FASTag is a cashless payment system that uses RFID technology to collect toll taxes at national highway toll plazas. It helps to prevent long queues and traffic congestion. Since February 16, 2021, all four-wheelers must have a FASTag fitted on their vehicles.
The system is operated by several banks under the supervision of NPCI and NHAI. FASTag eliminates manual toll collection, making the process faster and more efficient for drivers, saving time and effort.
What is a FASTag Scanner?
A FASTag scanner is a device installed at toll gates on Indian national highways. It enables cashless payment of toll taxes for users passing through toll booths. With a FASTag, you can drive through the toll plaza without stopping to make a cash payment. The scanner reads your FASTag while your vehicle is in motion and deducts the toll amount from your linked bank account.
How Does the FASTag Scanner Work?
Once a four-wheeler owner purchases a FASTag and affixes it to the windscreen of his/her vehicle, he/she becomes eligible for a seamless driving experience across all toll plazas over the Indian national highways. Let’s understand how this works:
- The FASTag is linked to the user’s prepaid account and is then fixed to the windscreen of his/her vehicle. Here’s how you can stick FASTag to your vehicle!
- With the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, the FASTag scanner scans the tag affixed on the vehicle and automatically deducts the toll amount from the linked prepaid account
- The technology works such that the vehicle does not have to stop at the toll gate; the amount gets deducted as the vehicle passes through it
- Your prepaid FASTag account will then be debited for the transaction
What Happens if You Don’t Have a FASTag on Your Vehicle?
Since 16 February 2021, the Government of India has made it mandatory for users to have FASTag installed on their four-wheeler vehicles. If, somehow, you don’t have the FASTag installed on your vehicle, you will have to pay twice the toll tax amount at every toll plaza that you cross across the Indian national highways.
