Everything You Need to Know About FASTag

Understanding FASTag

FASTag is a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system established by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). A passive tag is attached to the windscreen of your car or other vehicle(s) that enables you to drive through toll plazas, and make digital payments. This eliminates the need to stop at tolls, saving time and effort for many travellers.

Apart from making toll payments effortless and more specifically cashless, it serves as your financial log. It documents all the toll payments and recharges you have made using this digital payment platform. The Government of India has made it compulsory for all cars and multi-axle vehicle owners to acquire a FASTag. This tag is available at any toll plaza and/or bank. Of course, you can also buy it online!

The sticker must be fixed at the centre of the car’s windscreen. The Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) booth will scan the tag and collect the toll charges digitally. This procedure enhances your travel experience because you wouldn’t have to stop your vehicle at a toll booth, looking for cash and experiencing delay in every manner. With the FASTag in use, the traffic would be in continuous motion, minimising congestion and waiting time at toll plazas – not just for you, but for everyone!

How Do You Activate FASTag?

There are offline and online procedures to activate FASTag in India. Here is the step-by-step process for doing so.

Offline Activation

• You get a pre-activated FASTag when you purchase one from certified banks.
• You can visit the nearest FASTag issuing bank and request a FASTag application form.
• Fill in the form and submit the same along with your KYC documents, Vehicle Registration Certificate (RC) and a passport-size photograph.
• The bank will then deliver the pre-activated FASTag to your desired address within 7 to 8 working days. You get a Welcome Kit that includes a tag sticker and login credentials for the FASTag portal for the customer.
• You only have to attach the FASTag sticker on your car by peeling the sticky side off and pasting it at the centre of the windscreen of the car or multi-axle vehicle.
• The login credentials can be used to recharge your FASTag account.

Online Activation

With everything being digital today, you can get yourself a FASTag online.

• Download the My FASTag app on your smartphone.
• Click on the ‘Activate NHAI FASTag’ icon displayed on the homepage of the application.
• Click on the e-commerce site from where you purchased the FASTag.
• Here, you can scan the QR code on the FASTag or manually enter the 24-digit FASTag ID displayed at the bottom of the tag.
• By doing so, your FASTag gets activated instantaneously.
• Once you have activated the tag, you can link your bank account to the same. This way, when you pass an ETC booth, the toll fare is deducted automatically.

Benefits of Using FASTag

There are many reasons owing to which FASTag has been made compulsory by the Indian government. These reasons are not just in the favour of the government but the commoners too.

• Time efficient– Using the FASTag technology, you will not have to stop longer at toll plazas, saving time.
• Avoids traffic and long queues– Since the traffic does not have to stop for each car or vehicle to go through the toll one by one, there is almost no congestion at the toll plazas.
• Eradicates the hassle of cash payments– If you are travelling from one city/state to another by road, you will come across a lot of toll plazas. Using FASTag, you can benefit from the electronic payment, and a completely seamless driving experience throughout the journey. The FASTag will take care of all your toll payments.
• Track all your toll expenses– FASTag makes it convenient for you to keep track of all your toll expenses. Each time you use your FASTag to make toll payments, you will receive regular in-app notifications and SMSs.
• Environmentally Friendly– The FASTag benefits the environment in the long run, as it minimizes the use of paper in terms of toll challans and fuel because you don’t have to burn it standing in long queues.
• Offers monthly travel passes–Travellers can apply and convert their monthly passes into FASTag passes. There is an online process for corporates and fleet owners to do the same.
• Easy online recharge– You can easily recharge your FASTag online through the application.
• Regular notifications–You will be notified of all the transactions and toll deductions on the app. This lets you keep track of the money you spend at toll plazas during your travel.
• Long-term validity– A FASTag is valid for 5 years. This means you can continue to use your FASTag for 5 continuous years, without having to re-register.
• A simple process of registration– Registering for a FASTag is a simple and quick process. You can register for a FASTag either by using the digital application, by visiting a toll booth, or by banks.

Conclusion

With FASTag, you don’t have to carry cash and provide exact change at toll plazas while serving as a time-saver. To enjoy hassle-free driving on highways, you must purchase and learn how to activate FASTag. All you have to do is download the ‘My FASTag’ application on your mobile device and go digital with your toll tax payments. In this digitalized world, getting a FASTag only makes everything so much smoother.