Driving on French highways is smooth, fast… and often expensive. On long road trips, tolls can quickly add up, sometimes costing €50 to €100 or more in a single journey.
But many travelers don’t realize there’s a simple trick that can help reduce these costs.
It’s called the “Salami Technique,” and it works by breaking your journey into smaller sections instead of driving long uninterrupted stretches on toll roads.
With a bit of planning, this method can help you lower your toll fees while also turning your drive into a more flexible and scenic travel experience.
What is the Salami Technique?
The Salami Technique is a strategy where instead of driving long distances on toll roads and paying a high fee at the end, you divide your journey into smaller segments. By frequently exiting and re-entering the toll roads, you pay for shorter distances each time, which can result in a lower total cost.
How to Apply the Salami Technique
1. Plan Your Route: Before you start your journey, map out your route and identify the toll gates where you can exit and re-enter. Tools like Google Maps or Waze can be very helpful in this planning stage.2. Exit and Re-enter Frequently: Drive a certain distance on the toll road, then exit at a toll gate, and re-enter the toll road. Repeat this process throughout your journey. The key is to pay for shorter sections of the toll road.
3. Use Local Roads When Possible: Between toll road segments, you can also use local roads to connect to the next toll road entry point. This not only saves on tolls but also gives you a chance to see more of the local scenery and perhaps discover hidden gems along the way.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages:
- Cost Savings: By dividing your trip into shorter segments, you can significantly reduce the toll fees.
- Flexibility: You can make more stops along the way, giving you the chance to explore more places.
- Local Experience: Traveling on local roads can offer a more authentic experience of the French countryside.
Disadvantages:
- Time-Consuming: Exiting and re-entering the toll roads takes extra time, which can lengthen your travel duration.
- Complex Planning: This technique requires careful planning and good navigation skills to ensure you don’t get lost.
- Increased Fuel Consumption: Constantly stopping and starting can lead to higher fuel consumption, potentially offsetting some of the savings on tolls.
Example: How Much Can You Save?
For example, on a long drive from Paris to Lyon, staying on the toll highway for the entire route can cost around €35–€45.
By exiting and re-entering the highway at selected points along the way, some drivers manage to reduce the total toll cost by 10–30%.
Savings vary depending on the route and exits used, but on longer journeys, the difference can be noticeable.
Why the Salami Technique Works
French toll systems don’t always calculate prices strictly by distance. Some uninterrupted highway sections include higher tariff zones, which is why breaking your journey into smaller segments can sometimes reduce the total cost.
When This Technique Is Worth Using
The Salami Technique works best when:
• You’re driving long distances
• You’re not in a rush
• You enjoy scenic detours
• You want to make short stops along the way
It’s less useful for short trips or when time is more important than savings.
Important to Know
The Salami Technique doesn’t always guarantee big savings. On some routes, toll prices are similar regardless of exits, so it’s always smart to compare before using it.
Quick Tips to Save on French Tolls
• Use toll calculators before your trip
• Combine highway driving with national roads (N-roads)
• Avoid peak holiday travel days
• Consider scenic routes between toll sections
Travel Smarter Using the Salami Technique
The Salami Technique isn’t about avoiding toll roads completely, it’s about traveling smarter.
If you have extra time and enjoy exploring beyond the highway, this simple strategy can turn an expensive drive into a more affordable and flexible road trip through France.
Sometimes, the best journeys aren’t the fastest ones, but the ones that help you discover more along the way.