In February 2021, the Indian government made it mandatory for all vehicles to have FASTags. All lanes in the toll plazas on national highways were declared as “FASTag lanes”. You might have wondered what FASTag actually is, how to get one, and how to recharge your FASTag. Well, we’ve got you covered. This article will help you understand everything about FASTags.
FASTag uses a reloadable card that is fixed to a vehicle. When the vehicle travels past a toll gate, the toll charge is automatically collected and the tag holder does not need to stop at the toll plaza. To conduct cashless payments, FASTag employs Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology.
When the QR code and tag identification number are read by an RFID antenna in the toll gate canopy, the boom barrier is raised to enable the vehicle to pass through. The color of the FASTag is different for various vehicles. There are black, blue, green, pink, orange, and violet tags. Different vehicles are represented by different colors.
The validity of all FASTags is unlimited. Users can request a new FASTag from the issuer if their old one becomes ineligible due to wear and tear. The issuer must be notified right away if the FASTag is lost or stolen. For those who own multiple vehicles, each must have its own FASTag.
Depending on the kind of vehicle, a refundable security deposit is required. This payment is repaid upon the closing of the FASTag account.
The FASTag price for activation is Rs. 100. After that, you can recharge as and when you travel through highways. Online recharges are subject to a convenience fee, which varies by bank and payment type.
There are two types of FASTags:
1. Bank-specific FASTags:
Bank-specific FASTags are provided by 22 banks at their branches. To increase accessibility, you can also get FASTags issued by banks in toll plazas operated by the assigned banks. Prepaid wallets connected to FASTags are provided by the banks that issued them.
2. NHAI FASTags
NHAI-FASTags are not tied to any specific financial institution. After making a purchase, these FASTags must be activated by the purchaser. You can go to the Indian Highways Management Company Limited's official website to search for your nearest point of sale for FASTags.
Banks such as Axis, Bank of Baroda, City Union, ICICI, HDFC, and SBI, among many other banks, provide FASTags as well as online FAStags. These FASTag banks do this through their branches or online through their websites or services. All toll plazas, Paytm, e-commerce websites like Amazon, and Road Transport Authority (RTA) offices are also issuing FASTags at the NHAI's points of sale. Customers who purchase the tags online can use a mobile app called 'My FASTag' to track their progress. You can also go to your bank's website or app to apply for FASTag. The card will be delivered to your home.
FASTag application documentation requirements include a copy of the vehicle's registration certificate, passport-sized photos of the car owner, identification and residence evidence, and a copy of the vehicle's insurance policy.
S.No. |
Bank Name |
1 |
Airtel Payments Bank |
2 |
AU Small Finance Bank |
3 |
Axis Bank Ltd |
4 |
Bank of Baroda |
5 |
Bank of Maharashtra |
6 |
Canara Bank |
7 |
Central Bank of India |
8 |
City Union Bank Ltd |
9 |
Cosmos Bank |
10 |
Equitas Small Finance Bank |
11 |
Federal Bank |
12 |
FINO Payments Bank |
13 |
HDFC Bank |
14 |
ICICI Bank |
15 |
IDBI Bank |
16 |
IDFC First Bank |
17 |
Indian Bank |
18 |
IndusInd Bank |
19 |
Jammu and Kashmir Bank |
20 |
Karnataka Bank |
21 |
Karur Vysya Bank |
22 |
Kotak Mahindra Bank |
23 |
Nagpur Nagarik Sahakari Bank |
24 |
PAYTM Bank |
25 |
*Punjab Maharashtra & Co-operative Bank |
26 |
Punjab National Bank |
27 |
Saraswat Bank |
28 |
South Indian Bank |
29 |
State Bank of India |
30 |
Thrissur District Cooperative Bank (Kerala Bank) |
31 |
UCO Bank |
32 |
Union Bank of India |
33 |
Yes Bank Ltd |
Typically, you need a bank to issue you a FASTag. After you have been issued one, it is very easy to recharge. You can use platforms such as Paytm, Freecharge, PhonePe, etc. for recharging. Additionally, you can also use your bank’s app or website to do so. Most platforms require the same set of information. Therefore, if you know how to recharge in one app, you can easily do it on other apps as well. Here is how you can recharge your FASTag through Paytm:
Vehicle Type |
FASTag Deposit Fee (Rs.) |
Threshold Amount (Rs.) |
Car/Jeep/Van |
200 |
200 |
LCV or Light Commercial Vehicle or Mini Bus |
300 |
140 |
Mini-LCV |
200 |
100 |
Double-Axle Bus/Truck |
400 |
300 |
Triple-Axle Bus |
400 |
300 |
Triple-Axle Truck |
500 |
300 |
Four- or Five- or Six-Axle Truck, Tractor, with or without a trailer |
500 |
300 |
Seven-Axle Truck |
500 |
300 |
Earthmovers or Heavy Machinery |
500 |
300 |
What formula does FASTag use to figure out how much it costs for a round trip?
For the initial journey, FASTag charges the cost of a single trip; for subsequent journeys, it charges the difference between those first and subsequent trips.
If a single journey costs Rs. 20 and a round trip costs Rs. 35, for example,
A. Rs.20 is taken from a customer's FASTag account each time they pass the toll.
B. When the consumer returns, a sum of Rs.15 is withdrawn from the account.
C. A further Rs. 20 is taken from the FASTag account, if the client passes the toll a second time.
Toll plazas have different time limits, so check the details for your specific toll plaza. Depending on the toll plaza, customers may have a 24-hour window between when they pay the toll and when they return. Some toll plazas might have a cut-off time of midnight while others have one at noon.
If you have a problem with your tag, call the bank that issued it and provide your cell phone number, the car registration number, and the tag ID.
Conclusion
FASTags were introduced for the benefit of transporters as well. These RFID-enabled, 24-hour tags have made things easier for carriers. Likewise, Vahak also makes the lives of transporters and truck/lorry owners easier! Vahak helps transporters and shippers find loads and lorries for their businesses within minutes! Moreover, you can also create your online brand on the Vahak transport app. Expand your transport business across India and connect with verified transporters - join Vahak today!