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Shipping to France

Road freight from the Baltics into France follows three main corridors: Vilnius/Kaunas via Warsaw and Germany; Riga via Poland and Germany; and Tallinn via the same central European hubs, all converging on the German-France border before dispersing to Paris, Lyon, or Marseille. FTL costs depend on current toll tariffs (Poland's e-TOLL rose 40% in early 2026; Germany's Maut and French péage add 15-25% of transport cost), fuel, and available capacity. UMERA lets you paste your load into a clean RFQ—AI extracts specs, your own carriers quote, and you instantly see what fair-rate looks like for your corridor.

Key facts

VAT
20%
Key freight cities
Paris · Lyon · Marseille · Le Havre · Lille

Tolls

  • e-TOLL Poland (motorways, expressways; rates increased 40-42% February 2026)
  • LKW-Maut Germany (distance-based, ~€0.18-€0.22/km for Euro 6 trucks)
  • French péage (concession-based motorway tolls; regional rates vary)

Lanes from the Baltics

Vilnius → Paris~2,043 km2-3 transit
Kaunas → Lyon~1,950 km2-3 transit
Riga → Paris~2,150 km2-3 transit
Tallinn → Marseille~2,500 km3-4 transit

Customs & VAT

Intra-EU shipments to France require an EORI (Economic Operator Registration and Identification) number, issued by France's DGDDI (Customs Administration). Standard VAT of 20% applies; under reverse-charge rules, you self-assess VAT on your French VAT return rather than paying at the border. Minimal customs formalities for EU shippers with valid documentation. This is general information only and is not tax or legal advice—consult your customs broker or tax adviser for your specific situation.

FAQ

What drives the cost of Baltic-to-France FTL freight?
Tolls are the biggest variable: Poland's e-TOLL (up 40% in 2026), Germany's Maut, and French péage together add 15-25% to base transport cost. Fuel, truck size, load weight, and available capacity round out the calculation. Request quotes through UMERA to compare what your carriers actually charge versus the going rate.
How long does it take to deliver FTL from the Baltics to France?
Vilnius to Paris: roughly 2–3 days at typical highway speeds with mandatory rest stops. Riga to Paris: 2–3 days. Tallinn to Marseille: 3–4 days. These are estimates; actual transit varies with traffic, weather, and border procedures. Your UMERA quote should include the carrier's realistic timeline.
Do I need EORI or any special paperwork to ship to France?
Yes, you need a valid EORI (issued by the French DGDDI customs authority) for customs operations involving France. As an EU shipper, your intra-EU VAT treatment is reverse-charged (you self-assess VAT on your French return). Have your EORI, company documents, and cargo manifest ready when you quote. This is general guidance—check with your customs broker for compliance specifics.
How do I get a fair price when I quote my load to carriers?
UMERA's AI normalizes your load specs into a clean RFQ, so carriers quote the same load fairly—you see all quotes side-by-side and can instantly compare against the market rate (the 'fair-rate gauge'). No hidden charges, no guessing whether you're being over-quoted. Paste your load, let your own carriers compete, and you'll know the real going price for your corridor.

Get a real price for this lane

Paste your load - UMERA builds the RFQ and sends it to your own carriers.

Indicative estimates and general information - not tax, customs or legal advice.