FASTag is a product introduced by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in India to automate the toll collection system in the country. The device uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to deduct toll payments automatically while the vehicle is in motion, thus reducing traffic at toll booths in India. To facilitate direct toll payment, you just need to affix the FASTag on the windscreen of your vehicle, and add funds to the account that is linked to the FASTag. Read this article to learn all about how FASTag works, what it costs and how it can benefit you.
Let’s understand the issuance and security deposit fee for a FASTag before we move to the charges based on the vehicle types:
FASTag issuance fee (one time): ₹100
Reissuance fee: ₹100
Security deposit: ₹200
NPCI Vehicle Class |
Vehicle Type |
Security Deposit (in ₹) |
Threshold Amount (in ₹) |
4 |
Car / Jeep / Van / Light Commercial Vehicle |
₹100 |
0 |
5 |
Light Commercial vehicle 2-axle |
₹300 |
₹200 |
6 |
Bus - 3 axle |
₹400 |
₹500 |
6 |
Truck - 3 axle |
₹500 |
₹500 |
7 |
Bus 2 axle / Minibus, Truck 2 axle |
₹400 |
₹500 |
12 |
Tractor / Tractor with trailer, Truck 4, 5 & 6 -axle |
₹500 |
₹500 |
15 |
Truck 7-axle and above |
₹500 |
₹500 |
16 |
Earth Moving / Heavy Construction Machinery |
₹500 |
₹500 |
Here is a list of documents that you must keep handy while purchasing FASTag:
KYC documents for ID and address proof
Vehicle’s Registration Certificate (RC)
Passport size photo
The NHAI or National Highway Authority of India has authorised 22 banks to provide the FASTag cards. So, there are both offline and online ways of applying for a FASTag based on what’s convenient for you!
You can choose to apply for FASTag with any of the 22 authorised banks through their online portals. Furthermore, there are various authorised e-commerce retailers that sell FASTag online. You can head over to their websites to get a FASTag card.
For offline mode of purchase, you can get the FASTtag from the Point-of-Sale (PoS) at the toll plazas, certified bank branches, common service centres, etc. Thus, you shall have no trouble getting the FASTag in India and benefiting from it!
Did you know the FASTag benefits have made it quite easy and simple for owner-drivers? Here’s how:
FASTag speeds up the toll process through automated payment.
Accommodates increasing traffic without creating additional lanes.
Reduces one’s carbon footprint by eliminating vehicular emissions at toll plazas that arise from slow lanes.
Offers customers the flexibility to pay their toll electronically, without having to worry about having cash on hand.
Reduces cash handling which enhances audit control by centralising user accounts.
Promotes comprehensive data collection, such as tabulating the vehicle count for the day.
Enables customers to earn cashback on the transactions made on the National Highway.
The toll charge statement can be easily accessed through the FASTag web portal.
So, are you wondering how FASTag works for vehicles that are exempted from toll fees? There are 35 categories of vehicles that are exempted from paying toll charges as they are travelling in the service of the country. If you come under the exempted category, you can apply for FASTag exemption online with these steps:
Go to the newly launched website of NHAI (http://exemptedfastag.nhai.org/)
Register for the new exempted FASTag by entering details like name, email ID, city and mobile number. The User ID and password will be sent to your email ID.
Download the application form from the dashboard of the website.
Log in to the FASTag web portal and upload the form along with the required documents before submitting the application.
On successful application submission, an email will be sent to the registered mail address with the application case ID. The application status can be tracked with this ID.
Upon approval, an email will be sent to the registered mail ID with the details.
Soon, you shall receive a call for the registration and issuance of exempted FASTag!
If you’re on the road often, FASTags can prove to be extremely useful to avoid the long queues on the highway. Apart from opting for FASTags, another mandate that you must tick off the checklist is car insurance. With comprehensive motor insurance, you can ensure your loved ones are thoroughly protected as you traverse the length and breadth of India. To avail an extensive car insurance plan, head over to Bajaj Markets and enjoy a swift claim settlement process, 24x7 assistance, and cashless services across 4,000+ garages!
No. You must opt for a separate FASTag online for different vehicles and cannot use the same one for another one of your cars.
Your FASTag can be blacklisted for two reasons, insufficient balance or blacklisting by law enforcement. If you do not recharge your FASTag wallet, there is a chance it might get blacklisted.
Although the government doesn’t mandate a minimum balance in your FASTag, you may maintain at least ₹100 to avoid getting blacklisted.
Yes, you can easily get a FASTag at the toll plaza in case you still do not have it.
You can check the FASTag balance by visiting your bank or wallet issuer’s web portal and logging into your FASTag account. Moreover, you can also use the ‘My FASTag’ app to check the balance amount.
Below-mentioned are some key FASTag advantages:
Flexibility to pay the toll charges electronically
Reduces your wait time at the toll plaza
You can easily access the toll fee statement through the FASTag portal
Opting for online FASTag enables you to reduce your carbon footprint
In this case, you can opt for a FASTag at the toll plaza where you shall find various agents ready to help you with it. Without the tag, you will have to pay additional toll charges and thus, it’s best to simply complete the FASTag online application process and opt for one.
If your FASTag is inactive, you will be unable to make the toll payment or use other NETC services. Hence, an inactive FASTag may result in a penalty or additional toll charges. So, make sure you activate your FASTag to avoid extra toll fees and long queues!
All FASTags have a five year validity time frame. This time frame commences from the day the FASTag is purchased.
Each time funds are deducted from your FASTag you will receive an SMS notification sent to your registered mobile number.
If you wish to cross a national highway toll plaza without having a FASTag, you will be required to pay twice the amount of the toll charge.
Yes, a maximum of Rs. 1 lakh can be added to your FASTag.
The charges for availing FASTag can differ based on the kind of vehicle you own. Read the list provided above of the different charges and fees associated with the different kinds of vehicles.
You will receive an SMS the minute an amount is collected at any toll plaza from your FASTag. You can check the details and reach out to the customer care team
The deposit amount for a Four to Six Axle Vehicle is Rs. 500.
If your vehicle has been stolen, you can block the FASTag account that’s been linked to it by reaching out to the authority that issued you your FASTag. Once you call them via their customer care number and provide the details asked of you, your FASTag account will be blocked until further notice has been provided.
If you don’t have enough balance in your FASTag, it will be blacklisted. You can recharge immediately using any one of the above-mentioned recharge options to re-activate it.
Yes, there are specific FASTag lanes at toll plazas that you need to use.
No, the security deposit will not be added to your wallet. It will be refunded after you close your FASTag account.
Currently, FASTags are functional in over 773 toll plazas across the country – spread over national highways, certain state highways, and parking plazas.
No, in this case, you will have to procure two separate FASTags, one for each of your vehicles.
If you move to another city, you will have to notify the bank and submit your new address details.
There are authorised physical locations all around the nation where you can obtain a free FASTag. At NHAI toll plazas, temporary stalls selling FASTags can be found. Similar FASTag booths can be found at RTOs, transportation hubs, numerous gas stations, and service facilities. There, you can almost immediately obtain a FASTag.
All toll booths on national highways as well as a few State Highways where it has been introduced accept FASTag.
A FASTag is an electronic device that processes cashless toll payments from your FASTag prepaid account using RFID technology. The tag, which is mounted to the top of your car's windshield and has a chip and an antenna within, is affixed to the top middle of your car's windshield. The RFID technology allows toll plaza scanners to read your FASTag account and deduct the toll fee accordingly.
Yes, the IDBI FASTag comes with five-year validity.
No. It can only be used in India.
If the FASTag is not legible, call customer service and you will be instructed to pay with cash. The customer service team will then raise the issue with the issuer agency and its POS holder, who will then replace the tag for free.
To block your FASTag account, call the AU Small Finance Bank FASTag customer desk at 1800 258 7300.
FASTag is accepted at all toll booths where it has been installed. However, we recommend that you check your bank's website for a list of FASTag equipped plazas to confirm that it works for the highways you travel.
Yes, you can replace your FASTag. However, a replacement fee will be charged.
No, it is not possible to transfer your FASTag balance between accounts.
Yes, you can reach out to customer care at 1800 266 9520 to have your FASTag disabled and closed.
Yes, you can recharge someone else’s FASTag account.
Yes, if you wish to buy a FASTag at a toll plaza, you need to bring the vehicle you wish to register the FASTag to.
There are many merits associated with availing a FASTag. These include but aren’t limited to cashless transactions, online services, and no waiting time. Cash transactions on the other hand require you to wait in long lines.
Radio frequency identification technology (or RFID) is responsible for ensuring cashless transactions occur via a FASTag.
If you plan to sell your FASTag, you must reach out to the bank that issued it to you such that your FASTag account can be closed.
If your FASTag still hasn’t arrived in the mail despite your having applied for it, reach out to the customer care team in order to learn its whereabouts. This customer care team can be reached out to on 1800 258 7300.
FASTags have been designed to operate across the country, owing to which domestic moves will not impact its usability.
Yes, you are entitled to avail of a discount on a FASTag if you live within 10 kilometres away from a given toll plaza. This holds true provided the concessionaire is able to verify your address with the KYC documentation that you provide and also verify that your home falls within the 10 kilometre radius.