What Is An Exempted FASTag?  

FASTag refers to a tag attached to the windscreen of the vehicle and is linked to your bank account. Whenever you cross a border, you pay a toll to exit from a state and to enter another. 

Whenever a vehicle reaches a toll plaza, the toll scanner scans the FASTag and deducts tax from your bank account directly. Over the years, with the introduction of digital FASTag, the process of toll plaza has revolutionized. It saves time and effort at the toll plaza. 

However, there are certain vehicles that are exempted from paying any toll while crossing a border. Such vehicles own an exempted fastag.

To know more about exempted FASTag, read the blog thoroughly.

What Is An Exempted FASTag?

Rule 11 of the National Highway Fee Rule, 2008, proclaims no fee shall be levied from the vehicles that are issued exempted FASTag, which may include vehicles of the President, Prime Minister, Governors, Union Ministers, Cabinet Ministers, Supreme Court judges and numerous notable dignitaries. Whether the vehicle is transporting or accompanying, being used for official purposes or as an ambulance, by no means shall toll plaza collect any payment from the concerned vehicle.

While these vehicles are exempted from any payment, they are still obliged to stick a FASTag sticker on their vehicle for seamless movement through electronic toll collection lanes.  

However, only the agencies that are authorized by NHAI are eligible to issue exempted FASTag within the country. NHAI has also issued a toll plaza exemption list for the reference of beneficiaries.

Documents Required To Apply For Exempted FASTag

Following are the few mandatory documents required to apply for an exempted FASTag:

• Filled application form
• RC of the concerned vehicle
• Your identity proof i.e., Aadhaar card, PAN card, etc.
• Exemption proof, as applicable.

How To Apply For Exempted FASTag?

Following is a step-to-step guide on how you can apply for a FASTag exemption:

Step 1: Head to the official web portal of IHMCL and register by clicking on exempted FASTag Portal.

Step 2: To move ahead, click on “Applicant Login” followed by “New User Registration” as displayed on the page.

Step 3: By filling in basic information including name, mobile number, city etc., generate a unique ID and password.

Step 4: You’ll receive the ID and password via email, log into the portal to download the applicant form.

Step 5: Once downloaded, go to “Upload Form” on the official website.

Step 6: Select relevant exemption category code and NHAI regional office.

Step 7: Fill out the form by providing the asked documents on the page.

Step 8: After submitting the form you’ll receive a confirmation email from IHMCL.

How To Know The Status Of An Exempted FASTag Application?

To know the status of your FASTag exemption application, follow the below steps: 

Step 1: Visit the official website of IHMCL and click on “Exempted FASTag Portal”.

Step 2: Further, click on “Applicant Login” and use the same ID and password along with a verification code and go to “Login In”.

Step 3: Click on “Status” , enter your application number and “submit”.

Step 4: The status will be displayed on your screen.

Toll Plaza Exemption List of Vehicles

Let’s see who all are exempted from toll tax in India. NHAI has issued a dedicated list for all the vehicles that are under toll tax exemption and no fee shall be levied on them at any toll plaza. This toll plaza exemption list caters to vehicles from all the categories of FASTag exemption.

Category 1: Any vehicle that is transporting or accompanying the following shall not be levied to pay any toll tax

• The President of India
• The Vice-President of India
• The Prime Minister of India
• The Governor of a State
• The Chief Justice of India
• The Speaker of the House of People
• The Cabinet Minister of the Union
• The Chief Minister of a State
• The Judge of the Supreme Court
• The Minister of State of the Union
• The Lieutenant Governor of a Union Territory
• The Chief of Staff holding the rank of full General or equivalent rank
• The Chairman of the Legislative Council of a State
• The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of a State
• The Chief Justice of a High Court
• The Judge of a High Court
• The Member of Parliament
• The Army Commander or Vice-Chief of Army Staff and equivalent in other services
• The Chief Secretary to a State Government within the concerned State
• The Secretary to the Government of India
• The Secretary, Council of States
• The Secretary, House of People
• The Foreign dignitary on State visit
• The Member of Legislative Assembly of a State and the Member of Legislative Council of a State within their respective State, if he or she produces his or her identity card issued by the concerned Legislature of the State
• The awardee of Param Vir Chakra, Ashok Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Vir Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra, if such awardee produces his or her photo identity card duly authenticated by the appropriate or competent authority for such award.

Category 2: Used by the dignitaries for the official purpose such as:

• The Ministry of Defense, including those eligible for exemption under the Indian Toll (Army and Air Force) Act, 1901 and its rules, as extended to the Navy
• The Central and State armed forces in uniform, including paramilitary forces and police
• An Executive Magistrate
• The fire-fighting department or organization
• The National Highway Authority of India or any other government organization using such vehicles for inspection, survey, construction, or operation of national highways and their maintenance
• Vehicles used as ambulances
• Vehicles used as funeral vans

What Is The Validity Of An Exempted FASTag?

• For every government vehicle: Validity duration is 5 years
• For private vehicles: Validity duration stands 1 year. 
• For MLAs, MPs, and MLCs: The exempted vehicle is valid until the maturity of their parliamentary mandate. 

Exempted FASTag is a privilege granted to all of these notables in recognition of their selfless service to the nation’s advancement and security.