Driving in France can be a joy, but stopping at every toll booth certainly isn’t. Bip&Go makes it much easier. This electronic toll badge lets you pay automatically at French motorway tolls, so you can use dedicated Télépéage lanes without stopping to search for coins, a bank card, or a ticket.
As you approach the toll, the badge is detected automatically, you hear a beep, the barrier opens, and you continue your journey. It is a particularly convenient option if you drive regularly in France, but it can also be useful for a holiday or road trip.
The Bip&Go Liber-t badge works across the French motorway network and can also be used in Spain, Portugal and Italy when the relevant country options are included. It is also accepted at more than 1,300 participating car parks across Europe.
In this guide, I’ll explain how Bip&Go works, where to order a badge, how much it costs, where to place it on your windscreen, how to use it at toll booths and free-flow motorways, and what happens with billing, car parks, rental cars and lost badges.
1. What is Bip&Go and How Does It work?
Bip&Go is an electronic toll payment badge that allows you to pay motorway tolls automatically. The small transponder attaches to the inside of your windscreen and communicates with the toll system as you approach a Télépéage lane.
At a traditional French toll booth, look for the lanes marked with the orange “T” or Télépéage symbol. Slow down as you approach and the system detects your badge. You hear a beep, the traffic light turns green and the barrier opens automatically. There is no need to take a ticket or stop to pay with cash or a bank card.
The toll itself is charged to your Bip&Go account, and your trips and payments can be tracked through your account and the Bip&Go app.
2. Where Can You Order a Bip&Go Badge?
The easiest way to order a Bip&Go badge is online through the official Bip&Go website. You can also subscribe at a Bip&Go branch in France and receive your badge there.
When ordering online, Bip&Go currently states that badges are dispatched within 72 hours, although delivery time depends on the destination. If you subscribe at a branch, you can leave with your badge immediately.
3. How Much Does Bip&Go Cost?
Pay As You Go
For occasional trips, the Pay As You Go plan costs €2.10 for each month in which you use the badge in France. There is no monthly subscription charge in months when you don't use it.
Fixed Price
If you use French motorways more regularly, the Fixed Price plan costs €19.95 per year, charged as one annual payment. Bip&Go displays this as the equivalent of €1.65 per month, but you are actually charged €19.95 at once.
Using Bip&Go outside France
Spain and Portugal can be added for €2.50 per month in months when the badge is used in those countries. Italy is another €2.50 per month when used there. The four-country option therefore covers France, Spain, Portugal and Italy.
Other costs
There is also an activation fee. For the standard France/Spain/Portugal badge it is currently €10, while the four-country version including Italy costs €14 to activate. Delivery costs €6 within mainland France and €10 for deliveries abroad.
One thing occasional users should know: if the badge is not used for 14 consecutive months, Bip&Go charges a €15 non-use fee in the 15th month.
4. Where to Place the Bip&Go Badge in Your Car
The position of your Bip&Go badge matters because it needs to be detected by the toll system. Installing it takes only a few minutes.
Before attaching the holder, clean the inside of your windscreen, ideally around the area behind or next to the rear-view mirror. Make sure the glass is dry and free from dust or grease.
Then attach the plastic holder to the windscreen and place the Bip&Go badge inside it, following the orientation shown in the instructions. The badge should remain in its holder while you drive through toll gates.
If your car has an athermic or heat-reflective windscreen, check for the designated area around the rear-view mirror. These windscreens can interfere with the signal, which is why many cars have a specific section designed for electronic toll badges.
Avoid keeping the badge loose on the dashboard or holding it in your hand when approaching a toll. It may not be detected reliably.
If you regularly use the badge in more than one car, keeping an additional holder makes switching between vehicles much easier.
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| Where to place your Bip&Go badge on your car windscreen. |
5. How to Use Bip&Go at French Toll Booths
Using Bip&Go at a French toll booth is straightforward. As you approach the toll, look for a lane marked with the orange “T” or Télépéage symbol.
Slow down as you approach the lane. The exact speed limit can vary depending on the toll installation, so follow the signs at the toll rather than relying on a fixed speed.
The system detects your Bip&Go badge and you will hear a beep. The traffic light will turn green and the barrier will open automatically, allowing you to continue without stopping to pay.
If the badge is not detected or the barrier does not open, stop safely and use the assistance button or intercom at the toll booth. Do not try to reverse or change lanes while at the barrier.
Some French motorways also use free-flow tolling, where there are no traditional toll booths or barriers. In these areas, cameras and electronic equipment identify your vehicle and the Bip&Go badge can be charged automatically when it is correctly registered and detected.
Still wondering what it looks like in practice? The video below shows how to approach a French toll booth with a Bip&Go badge and what happens when the system detects it.
6. Can You Use Bip&Go in Car Parks?
Bip&Go is not limited to motorway tolls. The badge can also be used at participating car parks in France and other European countries.
Look for the Télépéage symbol at the entrance. When you enter, the system detects your badge and records the transaction. At participating car parks, the badge is detected again when you leave and the parking fee is added to your Bip&Go account.
The exact number of participating car parks can change, so it is worth checking the Bip&Go car park finder before your trip if this is an important feature for you.
7. Can You Use Bip&Go Outside France?
Yes. Bip&Go can also be used outside France, but the countries available depend on the option you choose when subscribing.
With the European option, the same badge can be used for toll payments in:
- France
- Spain
- Portugal
- Italy
This can be particularly useful if you are planning a road trip through several European countries, because you do not need a separate toll badge for each country.
In Spain, the badge works with the Via-T system. In Italy, Portugal and France, it works with the participating toll networks covered by your Bip&Go subscription.
8. Using Bip&Go in a Rental Car or Multiple Cars
Can you use your Bip&Go badge in another car? Yes. The badge is not permanently attached to one vehicle, which means you can move it between compatible cars.
If you are renting a car in France, you can bring your own Bip&Go badge and install it in the rental vehicle. Make sure the badge is correctly positioned on the windscreen before using a toll lane.
One important point: check whether the rental company has already activated its own toll service for the vehicle. If you use the rental company's toll system and your Bip&Go badge at the same time, you could potentially be charged through both systems.
When you return the rental car, remember to remove your Bip&Go badge and take it with you. Otherwise, it can remain active in the vehicle and continue to be associated with toll or parking transactions.
If you regularly switch the badge between family cars, an additional holder can make this much easier.
9. Billing, Invoices and Managing Your Account
Once you start using Bip&Go, your toll and parking charges are linked to your account and paid automatically using your registered payment method. You can keep track of your journeys and charges through your Bip&Go account and mobile app.
From your account, you can:
- View your current and previous invoices
- Check individual toll and parking transactions
- Update your payment details
- Access your payment and VAT documents
- Manage your badge and subscription
This means you don't need to keep track of individual toll payments while travelling. Your journeys are recorded automatically and you can check the details afterwards through your account.
Cancelling Bip&Go
If you no longer need your badge, you can cancel your subscription and return the badge according to Bip&Go's cancellation procedure. Make sure any outstanding charges have been settled before closing your account.
10. What to Do if Your Bip&Go Badge Isn't Working
If your Bip&Go badge isn't detected at a toll booth, don't panic. There are a few simple things you can check first.
If the badge isn't detected:
- Check that the badge is correctly positioned in its holder on the windscreen.
- Make sure nothing is covering or interfering with the badge.
- If your car has an athermic windscreen, make sure the badge is positioned in the designated area.
- If the toll lane doesn't open, stop safely and use the assistance button or intercom rather than trying to pass the barrier.
If the problem continues, contact Bip&Go customer service. They can check whether there is a problem with the badge or your account and advise you on what to do next.
If your Bip&Go badge is lost or stolen
If you lose your badge or it is stolen, contact Bip&Go as soon as possible and have it blocked. This is important because the badge can be used for toll and parking transactions.
You can then arrange for a replacement badge through Bip&Go. Any applicable replacement or administration fees depend on the current terms of your subscription.
11. Tips for Using Bip&Go in France
A few simple habits can make using Bip&Go much easier, especially if you're using it for the first time.
- Follow the signs at toll booths and slow down as you approach the Télépéage lane.
- Keep the badge correctly installed in its holder rather than leaving it loose on the dashboard.
- If your car has an athermic windscreen, use the designated area for electronic toll devices.
- Check your Bip&Go account or app occasionally so you can see your recent toll and parking transactions.
- If you're travelling outside France, make sure your subscription covers the countries you plan to visit before setting off.
- Keep your account details and badge information accessible in case you need to contact customer service while travelling.
And one simple tip that can save you some stress: don't wait until you're approaching your first French toll booth to figure out how the badge works. If you're travelling with Bip&Go for the first time, take a moment to familiarise yourself with the Télépéage signs and the correct lane before you start your journey.
12. What About Free-Flow Tolls in France?
France is also introducing free-flow tolling, meaning you can drive through certain toll sections without stopping at a traditional toll booth. Cameras and sensors above the road automatically detect your vehicle and calculate the toll.
The good news is that your Bip&Go toll tag can also be used on free-flow toll roads in France. The toll is detected automatically and charged through your Bip&Go account, so you don't have to stop or remember to make a separate payment after your journey.
The system is currently used on routes including the A79, the A13/A14 between Paris and Normandy, and the Boulay interchange on the A4.
If you are driving through France regularly, it is worth knowing how these tolls work before your trip.
Is Bip&Go Worth It for Driving in France?
If you're planning to drive through France, a Bip&Go badge can make motorway tolls considerably less stressful. Instead of stopping to pay at each toll booth, you can use the Télépéage lanes and let the system handle the payment automatically.
For an occasional holiday, the Pay As You Go option means you don't have to pay a monthly subscription in months when you don't use the badge. For people who drive through French tolls regularly, the annual Fixed Price plan can make more sense.
The biggest advantage for me is simply the convenience. Once the badge is installed correctly, you don't have to think about finding cash, taking a card out of your wallet or wondering which toll lane to choose. You just follow the Télépéage signs, hear the familiar beep and continue your journey.
And if your road trip continues beyond France, the European options can make the same badge useful in Spain, Portugal and Italy as well.