Just back from Spain via France and thought I would report a good way to refuel. Experienced explorers will doubtless know already, but perhaps some newbies may not. this is for them.
There can be up to 15 or 20 euro cents difference per litre between main road or autoroute filling stations and those at supermarkets - the latter being cheaper as in UK. The snag has always been that pay at the kiosk involves a chicane to get to the small office and may well be impossible with a 12m long (or less) outfit. however, most of the major supermarkets le Clerc, Carrefour, Intermarche and others now have 24/24 self service pumps which do not involve this hazard.
You first need to put yur card into the slot provided. Most will then ask you for choice of language En being used for English. Select this option either by pressing the number on the keypad shown against En or touching the screen if no number is shown. Then (and there are variations in the order things happen) you will be asked for PIN and to confirm ( or Verify - press the key marked V) and the card will be accepted. Then the choice of fuel - diesel/gazole or petrol essence - again either by touching the screen if no number appears next to the choice or using the keypad if it does. You will also be asked if your want a recepit (billet) and to press Verify V if you do - always a good idea. At some stage you card will reappear (perhaps by not very much) and you should remove it.
Then, at last, you can take the nozzle from the pump and start of fill. When complete, return the nozzle, replace cap etc. and wait for the recepit to be printed and delivered. This can take some seconds, so don't panic.
The Le Clerc supermarkets seem to have been particularly well laid out in this respect and are often a little cheaper than the others even if in the same town.
I did not see any choce of grade of diesel (unlike Spain, where there is usually a premium grad at about 0.10 euro more than regular.
So look for the 24/24 sign above the pumps as you approach, and remember which side your filler cap is on !!
There can be up to 15 or 20 euro cents difference per litre between main road or autoroute filling stations and those at supermarkets - the latter being cheaper as in UK. The snag has always been that pay at the kiosk involves a chicane to get to the small office and may well be impossible with a 12m long (or less) outfit. however, most of the major supermarkets le Clerc, Carrefour, Intermarche and others now have 24/24 self service pumps which do not involve this hazard.
You first need to put yur card into the slot provided. Most will then ask you for choice of language En being used for English. Select this option either by pressing the number on the keypad shown against En or touching the screen if no number is shown. Then (and there are variations in the order things happen) you will be asked for PIN and to confirm ( or Verify - press the key marked V) and the card will be accepted. Then the choice of fuel - diesel/gazole or petrol essence - again either by touching the screen if no number appears next to the choice or using the keypad if it does. You will also be asked if your want a recepit (billet) and to press Verify V if you do - always a good idea. At some stage you card will reappear (perhaps by not very much) and you should remove it.
Then, at last, you can take the nozzle from the pump and start of fill. When complete, return the nozzle, replace cap etc. and wait for the recepit to be printed and delivered. This can take some seconds, so don't panic.
The Le Clerc supermarkets seem to have been particularly well laid out in this respect and are often a little cheaper than the others even if in the same town.
I did not see any choce of grade of diesel (unlike Spain, where there is usually a premium grad at about 0.10 euro more than regular.
So look for the 24/24 sign above the pumps as you approach, and remember which side your filler cap is on !!
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