FASTag-The New Way To Pay Toll Tax online

HOW irritating can be to stop at toll tax areas, and pay the cash? With India promoting cashless economy, the Toll tax centers are also taking a major step towards making the whole process a cashless and in order to do so, GOI has introduced FASTag.

FASTag refers to an electronic toll tax collection system in India, where people will be able to pay toll tax online. It is operated by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). To make it simple, there are prepaid rechargeable tags for toll collection that allow automatic payment deduction fixed on the windscreen of the vehicle.

In order to reduce the traffic at the toll places, the GOVERNMENT OF INDIA made it mandated all the toll plazas, to make toll payments electronic, from 1st Dec 2019, and because of this, all the vehicles passing through toll plazas will have to pay toll tax online using FASTag. Lets find out how to pay toll tax online with the help of FASTag.

What are FASTag?
How FASTag works?
Benefits of FASTag
Fees and Charges of FASTag
How to purchase FASTag?
FAQ

What are FASTag?

FASTag is a simple to use, reloadable tag which enables the automatic deduction of toll charges and allows the user to pass through the toll plaza without stopping for toll tax payment.

How FASTag works?

The FASTag uses a simple formula to work. It is linked to the user's prepaid count from where the amount required for toll tax is deducted. It uses Radio-frequency Identification (RFID) technology which is affixed to the vehicle's windscreen after the account is active. It is a solution for a hassle-free trip on the highways.

Benefits of FASTag

1. It has SMS alerts for transactions which allows the customer to receive SMS alerts on the user's registered mobile numbers for  all the transactions done in the tag account.
2. As FASTag are read by the tag reader at the plaza and the amount is deducted automatically, as soon as the car reaches the toll plaza. So, the vehicle doesn't have to wait on the toll plaza to pay toll tax, saving both time as well as fuel of the user.
3. It allows the customer to recharge their FASTag account online via their credit card, debit card, NEFT, RTGS, UPI or net banking.
4. Due to FASTag, the drivers are now don't have to carry around cash for toll tax payment.
5. To keep a track on the statements and transactions the users can check it by log-in to their FASTag customer portal.

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Fees and Charges of FASTag

1. Till December 1, NHAI is distributing it free of cost, with an amount of ₹150.
2. The one-time joining fee is ₹100 including taxes.
3. Afterwards, the user has to maintain a security deposit of ₹200 for a car, jeep, van and a minimum balance of ₹100.
4. One can also link the account directly to their account or can keep the amount in their FASTag wallet.
5. The minimum recharge amount is ₹100.

How to purchase FASTag?

The user can buy the FASTag at Amazon and a few selected banks like SBI, HDFC, ICICI, Axis Bank etc. To buy FASTag, the user needs to submit KYC documents like Registration certificate of the vehicle, passport-size photograph KYC documents of the vehicle owner and ID proof(any of the following driving license, Aadhar card, passport, PAN or Voted ID).

After purchasing it, the user needs to activate it by entering details related to the user and the vehicle in my FASTag mobile app.

How to Activate FASTag?

To activated FASTag, you need to follow these steps:

• First, you have to download the FASTag app on your mobile.
• On the homepage of FASTag app, click on 'Activate NHAI FASTag’ option.
• Choose the E-commerce site from which you have purchased your FASTag.
• After this, either scan the QR code or enter the 24-digit FASTag ID that can be found at the bottom of the tag and you can get your FASTag activated.
• After the activation, link your bank account with the FASTag.

FAQs

How to check the balance on the FASTag?

The customer can check the balance of FASTag on the website of the issuer agency.

How to block the FASTag if the card is lost?

Customer can call up the customer care number of the agency from where, they issued the FASTag and can block their FASTag accounts.

What to do if one lost their FASTag card?

After losing the card, one can call up the customer care customer care number of the agency from where, they issued the FASTag and can block their FASTag accounts. Then, one can open a new account and the balance of the old account can be transferred to the new one.

One FASTag can be used for one vehicle only and the customer has to buy separate FASTag for separate vehicles.