Indian roads, especially highways, have become significant in recent years. The infrastructure of the roads has been improved to a great extent, which provides uninterrupted traffic flows without any jams in the streets. If you are a frequent traveller, you might not face any problems on these roads and can have a smooth journey, but still, some things are not under your control, and you would usually hate them during your journeys. One of such problems travellers face is long queues at toll plazas across the highway, which would waste a lot of time waiting for your turn. However, the government has introduced FASTag for vehicles, which has been mandatory for four-wheelers since December 2019. More than 600+ toll plazas across the country are equipped with FASTag. Let us get to know about what FASTag is, the benefits of FASTag, how to get FASTag for your vehicles and when your FASTag is blacklisted.
What is FASTag?
With the help of the National Payments Corporation of India, the government has developed the NETC program, which refers to the National Electronic Toll Collection. This program allows the collection of toll tax without any human intervention. This program, also known as FASTag, helps reduce the rush at toll plazas across the. The FASTag is a device that uses RFID technology Radio Frequency Identification, which will deduct the toll charges automatically when the vehicle passes through the FASTag lane of the toll plaza. The FASTag sticker is applied on the front windscreen of the four-wheelers, and when they pass through the toll, money will be auto-debited from the FASTag account linked with the vehicle.
Things to know about FASTag
Though FASTag is an easy and convenient method to pay your toll tax without any human intervention, there are still some points about the technology that are necessary to know before you move your vehicle on highways:
- FASTag can be used at any toll plaza across the country, regardless of who the acquirer of the toll plaza is.
- FASTag is affixed on the front windscreen of the four-wheeler.
- If you own more than one four-wheeler, you must have separate FASTags for both vehicles. You cannot use the same FASTag for multiple cars.
- Once you have purchased a FASTag for a vehicle, it will be valid for 5 years. You can recharge the FASTag as required after buying it.
- FASTag can be recharged online through net banking, UPI, debit cards, credit cards and Paytm. The minimum amount to recharge FASTag is Rs100, and the maximum amount is Rs 1,00,000.
- You should always buy FASTag from trusted banking partners only.
- You should never buy a FASTag from a company that asks to link your bank account. You should always use prepaid service for the FASTag.
What are the benefits of using FASTag?
The FASTag has many advantages for the wheeler owners. The benefits of FASTag are listed below:
Cashless Payments
One of the best advantages by making FASTag compulsory is the tension of having an exact change at toll plazas. The transaction will be cashless and money will be automatically debited from your FASTag wallets.
Mobile Alerts through SMS
Whenever you pass through any toll plaza, you will receive SMS alerts on your registered mobile numbers when money will be deducted from FASTag. You will also receive alerts for low balances in your FASTag wallet.
Online Recharge
This is one of the best advantages of having FASTag. You can recharge it anytime using debit cards, net banking and UPI.
Faster Moving on Highway
Thus, it also reduces the travelling time from one place to another as it will reduce human intervention, saving your precious time.
Cashback Offers
To promote FASTag, the government is providing very good cashback offers for the users. Currently, they are providing 2.5% cashback for every transaction through the FASTag wallet.
How to buy FASTags?
FASTags can be bought from various sources. Many nationalized and private banks provide the facility to create a FASTag account. Moreover, some payment wallets, such as Paytm, are also issuing FASTags for four-wheelers. You can also buy FASTags at toll plazas, where they have a point of sale (POS), which will help you get FASTag.
List of Banks Providing FASTags Account
BankCustomer Care Helpline
Tag issuance charge
Airtel Payments Bank 400 Rs. 100
EQUITAS SMALL FINANCE BANK 1800 103 1222 Rs. 100
IDFC FIRST Bank 1800-266-9970 ₹200 including service tax
PAYTM Payments Bank 1800-102-6480 Rs. 100
State Bank of India 1800-11-0018 Rs. 100
Axis Bank Ltd 1800-419-8585 Rs. 200 + service tax
Federal Bank 1800-266-9520 Rs. 100
Indusind Bank 1860 -500- 5004 Rs.200
Punjab and Maharashtra Co-op Bank 1800-223-993 Rs. 200
Syndicate Bank 1800-425-0585 Rs. 200
Bank of Baroda 1800-103-4568 Rs. 84.74 + GST
FINO Payments Bank 1860-266-3466 Rs.100 + GST
Karur Vysya Bank 1800-102-1916 Rs.100
Punjab National Bank 080-67295310 Rs.100
Union Bank of India 1800- 22- 22 44 Rs.100
Canara Bank 1800-103-3568
Rs. 200
HDFC Bank 1800-120-1243 Rs. 200
Kotak Mahindra Bank 1800-300-69090 Rs. 100
Saraswat Co-operative Bank 1800-266-9545 Rs.100
Yes Bank Ltd 1800 -1200 Rs.100
City Union Bank Ltd 1800-258-7200 Rs. 200
ICICI Bank 1800-2100-104 Rs. 99.12
Nagapur Nagarik Sahakari Bank 1800 -266- 7183 Rs 100
South Indian Bank 1800-425-1809 Rs 100
A person can also buy the FASTag from the automobile company from which he is going to buy his four-wheeler, and they will install it on their new vehicles.
Documents Required for the Application of FASTag
Whenever you buy a FASTag account, you will require some documents and a photocopy of the account. Here is the list of the documents you will need when purchasing a FASTag for your vehicle:
- RC of the vehicle for which you are going to have FASTag.
- The user must also submit a passport-size photograph of the vehicle owner.
- You will need a document for KYC, which includes any one of these: driver’s license, adhar card, PAN card, Voter ID, and Passport.
How FASTag Works?
Here are the steps where we will learn how a FASTag transaction works when it is initiated at a toll plaza through an RFID reader:
- A vehicle will pass through the FASTag lane, where the RFID device will capture FASTag details, including the ID of the tag, the Class of the vehicle and TID, which are sent to the bank for processing.
- The bank will further initiate a request to NETC Mapper, which will validate the tag details.
- After the Tag ID is validated by NETC, the mapper will send details, which are vehicle class, tag status, and VRN. If the mapper cannot locate the Tag, it will return a response that the particular TAG ID is not registered.
- Thus, the bank will calculate the toll fare, and a debit request will be initiated for NETC.
- After that, The NETC will forward the request to the bank that has issued FASTag to debit from the user’s FASTag account.
- The host will deduct the money, and the user will receive an SMS alert. The host will also send the message to NETC.
This is how FASTag will deduct the money from your account, and you can travel hassle-free.
FASTag Blacklisted
If you pass through any toll plaza and your FASTag wallet is out of money, your FASTag wallet is usually blacklisted for 48 hours if you use the FASTag lane for crossing the toll gate. Your FASTag account will only be reactivated with the intervention of the NHAI helpdesk if you travel. To reactivate your card, you can also call the NHAI customer helpline number, which is 1033.
Usually, when a person buys a FASTag, Rs 200 is added as a security deposit, which can be used during emergencies. The amount can be deducted from the security deposit if you have exhausted your main FASTag wallet account. Again, when you recharge your wallet, money will be added as a security deposit, which you have used, and the rest of the amount will be deposited in your main FASTag wallet.
How to Use FASTag?
Now we are aware of FASTag, we will see how the FASTag works when a vehicle enters a toll plaza:
- First, when your vehicle enters the FASTag lane, the RFID reader on the lane will auto-detect your FASTag and deduct the amount from your wallet.
- You will get a confirmation receipt in your email and an alert message on your phone linked with a tag.
- Once the money is deducted from your tag, you will get a green signal and can pass through the plaza without hassle.
FASTag Common Problems
Everything has its pros and cons. The pros are already explained, and now we will see what difficulties one can face while using FASTag.
Sometimes when you pass your vehicle through the FASTag lane, the RFID reader might not detect the FASTag of your vehicle. You might need to move your vehicle a little backward and forward, and you must also ensure that the FASTag is correctly placed on your vehicle so that it’s easily detectable.
If your FASTag is still undetected, a man at the toll plaza will come with a handheld RFID reader to detect your tag. There are some disadvantages of these handheld devices:
- They are faulty at some times.
- They need to be charged after 5-6 hours.
Some companies deduct the FASTag charges if you are not using it in the name of the FASTag event. So don’t buy FASTag from such companies. As FASTag is a prepaid wallet, you don’t need to link your bank account with FASTag.
How to Buy HDFC FASTag?
The HDFC FASTag program is also an effort of NETC rolled out by NPCI, following the guidelines carried out by NHAI and IHMCL. A reloadable tag that will deduct your toll automatically when your vehicle passes through a toll without caring about the exact change required during cash transactions. HDFC is also issuing the FASTag to its customers. You can apply for the HDFC FASTag online or offline by visiting their Point of Sales location and carrying the required documents.
HDFC FASTag Apply
It’s very easy and convenient to apply for FASTag with the help of HDFC Bank. You can apply for this both online and offline.
HDFC FASTag Online
You need to follow the below-mentioned steps to apply for HDFC FASTag :
- You will need to visit HDFC bank FASTag webportal.
- Now, the first option is whether you have an HDFC BANK account or not. If you click yes, you will be asked for your customer ID, and then you will be sent to your registered mobile.
- If you click no, then you will be asked another option, whether it’s a personal vehicle or a commercial vehicle.
When you select any of them, you will see a form in which you have to fill in all the details mentioned in the form.
- After filling out the form, you will be redirected to the tab called “Vehicle Registrations”, where you will fill in the vehicle’s registration number along with the vehicle type.
- After that, click next and upload the documents required to complete the application.
- After uploading your documents, review your application and submit it.
- Pay the necessary fees shown to you while completing the application, and you will be done.
Thus, we are done with HDFC FASTag registration online, and now we will show you how to get your HDFC FASTag registration offline.
HDFC FASTag Registration Offline
You can also apply for the HDFC FASTag offline by visiting the Point of Sales location of HDFC Bank. Follow the steps below to apply FASTag offline:
- Visit any Point of sale location of HDFC Bank along with your vehicle.
- You will need these documents while visiting the place: the registration certificate of the vehicle, your passport-size photograph, and your identity proof, such as your driving license, voter ID, or Aadhar card.
- After that, you must fill out a form for FASTag, which you will sign and submit to the bank representative.
- Then, you will be asked to pay the required fees as per the class of your vehicle, and your FASTag will be created.
- Then, the banking representative will apply your FASTag to the car’s windscreen, so bring your vehicle with you. Hence, your HDFC FASTag registration is completed.
HDFC FASTag Application Status
When you apply for HDFC FASTag online, you can check your FASTag account using a retail login, where you need to fill in your user ID, which is sent to you during your tag registration. Once you enter the portal by entering the password, you can access all the details of your FASTag account. You can check your HDFC FASTag application status there. Usually, it takes 7 days if you reside in a metro city and 15 days if you are in a non-metro city.
If you have applied for FASTag offline, you can contact HDFC FASTag Customer Care at 1800-120-1243.
HDFC FASTag Customer Care
HDFC has issued an HDFC Customer Care Number for FASTag’s sales and services. If you face any emergency circumstances during your drive on a national highway, HDFC is also providing roadside assistance for its customers.
HDFC FASTag Customer Care Number
Here is the customer care number for HDFC FASTag
- HDFC FASTag Customer Care Number: 1800 – 120 – 1243
- HDFC Emergency Roadside Assistance Number: 022-67872087
HDFC FASTag Charges
As we finish all the information regarding HDFC FASTag registration, HDFC FASTag Customer Care Numbers, and all other necessary information, we will see how much HDFC charges for issuing FASTag to its users. You will have to pay the following charges to get your HDFC FASTag.
- Tag Joining Fee (One-time Fee): FREE* (Till 31st December 2019)
- Reissuance Fees: 100/- ( including all applicable taxes)
The one advantage they are giving is on FASTag joining fees, which they are not charging to the users till 31st December 2019. You will need to pay the other charges, such as the security deposit and threshold amount, which you need to pay when you join FASTag through HDFC Bank. The charges are explained in the below table.
HDFC FASTag Charges
NPCI Vehicle Class Description Security Deposit (in Rs.) Threshold Amount (in Rs.)
4 Car / Jeep / Van / Tata Ace and Similar mini Light Commercial Vehicle 200 100
5 Light Commercial vehicle 2-axle 300 200
6 Bus– 3 axle 400 500
6 Truck – 3 axle 500 500
7 Bus 2 axle / Minibus, Truck 2 axle 400 500
12 Tractor / Tractor with trailer, Truck 4, 5 & 6 -axle 500 500
15 Truck 7-axle and above 500 500
16 Earth Moving / Heavy Construction Machinery 500 500
You will have to incur GST on the above-mentioned charges separately from time to time. The threshold amount is a necessary requirement for the activation of the tag. The amount of toll tax that will be deducted will depend upon the vehicle class and the toll plaza rates.
How to change Fastag’s mobile number?
It is an easy process to change a FASTag account from one bank to another; you just need to follow the below-mentioned steps:
1. If the customer’s Fastag is linked with the Paytm wallet, which is, in turn, connected with another bank, then he/she can change the bank account and recharge the wallet from the new bank account.
2. However, if the customer’s Fastag is linked with the Paytm bank account, then by changing the bank, he/she also needs to cancel the Paytm-linked Fastag as well.
What to do with Fastag when selling a car?
If you have sold or transferred your car, you must inform your issuing source or bank and close the account as soon as possible.
How To Recharge HDFC Bank Fastag Through PhonePe App
- Login to your PhonePe app on your Mobile
- You will see the Recharge section at the top.
- Select the Fastag Recharge option on 2nd number
- You will see almost all Fastag operators in the list.
- Select your ban operator from the list
- Next, It will ask for your Vehicle number, so enter your vehicle number
- Add your Fastga to your PhonePe account.
- Enter the recharge amount and proceed with the payment
- Complete the payment.
How to Recharge HDFC Fastag Through Google Pay App
- Open your Google Pay application.
- From the bottom of your screen, swipe up to find the Fastag.
- Click on FASTag Icon and then make payment.
- Choose the FASTag account to which you want to send money.
- Enter the Recharge amount.
- To confirm, tap the Tick mark.
- Complete the payment.