FASTag Rules: New Government Regulations You Must Know

Team AckodriveJun 6, 2022

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When driving on a highway, smooth traffic flow can make your journey more comfortable. But long halts at toll plazas have been a huge problem for a very long time.

So in efforts to make toll booth crossing time-efficient, the government has introduced FASTags for automatic toll deduction across the country.

New Government FASTag Rules And Regulations

From February 2021, all personal and commercial four-wheeled vehicles must have a FASTag for automatic toll payment. It relieves drivers from paying their toll in cash, which usually causes long stops at toll plazas. 

If you are looking for more information on FASTag rules and regulations, here they are.

What is a FASTag, and how does it work?

FASTag is a sticker tag, which you can stick on the windscreen of your vehicle. This tag enables automatic electronic payment at toll plazas through Radio Frequency Identification or RFID technology.

Each FASTag comes with a barcode linked to a car’s registration details. So, every time a vehicle crosses a toll plaza, the barcode is detected to deduct the necessary toll fee from the linked digital FASTag wallet. 

New government regulations around FASTags you must know

Let’s talk about the new FASTag rules about toll payment at toll plazas across the country.

FASTag is mandatory

From February 2021, the government has made FASTag mandatory for all commercial as well as personal four-wheelers for payments at toll plazas. So, it is more like a necessity than a choice to install a FASTag on your car. 

Double toll charges without FASTag

If you wish to cross a toll plaza without a FASTag, the cash payment will cost you double the regular toll charges. Hence, it is better to simply install a tag and save yourself some money and time at toll booths. 

Double toll charges if FASTag doesn’t work

Upon entering a FASTag toll lane, the toll charge will be double the regular amount if your tag doesn’t work for some reason. So, it would be better to ensure that you have sufficient balance in your FASTag wallet and the RFID barcode is not damaged before entering a toll booth. 

No toll charges if the waiting period exceeds 10 seconds

The new guidelines from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) state that the waiting period at toll plazas can’t exceed 10 seconds. If a vehicle has to wait for more than 10 seconds, the driver can pass through the booth without paying any toll.

Vehicle queue at toll booths must be within 100 metres

To ensure a seamless traffic flow, the NHAI has also decided to follow a 100-metre queue rule at toll plazas. Each toll lane will contain a yellow marking at a 100-metre distance. So, if a vehicle has to wait in a queue beyond the 100-metre mark, it can pass without any toll charges.

FASTag is mandatory for third-party insurance

Third-party motor insurance is mandatory for every vehicle as per The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Now, if you want to buy this insurance for your vehicle, you must have a FASTag assigned to that vehicle’s registration number. Hence, you need to purchase a FASTag even if you don’t plan to take your car on highways.

One FASTag for one vehicle only

When you buy a FASTag, it comes linked to your vehicle’s registration number. Hence, a FASTag is only usable for a single vehicle, not two or more. There is a penalty for using a FASTag for multiple cars. So, if you have more than one car, make sure you purchase one tag for each of them. 

A FASTag stays valid for 5 years

Once purchased, a FASTag stays valid for 5 years. You can simply recharge the tag from time to time to maintain the required balance as per your travel plans through highways.

Advantages of using FASTag

Paying toll charges with FASTag results in the following advantages for you.

  • You won’t have to carry cash to pay tolls.

  • It will save your time and fuel while driving through toll booths. 

  • Immediately after passing through a toll lane, you get a message on your registered phone number containing details of the transaction. This adds more transparency to the charges you pay at toll booths.

  • You can manage your FASTag wallet’s balance by recharging it online through NEFT, UPI, RTGS, credit or debit cards.

  • Using the issuer bank’s FASTag portal, you can check the status of your transactions. 

Purchase a FASTag for free at ACKO Drive

You can purchase your FASTag from ACKO Drive online for free and have it delivered to your home address without any service cost. The following simple steps will help you make the purchase.

  • Step 1: Visit the ACKO Drive website/app and search for the FASTag option.

  • Step 2: Select ‘Buy Now’ under FASTag.

  • Step 3: Enter your vehicle registration number in the given section, then click on ‘Get FASTag’.

  • Step 4: Fill in all the required personal details as well as KYC information.

  • Step 5: Pay the amount you want as a balance in your FASTag wallet. 

After making the payment, you can expect to receive your FASTag delivered within five working days.

Frequently asked questions

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions related to New FASTag Rules

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What would be the right place to install a FASTag on my car?

A FASTag comes as a rectangular sticker tag, easy to stick on the windscreen of your car. You can install it from inside your vehicle, so the tag stays protected from getting damaged. If you stick the tag right in the top middle, it will be easier to detect at toll booths. 

How can I log into my FASTag account?

To log in to your FASTag account, you need to visit the FASTag portal of your issuer bank. Then, you can use your FASTag wallet ID, Customer ID, RFID number or Vehicle ID to access your account. You will also have to verify the mobile number that you provided at the time of buying the tag.

Which is the easiest way to recharge FASTag online?

It is pretty easy to recharge your FASTag online. There are many ways such as UPI, credit/debit cards, net banking, and digital payment portals to recharge FASTags. You can even recharge your FASTag via ACKO Drive through these steps.

  • Step 1: Use your registered mobile contact to access your account at ACKO Drive.

  • Step 2: Click on ‘My Account’ and select ‘View’.

  • Step 3: Choose an amount for the recharge and click ‘Recharge Now’.

  • Step 4: Pick a digital payment option and complete the process instantly.

What is the minimum amount I can recharge my FASTag with?

The minimum amount you can recharge a FASTag with is Rs. 100. However, you can go up to a maximum of Rs. 1,00,000. Hence, it offers you the ability to choose any amount between Rs. 100 and Rs. 1,00,000 while recharging your FASTag wallet. 

What if I forget my FASTag account login details?

If you somehow forget the login details of your FASTag account, it is simple to retrieve. You can access the FASTag Login portal, then follow the following steps.

  • Step 1: Select the ‘Login’ option, then click on ‘Forgot Password’.

  • Step 2: Enter two of these identification details: Wallet ID, Vehicle ID, Customer ID, and RFID number.

  • Step 3: Enter your registered mobile contact number to get an OTP for login.

  • Step 4: Re-generate your FASTag account password.

Can I transfer my FASTag’s ownership to someone else?

When you buy a FASTag, it requires you to provide your personal details along with the registration number of your vehicle. So, you can’t transfer a tag’s ownership to someone else. If you sell your vehicle, then you must close your current FASTag account. Thus, the new owner will have to create his or her own account for a new FASTag for that car.

What happens if my FASTag gets damaged?

In case your FASTag gets damaged, you can ask the issuer bank to provide you with a replacement. 

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