crowds for olympics, summer vacations, go with the flow. we loved amsterdam, been
twice. have a great time
aloha

If your rental does not have the proper permissions to drive in Paris you risk a large fine. Be advised.

If the toll road is open you can pay with either card or cash, but you must make sure you are in the correct lane for each. If the rental company has a free flow pass, unlikely in foreign country, and that system is up, you can avoid paying direct. If not, and you don't pay the rental company will be billed, and they will pass that on to you along with a service charge and any added fees for the delay in payment.

Thanks princess pupule and KGC.

I have US driver license, I got impression that I don't need any translation for driver license, at least before pandemic, I drove a few different countries in Europe, I didn't see anyone ask me for translation. Is there any particular restriction in France?

I will drive from Netherland to Cologne to Luxembourg and to Paris. I plan to stay at zone 2 and use public transportation in Paris city center, permission is required by Paris only or France?

you may have an impression but French law is either an official translation by specific parties or an IDP, Germany has specific laws too which require one.

you don't need home insurance until it burns down, but at least that is optional. Having authority to drive isn't.

I plan to stay at zone 2

Zone 2 is wholly within the Paris Low Emission Zone, which requires a "Crit'air" sticker. There is no automated enforcement (no cameras and the like), the fine is 68€, and the rule only applies Mon-Fri 8:00-20:00 so if you drive in/out outside of these hours, you don't need to worry at all.

There is a way to comply: you can apply for a sticker online once you know your car's registration no. and have the paperwork that comes with the rental car.
https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/ is the official site. Cost is 4.76€, and you are supposed to get a "provisional" certificate immediately upon completion of the application.

fun,
Please listen to Nigel and princess pupule.
You will pay big time to rent a car in one country and drop off in another. Do two different rentals. Europcar is a good consolidator to search and use. And don't let the $25.00 (approx) cost of an International Driving Permit deter you from getting one. We have been to Europe many times and always get one. If you get stopped by a policeman while driving, you can get a big ticket for not complying with French law. Don't be pennywise and pound foolish. They are easy to get with AAA. You don't need to be a member to get one there.
Re toll roads, we have always been able to use our credit card to tap and pay at the toll stations. Be sure you have a card with no foreign transaction fees. Most credit card providers offer such a card. The autoroute s in France are great for travel (except for the tolls, of course). However, if you have time, we love taking the D roads most routes because they are more scenic. (Not all areas. Check out viamichelin.com for route options.) If there is a scenic option the website will usually point it out.
Safe and happy journey!

fun,
p.s. On any site showing route options, the time it takes to get from place to place is usually an underestimate. They don't factor in stops for gas, potty breaks, meals, etc. And they don't seem to account for heavy traffic times, unless you are checking it out in the moment.

fun,
p.p.s. The law requiring a translation of your d/l or and IDP WAY predates the Covid epidemic. We got one for a trip in 1974, and it wasn't a new thing then.

Thank you all for information @ Nigel @balso and @Judy

After reading all replies, I definitely do not want to get into trouble in case police stops us. I plan:
1. get IDP from AAA before I leave
2. For "Crit'air", I will arrive Paris around 8pm and use public transportation after that, and on the date I leave Paris, probably 7:30am, so it seems I don't need "Crit'air", but may apply it online once I get rental car, I probably will not get the physical sticker, but I think the website said confirmation email should be good if being asked.

a lot good information I even didn't think about them once people mentioned here. Thank you all.