Summer vacation, a little luxury that is not given to everyone. In fact, a little less than 2 out of three French (64%) plan to leave this summer, according to a survey conducted by the Bona Facide Institute for the Roole Auto Club*.
“Behind this national average, however, hides social disparities,” said the press release that resumes the results of this study. The initial intentions are in fact 90% for the richest households, 68% for the high middle classes and 49% in homes with modest income, which reflects “a great economic split in access to vacations.”
The widely privileged car to leave
In this context, the car is still privileged. A mode of transport chosen by 84% of those who will go on vacation, 91% among the richest French and 74% of the popular categories.
First criterion to go by car, the freedom you can offer: 60% thus cites the fact of being able to visit and move more freely once there. Respondents also mention a certain simplicity in the organization of the trip (36%), savings compared to the budget of trains or airplanes (29%), the possibility of transporting more luggage (25%) and finally accessing a place that is poorly served by other modes of transport (22%).
A budget to dominate
If 78% of the French who are still “pleasure to drive” during the holidays, the automobile budget issue remains quite central: 61% of the French plan to spend more than 200 euros (mainly on fuel/electricity and tolls), against 70% last year. The average budget comes to 260 euros, around thirty euros.
The cost of the trip has a logically impact on the choice of fate for 57% of the French, a rate that rises to 71% for popular categories. 45% say they have already changed or canceled a vacation project due to these automobile costs and even 61% for French with modest income.
Privileged echoconduita to reduce the invoice
Among the privileged councils to reduce the bill: 65% say they practice echoconduita, 55% opt for nationals and small roads to escape the tolls of highways and, more strange, 55% say that it limit breaks, probably to be tempted to consume. To limit costs, some also think about the shared trip, with one in five French ready to share their car to save and 35% among young people.
Mobile applications can also make it possible to optimize their budget: almost 8 out of 10 French people say, for example, through an application of report radars, which is to avoid a expensive fine as vacation memory. 68% also use an application to locate the most cheap service stations and load stations, 54% to identify the best equipped highways areas and 52% a good restaurant on the trip.
Finally, free flow roads divide the French, with 55% who say they are favorable, especially with the argument of reducing traffic jams by eliminating toll barriers. But many are precisely annoying complications to pay their trip with a “virtual” toll to pay through its telepal case, online or in a tobacco office. Keep in mind that you have 72 hours after your visit to regularize your situation, under the penalty of receiving a fine.
*Survey conducted by the Leal Bona Institute with a representative sample of 1,000 French of 18 years or more. The representativeness of the sample was ensured by the quota method (sex, age, CSP), after the stratification by region and category of agglomeration. The interviews were conducted by self -administered online questionnaire from June 3 to 9, 2025.
Source: BFM TV
