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'''France''' is a member state of the [[European Union]] as well as the [[Schengen Agreement]]. It is usually a great country for hitchhiking. There are many friendly car and truck drivers. Drivers have to pay toll on motorways (except in [[Bretagne|Brittany]]), and you can get a ride quite easily at some ''[[Péage|barrières de péage]]'' (toll stations). When hitchhiking on local roads, you might face some difficulties sometimes, though. One of the commonly known barriers for traveling in France (as in any many foreign countrycountries) is a the language - you might wanna learn some basic phrases before you off on the road in France.

== ''Autoroutes, péages and barrières de péage ==__TOC__'', 'Péage'péages'' and ([http://cs1.imtranslator.net/SL/Free_Projects/169679760/cs_10132017_15_58_47_1.wav?param1=001024 audio]) is a French word for ''barrières de péagetoll'' ==. It is also commonly used as referring to [[toll station]]s.

In France, most of the motorways are toll roads which are the fastest way to hitch across the country. There are two types of toll stations on péages. First, there are big ones where all traffic has to stop to pay a fee (or to get a ticket) - these are ''barrières de péage'Péage''' ([http://frenchand usually they are excellent spots to get a long-distance ride and make it really easy to hitchhike during the night.aboutThey are often located near big cities on the autoroute.com/library/media/wavs/peage.wav]) Another type is a French word for ''side barrier situated on all exits in the toll''part of the motorway. It On latter ones traffic is also commonly used as referring much smaller, therefore one can expect a longer waiting time, although sometimes congested toll stations of the first type can be difficult to [[toll station]]shitch from due to heavy traffic.

In FranceTo reach the ''barrière de péage'', most you may need to walk along the motorway; with a help of a proper map check if the motorways are toll roads which are the fastest way distance needed to hitch across the countrybe walked is not too long. There are two types of toll stations It is illegal to walk on péages. First, there are big ones where all traffic has to stop to pay a fee side lane of the motorway (same is valid for some parts of national roads (''voie express'' or to get a ticket) - these are ''barrières de péagevoie rapide'' ) in France); if police sees you, you will be driven somewhere safe and usually they are excellent spots may be fined for 11 to get a long-distance ride and make it really easy to hitchhike during the night40€. They Péage toll stations are often located near big cities on the autoroute. Another type is considered a side barrier situated on all exits in the toll part of the motorway, and legally you do not have the right to solicit rides there. On latter ones traffic You may be asked to wait in the parking area which is much smallerafter each ''barrière de péage''. In practice, therefore one can expect a longer waiting this is rarely enforced (maybe 5% of the time), although sometimes congested most toll stations (the first type) can be a difficult place station employees simply want to hitch from, toomake sure you're not endangering yourself or others.

To reach the ''barrière de péage'', you may need to walk along the motorway; with a help of a proper map check if the distance needed to be walked is not too long. It is actually illegal to walk on a side lane of the motorway (same is valid for some parts of national roads (''voie express'') in France); if police sees you, you will be driven somewhere safe and may be fined for ~90€. Péage toll stations are considered a part of the motorway, and legally you do not have the right to solicit rides there. You may be asked to wait in the parking area which is after each ''barrière de péage''. In practice, this is rarely enforced (maybe 5% of the time), most toll station employees simply want to make sure you're not endangering yourself or others. Having a sign with your destination (or the next city) is recommended and will distinguish you as a serious hitchhiker, and not a vagrant. You will definitely need it if the road splits. The fastest way to travel on a péage is from one ''barrière de péage'' to another.

The fastest way to travel on a péage is from one ''barrière de péage'' to another. Hitchhiking options are:

* If you prefer a direct approach you can dash across the lanes one at a time until you're at a busy lane, stand next to the toll machine and talk to the drivers when they stop to pay (usually it is not allowed to hitch from the toll machines but it is generally often tolerated).

== [[License plates|Number plates]] Personal Experiences ==French number plates end with a number of the ''départementIn my experience it'' the car is registered s pretty much impossible to go hungry inFrance. For example, [[Paris]]ian cars end with numbers 75, 78, 91, 92While hitching I almost ALWAYS get 10 or 5 euros thrown my way, 93, 94 and 95once even 60 euro! The key is to imply you have no money (helps the guilt if you actually don't have any like I did). See Wikipedia articles on[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_vehicle_registration_plates French vehicle registration plates] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_arrondissements_of_France Arrondissements of France]. New number plates are in Ask where you can use since mid-2009. They have an optional reference to the department on the blue stripe at the right sideinternet or a phone, but they technically are not part of the plateWITHOUT PAYING, and do not necessarily refer to 90% of the ownertime they'll tell you "I's address - one may for example choose to put ll drop you off at the number of the department where hestation/road/she was born. Cars that belong to companiestown with 10 euros, including rental ones usually bear "60alright?" It's not really possible without having a good standard of communication though, so either hope they know English or learn some French! I also wouldn't recommend doing "76it" since tax on corporate vehicles is if you have no money or already had access to the lowest thereinternet or a phone, solely because of guilt. The existing old plates will be still Even though I was genuine in use for a while.my requests I didn't feel happy taking their money, but food is food!'' - Aaronishappy 

==Issues with Law Enforcement==There ''France is great because it has roundabouts, which makes for slow traffic on the smaller roads. Of course, the big highways are three law enforcement agencies to contend with off-limits in Francemany cases, but that's alright. The Police NationaleBeautiful countryside, the Gendarmerie good people. For me I enjoyed eating lots of cheese and the Douanelots of baguettes, as cliche as that may sound.'' - [[User:Chael777|Chael]]

The ''Don'Gendarmeriet be afraid to approach people at service stations just because your French is weak (or, like me, non-existent). After a quick 'bonjour', or 'vous allez ou?' is a military agency tasked with policing all of the French Republic where the population is lower than 20,000people were happy to help. If you treat them Many people didn't speak English, with courtesysome I got by in Spanish, they will most likely be professional and courteous with 3 or 4 we had no language in returncommon at all. Sometimes they will offer Nevertheless, people were still kind and willing to take you to a safer or easier location to hitchhike from. Only if you are creating a hazard will they issue fineshelp.'' - [[User:Justunein|Justunein]]

EU, EEA, Swiss, Andorran and Monégasque citizens ''I can live and work in also said France without restrictions. Non-EU citizens who are from Albaniais very good country for hitchhiking, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Israel, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Taiwan and Uruguay people are permitted to work in France during their 3 month visa exemption periodvery friendly. For more informationEven that they do not speak a lot of English, visit the [http://wwwthey will try to help you.diplomatieOne driver also take me in one restaurant near high way even that I did not want that he spend money to by me something to eat.gouv.fr/en/france/coming-It was nice to cross from Spain to-france/getting-a-visa/article/foreign-nationals-holding-ordinary French Ministry of Foreign Affairs] websiteGermany in two days with hitchhiking.''

"My Hitch in France went marvellously! Check this* [http://www.asf.fr/shared/pdf/CarteReseau.pdf Le Réseau ASF], I was walking along the street in Nimes, minding my own business, and a woman pulled up in a car and asked me if I wanted to hitch to Marseille! She asked me!! When we got there, she showed me around and I slept on her sofa (whenever I tell French men about this they invariably respond PDF file that shows all 'Did you 'barrières de péage'fork'' her?')on major routes in Southern France.* [http://www.vinci-autoroutes. The next day, I got 5 hitches from Marseille to Limans, and for 3 of them all I had to do was hold up a cardboard sign and the first car that came picked me upcom/system/files/pdf/2012/12/carte_reseau_vinci_autoroutes. I was going to write that it's like taking the buspdf Service Stations Network], ''but you have to wait for busses!'' As a bonus, the people who I hitched with were really nice, so much so pdf file that one of them lied and said that my French wasn't so bad! Oh yeah, and the bit about French bakeries is incompleteshows all service station on major routes in southern France. They have pastries round the back too!!"