FASTag

What is FasTag?

The FasTag device uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to make payments at toll gates directly while the vehicle is still in motion. The FASTag (RFID tag) will be pasted on the windscreen of the vehicle enabling the customer to make the payments at tollgates directly from the account linked to FasTag.

FasTag is a device developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to meet the electronic tolling requirements in India. The NPCI has developed a National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) programme aimed to provide a nationwide toll payment solution. The solution includes clearinghouse services for the settlement and dispute management.

The usage of FasTag offers convenience to the customers as it offers cashless payments along with key benefits like saving time and fuel as the customer need not have to wait for a long time in toll plazas to pay the toll fee.

This FasTag is designed in such a way that it is vehicle specific and cannot be transferred to another vehicle, once affixed to a vehicle. Currently, Fas Tag can be purchased from any of the NETC member banks. If a FasTag is linked to the pre-paid account, then the user must ensure that it is topped up or recharged as per the usage. If the sufficient balance is not maintained then the FASTag will get blacklisted at the toll plaza. In such cases, the customer will not be able to avail of the services of the NETC and will have to make payment of toll fare via cash at all the toll plazas.

Benefits of using FasTag 

The usage of FasTag will provide an array of benefits to its users and the same are listed below: 

Saves Fuel and Time – Using FasTag will save time for the users as one need not wait in long queues at the toll booths thus fuel will also be saved.

Almost non-stop movement of vehicles will lead to less usage of energy.  

Notifications – Every time the user passes through a toll plaza, a transaction will be done using FasTag. The user will be receiving regular SMS alerts on their registered mobile number. The user will also receive a notification, whenever the FasTag account balance is low.

Ease of Recharge Facility – The FasTag recharge can be done easily online, or using a debit card or credit card or RTGS or NEFT facilities.

Reduces Pollution – The usage of FasTag leads to reduced usage of paper at the highway toll plazas, thus we can protect the environment from pollution.   

Documents required to apply for FasTag

The FasTag users will have to submit the following list of documents for obtaining FasTag

• Know-Your-Customer (KYC) documents as per whether the vehicle owner is an individual or corporate.
• Vehicle’s Registration Certificate (RC)
• Passport-size photo of the vehicle owner

In the case of individuals, any of the following documents have to be submitted as address proof and ID

Passport

Driving License

Aadhaar Card

Voter ID

PAN Card

In the case of Corporates, they will need to visit the website of the issuer agency or participating bank for the list of documents to be submitted for FasTag.

FasTag Joining Fees

The users of FasTag have to pay a joining fee which is a refundable one-time deposit and usually varies with the vehicle class. Once the user secures the FasTag, the corresponding charges will apply at the time of reloading the FasTag wallet. For instance, if the user loses the FasTag or damages, re-issuance charges will apply on the second FasTag.

The joining Fee of Fastag is Rs 99.12 and the re-issuance fee is Rs 100.

Please Note: The user will have to maintain a minimum threshold recharge amount that the user should do during the activation of Fastag.

How to Login to FasTag Account?

Logging into a FasTag account is very simple. One of the methods is to use either the ID or the wallet ID which will be received in the welcome mailer along with the password.

Step 1: First Log into the Fastag portal, individuals will have to click on the Retail Login option to log in while corporates will have to log in using Corporate Login.

Step 2: Enter the User ID or the Wallet ID received in the welcome mailer in the User ID field.

Step 3: Now enter the password.

Step 4: Click on the ‘Login’ button to access the Fastag Account.

What is the FASTag Sticker?

A FasTag sticker is a radio frequency identification (RFID) enabled tag. This tag can be stuck to the four-wheeler’s windshield. The tag will be linked to the prepaid digital wallet using which the user can pay at the toll plazas directly from their account linked to the FasTag.

As and when the vehicle passes by a toll booth, the scanner installed in the toll booths will scan the FasTag stickers and gather data about the digital wallet and tag ID using the RFID technology. After successfully scanning the data, the respective toll fee will be deducted from the digital wallet. The process for the same takes a few seconds.

A FasTag sticker will appear like any other normal sticker, yet it consists of an RFID circuit to communicate with the scanner installed in all the toll booths. It becomes necessary to attach/install the FasTag sticker properly as it should be readable by the scanner to scan the details.

How does FasTag work?

As and when the vehicle with FasTag passes through the toll plaza, the scanners fitted in the toll plazas will read the FasTag affixed to the vehicle’s windscreen and will deduct the toll charges immediately from the account linked with the FasTag and hence there will be no need to stop the vehicles at the plaza to pay the toll fee.

The user will be receiving an SMS alert on their registered mobile number for all the transactions that will be done on the FasTag account.

How to Recharge FasTag Account?

Follow the below-mentioned steps to recharge the FasTag account as mentioned on the web portal of the respective FasTag issuing agency. Here we are using the Axis Bank FasTag Recharge Option.

Step 1: Visit the web portal of the FasTag provider (Axis Bank FasTag Recharge).

Step 2: Select the Retail Road Users on the right-hand side of the page from the drop-down menu and click on the ‘Login’ button.

Step 3: Now click on the ‘Recharge’ button under the ‘Payment and Top Up’ tab which the user can find under the ‘Road User Center’ option.

The recharge of FasTag can be done by using Netbanking or Credit Card or Debit Card or RTGS or NEFT or Cheque. The maximum amount for which a user can get the FasTag account recharged is Rs 1 Lakh.

How to Check FasTag Balance?

The user can check the FasTag balance by visiting the website of the agency or the issuing bank of FasTag. Apart from this, the user will get an SMS alert on their registered mobile number for every toll transaction.

How to Stick a FasTag on Car?

On receiving the FasTag sticker, which looks like a normal sticker, the same must be installed on the four-wheeler's windshield.

Step 1: First clean the windshield thoroughly using a damp cloth to get rid of the dirt and dust accumulated on the surface.

Step 2: Now carefully remove the adhesive liner from the FasTag.

Step 3: Now Stick the tag from the inside of your car, in such a way that the adhesive side should face the outside when sticking the tag.

Step 4: Gently press the sticker to the surface and ensure that it sticks properly to the surface.

Note: Once the tag is stuck to the windshield of the vehicle, do not try to remove or reposition the same. By doing so there is a possibility to induce damage to the RFID circuit on the tag.

FasTag Sticker Position

The FasTag sticker position plays a prominent role as it scans the user's data to deduct the toll fees at the toll plazas. Hence it must be stuck in the correct position. The FasTag position on the windshield should be such that it should be visible to the scanner.

The ideal position for a FasTag is on the top centre of the windscreen, behind the inside rearview mirror. As the top centre part of the windshield provides an unobstructed view it helps a lending hand for trouble-free scanning of the toll gates.

Usually, the scanners will be placed in the middle of the toll gate’s roof. So, sticking the FasTag at the top centre of the four-wheeler's windshield will be the perfect position for a FasTag sticker.

If there is no space near the rearview mirror, then one can attach the FasTag sticker towards a bit left of the passenger side. Always ensure that the sticker is on the top of the windshield for easy scanning of the sticker.