Before going to the main topic we will understand in details about FASTAGS and why they are needed?

What are FASTags?

FASTags are prepaid rechargeable toll tags that enable automated payment withdrawal from the FASTag. They are typically placed on your vehicle’s windscreen. You will not need to stop your car at toll plazas to pay the toll if you have a FASTag. The toll fee is collected from the bank account/prepaid wallet linked to the car as soon as it crosses the toll plaza.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology is used by an activated FASTag. Furthermore, these FASTags have no expiration date, meaning they can be utilized as long as they are readable at the toll plaza and not tampered with.

How to buy and activate your FASTag?

22 certified banks offer FASTags through a variety of channels, including POS at National Highway toll plazas and select bank offices. They can also be found on e-commerce sites like Amazon. After purchasing the FASTag, you must activate it for it to work at the toll booth.

Here is how you can do it-

(i) Self-Activation: FASTags are ‘bank-neutral,’ which means that no bank is pre-assigned to them when you buy them from a POS terminal or an online platform. The online FASTag is based on the DIY (Do-It-Yourself) idea, which allows you to activate it yourself by entering vehicle information into the ‘My FASTag’ mobile app. The ‘Google Play Store’, IOS store is where Android smartphone users can get the My FASTag app. After that, you can use the My FASTag Mobile app to link the FASTag to any of your existing bank accounts.

The NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) Prepaid wallet is also available on the My FASTag smartphone app, allowing you to load money and have your toll cost debited from the
prepaid wallet rather than a bank account.

(ii) Activate by visiting a certified bank branch: You can also purchase a FASTag and have it linked to your existing bank account by visiting a certified bank branch. You must submit KYC (Know Your Customer) documentation as per the bank’s KYC regulation at the time of activation. You must also provide the vehicle’s Registration Certificate (RC) in addition to the KYC documentation.

How to recharge your FASTag?

There’s no need to load money into a prepaid wallet if your FASTag is already linked to your bank account. All you have to do now is make sure your FASTag-linked bank account has enough money in it to cover toll payments.
If you’ve linked your FASTag to a prepaid wallet (NHAI prepaid wallet), you can recharge Fastag online by using a variety of methods, including payment by check or UPI/debit card/credit card/NEFT/Net Banking. Additionally, when recharging the FASTag account through various methods, additional fees will be applied.

1. Recharging through a bank account – FASTag may be applied for and recharged at approximately 23 banks. A FASTag icon will appear on your bank’s website, allowing you to apply and recharge. The feature is also available on all banking apps, including HDFC PayZapp, SBI YONO, and others.

One other way is to link your FASTag with your bank account. You must submit your car number as the payee details to recharge via net banking. Each bank, however, follows a slightly different procedure. It’s a good idea to look for step-by-step instructions on your bank’s website.

2. Recharging on Google Pay – You must first link your bank account to your FASTag account by using the Google Pay app, selecting New Payment, and then Bill Payments, where FASTag will be mentioned. Select your FASTag’s issuer bank by clicking on FASTag. On the left side of the FASTag sticker, you’ll find the bank’s name.

After the page loads click on get started and link your bank account by entering your vehicle number which is linked to FASTag account. Once it linked to your bank account you can easily use Google Pay regularly to recharge your FASTag.

3. Recharging using PhonePe – Open the PhonePe app, scroll down to the ‘Recharge & Bill Payments’ section and click on the ‘FASTag Recharge’ icon. Then select the issuer bank of your FASTag. Once you click on the issuer bank, enter your vehicle number or Wallet ID number linked to the FASTag account, proceed to payment.

4. Recharging using Paytm – Open the Paytm app, click on the ‘All Services’ tab and tap the ‘Recharge & Pay Bills’ option. You will see a FASTag recharge option where you can select your FASTag issuer bank, enter your vehicle number linked to the FASTag account and proceed to pay. Paytm also has a ‘Manage FASTag’ tab where you can buy a FASTag for a personal or commercial vehicle, add money to Paytm FASTag, recharge other tolls and find information on FASTags

5. Cap on the maximum balance – The maximum balance that can be held in the prepaid wallet is limited. These are the regulations’ limits: FASTag account holders with limited KYC are not permitted to carry more than Rs 20,000 in their FASTag prepaid wallet. The reload limit is likewise set at Rs 20,000 per month.
Full KYC FASTag account holders are restricted to have a maximum of Rs 1 lakh in their FASTag prepaid wallet. According to the Indian Highw