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== ''Autoroutes'', ''péages'' and ''barrières de péage'' ==

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'' and usually they are excellent spots to get a long-distance ride and make it really easy to hitchhike during the night. They are often located near big cities on the autoroute. Another type is a side barrier situated on all exits in the toll part of the motorway. On latter ones traffic is much smaller, therefore one can expect a longer waiting time, although sometimes congested toll stations (of the first type) can be a difficult place to hitch from, toodue to heavy traffic.

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'' or ''voie rapide'') in France); if police sees you, you will be driven somewhere safe and may be fined for ~90€11 to 40€. 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.

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.  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 exampleWhile hitching I almost ALWAYS get 10 or 5 euros thrown my way, [[Paris]]ian cars end with numbers 75, 78, 91, 92, 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

The '''Police Nationale''' are tasked with policing urban areas with more than 20France is great because it has roundabouts,000 inhabitants, and which makes for slow traffic on the surrounding highway infrastructuresmaller roads. They will rarely stop youOf course, but they the big highways are well known for their less than sympathetic nature and occasionally affiliation with fascist organisations. They are a government agency bound by official targetsoff-limits in many cases, which means but that if you are stopped's alright. Beautiful countryside, they will be looking for reasons to impose finesgood people. Even soFor me I enjoyed eating lots of cheese and lots of baguettes, they have no legal right to stop you engaging in lawful activities as long cliche as you are not creating a hazard or committing some other offencethat may sound. Remain calm and use your right to silence, only asking '''"am I free to go"''' repeatedly, and you should be ok.- [[User:Chael777|Chael]]

The ''Don'Douanes''' are the customs agency for the t be afraid to approach people at service stations just because your French Republic. They patrol close to bordersis weak (or, like me, looking for suspicious activitynon-existent). After a quick 'bonjour', or 'vous allez ou?'They have a right , people were happy to check your Identification if you are within 20km of the border''help. Many people didn't speak English, with some I got by in Spanish, but and with 3 or 4 we had no language in common at all other times they need to have a reasonable suspicion ''(article 78 of the Code de Procédure Pénale)'' before they stop an individual. They are often active on highways and péages going south from [[Belgium]] and [[Luxembourg]]Nevertheless, looking for people transporting large amounts of tobacco or looking for hitchhikers from the were still kind and willing to help.'' - [[NetherlandsUser:Justunein|Justunein]] who may be carrying cannabis. They are however quite professional, and after a few questions about your direction of travel, will let you go on your way.

== Personal Experiences ==''In my experience it's pretty much impossible to go hungry My Hitch in France. While hitching went marvellously! Check this, I almost ALWAYS get 10 or 5 euros thrown was walking along the street in Nimes, minding my wayown business, and once even 60 euroa woman pulled up in a car and asked me if I wanted to hitch to Marseille! She asked me! The key is to imply you have no money ! When we got there, she showed me around and I slept on her sofa (helps the guilt if whenever I tell French men about this they invariably respond 'Did you actually don't have any like I did'fork'' her?'). Ask where you can use the internet or a phoneThe next day, but WITHOUT PAYINGI got 5 hitches from Marseille to Limans, and 90% for 3 of them all I had to do was hold up a cardboard sign and the time they'll tell you "first car that came picked me up. Iwas going to write that it'll drop you off at s like taking the station/road/town with 10 eurosbus, alright?" 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 "it" if but you have no money or already had access to wait for busses!'' As a bonus, the internet or a phonepeople who I hitched with were really nice, solely because so much so that one of guilt. Even though I was genuine in them lied and said that my requests I didnFrench wasn't feel happy taking their moneyso bad! Oh yeah, but food and the bit about French bakeries is foodincomplete. They have pastries round the back too!!'' - Aaronishappy

''I can also said France is great because it has roundabouts, which makes very good country for slow traffic on the smaller roads. Of coursehitchhiking, the big highways people are off-limits in many cases, but very friendly. Even that's alright. Beautiful countrysidethey do not speak a lot of English, good peoplethey will try to help you. For One driver also take me in one restaurant near high way even that I enjoyed eating lots of cheese and lots of baguettes, as cliche as did not want that may soundhe spend money to by me something to eat. It was nice to cross from Spain to Germany in two days with hitchhiking.'' - [[User:Chael777|Chael]]

"My Hitch in France went marvellously! Check this, ''I was walking along the street in Nimes, minding started my own business, and a woman pulled up first hitchhike tour in a car France and asked me if I wanted to hitch to Marseille! She asked me!! When we got there, she showed me around found out that most French people are very kind and I slept on her sofa (whenever I tell French men about this in most cases they invariably respond 'Did are happy to take you ''fork'' her?')with them. The next day, But I got 5 hitches from Marseille think it's really helpful to Limans, speak even a little bit French so you can say want you want and for 3 where you want to go because most of them all I had French people don't like to speak english or maybee they are not able to do was hold up a cardboard sign and . Espacally in the first car that came picked me up. I was going to write that south of france it's like taking the bus, ''but you have also possible to wait travel short distances by train for busses!'' As a bonus, the people who I hitched with were really nicefree, so much so that one because most of them lied and said are not controlled. In case of controlling you can say that my French wasnyou't so re out of money and in most cases they will not send you a bill because it is to complicated for them to find you in your home country. And even if you are in bad! Oh yeah, luck and they will find you the bit about French bakeries price is incompletenot even higher than the ticket for the train. They have pastries round the back too!!"''