will our Visa work for the toll booths and gas stations in France

Steve - I found it to be hit-and-miss in France. More with gas stations than on the Autoroutes. Until we get Visas with chips, I think we're going to have such problems.

I suggest you carry some cash in reserve. I know you know this, but for others who read this post, get your gas (hopefully diesel) at the big box stores on the outskirts of towns. Carrefour, etc. Buying gas from the Autoroute gas stations is much more expensive, although your Visa will work.

Thanks Doug!

I read RS and saw his notes at buying at the Big Box stores (although I don't know the name of the BB stores in France.If you can remember a few more?)

We will have a lot of driving to do, and I don't want to pay cash for gas(or tolls (I hope they rent me a diesel), and I would rather use the VISA on the big tolls.

I had reservations thru Auto Europe for a rental at a Sixt ourfit, but now I am changing my pickup location. AE did not know if the car was going to be diesel. Diesel is a must in my book!

The safest assumption for you to make is that, as Doug said, it will be hit or miss in France. That will prevent you from being at the toll booth and your Visa isn't working and 5 cars pull up behind you with French drivers wondering what your problem is. Try your Visa, of course. But you want to avoid a situation where you first pump €50 of gas, then find your Visa won't work (I'm thinking of a manned gas station where you pump first and then pay). This can lead to a tense problem if you've already pumped €50 in gas and you don't have €50 in cash on you.

Steve - I'm not replying by PM because the topic should be useful to a lot of people contemplating driving in France this year and it hasn't been covered recently.

The "big box" stores are like Wal-Mart or Costco here. There are several chains - Carrefour, I've mentioned, Intermarche, E.Leclerc, etc. They're pretty recognizable and usually include "hypermarche" in their signage. They're on the outskirts of larger towns, so if you get off the Autoroutes at "directional" exits, i.e. "Avignon Nord" or "Caen Ouest", you're likely to see them or at least billboards with directions.

As for Autoeurope, at least request a diesel on your reservation. They're a lot more common in France and fuel is about 10 percent cheaper.

Guys...thanks!

I agree...better to be safe than sorry. Use the attended stations and booths. I'll play with the cards at the gas stations, but won't screw around at the toll booths!

I always carry at least 100EU with me as a backup, and I take two different VISA's (2 seperate banks),and my debit cards.

Kent, I am big and ugly, so if someone wants to honk at me they had better look out! (Actually, my wife keeps me in line, and I know I have to be a "good boy" when I am traveling.)

Doug, great tip on how to find the Big Box stores!

My buddy in Germany just Emailed me this answer to the same question that I posted" very good question... I will ask my French friend; Stephane. I do remember the problems at various places and the double enter button solution. Our EC debit card will not work some places in Italy because they "require" a 5 digit PIN code and ours is 4 digit...However our bank is owned by the large Italian bank group Unicredita...The automated gas stations still bother me as they sometimes won't work after you have entered all the data and the card has been "read"...which I guess is a little paranoid."

"Chip-and-PIN" cards are now the European standard and work in 24/24 7j/7 unmanned pumps. At these pumps you select the grade of gas, insert the card, enter your number, select if you want a receipt, remove the card and pour the gas. Wait for a receipt if you requested one.

If it is a petrol station where you have a manned pay booth, they will NORMALLY be okay with non-chip and PIN cards PROVIDED the attendant realises that the card is not a Chip-and-PIN. We used to be able to use our old UK non-chip and PIN cards in this way (France introduced Chip-and-PIN before the UK) but obviously have not done so for over 5 years.

Supermarkets commonly with gas stations are Carrefour, Leclerc, Super-U, Champion, Auchan, Géant, Intermarché. Some are unmanned, self-service only on Sundays.

If stuck and desperate at an unmanned station but you have cash, wait for a Frenchman to fill up and ask him if he'll put some gas on his card in exchange for cash. Most will help you out. Especially if you flash a shapely leg. Gender irrelevant. LOL.

Remember on Sundays at the big box stores, that there is no gas station attendant on duty. No cash - no gas!
Our credit card also would not work in the Paris metro at locations with no attendants. Luckily we scrounged up enough coins.
The toll booths will take paper and coin euros. Didn't try the credit card.

Wow, thanks everybody for all the tips!

Phil, my legs are not that good, but I'll make sure that my wife has her legs waxed, and is wearing shorts (if you promise me the wearther will be good the last two weeks of May!)

The bottom line is that I need to make sure that I have the cash when I pull up to the pumps.