Breakdown on Autoroute A31? A driver picks you up at the service area
Your vehicle is stranded on Autoroute A31 (Autoroute de Lorraine, Luxembourg (frontière)–Beaune)? After the motorway breakdown service intervenes, TaxiNeo sends a private driver to take you to your destination.
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We pick you up at the service area
310 km
Total length
3
Cities served
5
Service areas
24/7
Availability
Breakdown on Autoroute A31: private driver at service areas
The Autoroute A31, also known as the Autoroute de Lorraine, is one of France's major motorway routes. Connecting Luxembourg (frontière) to Beaune over 310 km, it carries approximately 50 000 véhicules/jour daily. With such dense traffic, breakdowns are inevitable: an estimated 500,000 breakdown interventions occur on French motorways each year.
When your vehicle breaks down on Autoroute A31, the procedure is regulated. You must pull onto the hard shoulder (BAU), put on your high-visibility vest, position yourself behind the safety barriers, and call for help via an orange emergency phone or 112. A breakdown service approved by the concession company (APRR / DIRIF) will respond within an average of 30 minutes. On French motorways, you have NO choice of breakdown provider — it's a regulated monopoly.
The problem? Once your vehicle is towed to the nearest approved garage (often at the motorway exit), YOU are left stranded. The tow truck doesn't take you to your final destination. You find yourself at a garage in the middle of nowhere, potentially hundreds of kilometres from home, with no means of transport.
This is exactly where TaxiNeo steps in. Our private driver service for motorway breakdowns works simply: as soon as you're dropped at a service area or motorway exit, you contact us. A driver arrives within 20-40 minutes and takes you wherever you wish — home, a TGV station, the nearest airport, or any city served by Autoroute A31: Metz, Nancy, Dijon.
Autoroute A31 has 5 main service areas equipped with petrol stations, restaurants and sometimes hotels. Our drivers know all these areas perfectly and can pick you up directly. The fare is fixed, communicated in advance, with no time or day surcharges.
Motorway breakdown recovery in France: the regulated framework
On the conceded motorway network, breakdown recovery is handled exclusively by companies approved by the concessionaire. On Autoroute A31, APRR / DIRIF manages the approvals. The towing rate is regulated by prefectoral decree: approximately €130 inc. VAT for a light vehicle during the day, €195 at night or on Sundays/public holidays. This rate covers towing to the nearest motorway exit or an approved garage within 5 km.
Tolls and costs on Autoroute A31
~15 € (section payante Toul–Beaune). In case of breakdown, you don't pay the toll between your breakdown point and the exit where the tow truck takes you. Keep your toll ticket to justify this to the concessionaire.
Insurance assistance and motorways
Unlike national and departmental roads, your insurance's distance franchise DOES NOT APPLY on motorways. Your assistance policy normally covers motorway breakdown recovery, but only the towing — not your personal transport to your final destination. That's where TaxiNeo comes in.
Service areas
Service areas on Autoroute A31
Aire de Thionville
km 25Direction: sud
Aire de Metz-Saint-Privat
km 55Direction: sud
Aire de Nancy-Flavigny
km 105Direction: sud
Aire de Dijon-Brognon
km 245Direction: sud
Aire de Langres-Noidant
km 195Direction: sud
Emergency procedure
What to do if you break down on Autoroute A31
Step 1: Safe immobilisation
At the first signs of breakdown on Autoroute A31, turn on your hazard lights and pull onto the hard shoulder (BAU) as far right as possible. If not possible, try to reach the next rest or service area. NEVER stop on the carriageway.
Step 2: Securing passengers
Put on your high-visibility vest BEFORE exiting the vehicle (mandatory, €135 fine if absent). Have all passengers exit from the RIGHT side (barrier side, not traffic side). Position everyone behind the safety barrier, at least 50 metres downstream from the vehicle.
Step 3: Signalling
DO NOT place a warning triangle on the motorway (it's dangerous and not mandatory on motorways). Your hazard lights are sufficient. If you have passengers, have them wait safely behind the barrier.
Step 4: Calling for help
Use an orange emergency phone (every 2 km on Autoroute A31) or call 112. The phone is preferable as it automatically locates your position. APRR / DIRIF's motorway control centre will send an approved breakdown service within about 30 minutes.
Step 5: Waiting for the tow truck
Stay behind the barrier. Do NOT attempt ANY repairs on the hard shoulder (forbidden and extremely dangerous — 40 deaths/year on French hard shoulders). The tow truck will take your vehicle to the nearest exit.
Step 6: Contact TaxiNeo
Once at the service area or motorway exit garage, call TaxiNeo at +33 7 59 59 29 34. A driver arrives within 20-40 minutes and takes you to your final destination.
Indicative fares
Transport fares from Autoroute A31
| From (area) | To (city) | Sedan | Van |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metz | Nancy | 95 € | 120 € |
| Metz | Dijon | 280 € | 350 € |
| Nancy | Dijon | 210 € | 270 € |
| Metz | Luxembourg | 90 € | 115 € |
Indicative fares inc. VAT. Exact fare communicated by phone before pickup.
How it works
4 steps after breakdown
Breakdown service intervenes
After your breakdown on Autoroute A31, the approved APRR / DIRIF breakdown service tows your vehicle to the nearest motorway exit or service area. You're safe but far from your destination.
Call TaxiNeo
From the service area or exit garage, call +33 7 59 59 29 34. Indicate your position on Autoroute A31 (exit number or service area name), number of passengers, and desired destination. The fixed fare is communicated immediately.
Your driver arrives
A professional driver is dispatched to your location on Autoroute A31. They arrive within 20-40 minutes in a comfortable vehicle (sedan or van depending on passenger numbers). They meet you at the service area car park or garage.
Transport to destination
The driver takes you to your final destination: home (even 200 km away), nearest TGV station, airport, hotel, or any city along Autoroute A31. Payment by card on arrival. Invoice available for your insurance.
Our advantages
Why TaxiNeo on the motorway?
Pickup at service area
We come to you
Our drivers know all service areas on Autoroute A31. They come directly to pick you up at the service area car park or motorway exit garage.
Arrival in 20-40 minutes
After breakdown service
As soon as the motorway breakdown service has dropped you safely, call us. A driver arrives within 20 to 40 minutes to take you to your destination.
Any destination
Station, home, airport
Stranded far from home on Autoroute A31? We take you to the nearest TGV station, airport, your home or any city along the Luxembourg (frontière)–Beaune axis.
All your passengers
Family, colleagues
Broke down with family on Autoroute A31? Our vehicles carry up to 7 passengers. No need to split the group — everyone rides in the same vehicle.
Fixed guaranteed fare
Price stated upfront
The fare is communicated by phone before pickup. No meter, no motorway surcharge, no night or holiday premium. You know exactly what you'll pay.
24/7 service
Even at 3am
Breakdowns on Autoroute A31 don't keep office hours. Our service is available round-the-clock: night, weekend, public holiday, summer and winter.
Comparison
Your options after a breakdown on Autoroute A31
After the approved breakdown service on Autoroute A31 drops you at the motorway exit or approved garage, what are your options for getting home?
TaxiNeo private driver
Response: 20-40 min from your call. The driver picks you up at the service area or exit garage. Takes you directly home, to the nearest TGV station, or anywhere. Fixed fare, no surprises. All passengers transported.
Wait for a local taxi
Depending on your location on Autoroute A31, local taxis may be scarce or non-existent (rural area between cities). Unpredictable wait (30 min to 2h), no guaranteed fare, single vehicle availability.
Replacement vehicle (insurance)
Some insurance policies offer a replacement vehicle, but the delay is 24-48h minimum. No immediate solution. You also need to get to the rental agency to collect the vehicle.
Train from the nearest station
Requires getting to the station (how without a car?). Constrained timetables, no night trains on many lines. No bulky luggage transport.
| Criteria | TaxiNeo | Local taxi | Insurance | Train |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Response | 20-40 min | 30 min-2h | 24-48h | Variable |
| Door-to-door | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Guaranteed fare | ✓ | ✗ | Included | ✓ |
| 24/7 availability | ✓ | ✗ | Yes (delivery no) | ✗ |
| All passengers | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
Practical info
Autoroute A31 characteristics
Autoroute A31 characteristics
Autoroute de Lorraine, 310 km from Luxembourg (frontière) to Beaune. Concessionaire: APRR / DIRIF. Average traffic: 50 000 véhicules/jour. ~15 € (section payante Toul–Beaune).
Regulated breakdown recovery costs on Autoroute A31
Motorway breakdown tariffs are set by prefectoral decree and revised annually. For a light vehicle (< 1.8 t): approximately €130 inc. VAT during the day (8am-6pm weekdays), €195 inc. VAT at night, Sundays and public holidays. For heavy vehicles or complex interventions (accidents, vehicle in ditch), rates are higher.
Response times on Autoroute A31
The specification requires approved breakdown services to respond within a maximum of 30 minutes during the day and 45 minutes at night. In practice, times are generally met on high-traffic routes like Autoroute A31. The motorway control centre tracks your intervention in real time.
Your rights as a stranded motorist
You have the right to refuse any on-site repairs (only towing to the exit is mandatory). The exit garage can perform a diagnostic but you're not obliged to have your vehicle repaired there. After 24 hours, you can have your vehicle transferred to the garage of your choice.
Tolls and reimbursement
In case of breakdown on Autoroute A31, you don't pay the toll between your breakdown point and the exit to which you're towed. Keep your toll ticket and inform the toll operator. The concessionaire may also reimburse your toll if the breakdown is related to an infrastructure defect.
FAQ
Breakdown FAQ for Autoroute A31
After the approved breakdown service on Autoroute A31 drops you at a service area or motorway exit, you call us at +33 7 59 59 29 34. A private driver arrives within 20-40 minutes and takes you to your final destination (home, station, airport, etc.).
Broke down on Autoroute A31?
A driver picks you up at the service area in 20-40 minutes. Fixed fare, all passengers.