Key Takeaways
- OneTag lets users port their FASTag between banks, similar to mobile number portability, without peeling off the old sticker or buying a new one.
- Union Minister Nitin Gadkari launched the system on September 11, 2026, at the Global Fintech Fest 2026 in Mumbai.
- The Tag ID and vehicle registration number stay exactly the same after the switch; only the issuing bank changes in the background.
- The entire process runs through NHAI’s Rajmargyatra app, built jointly by IHMCL and NPCI, with participating issuer banks expected to be added to the network over time.
- OneTag is part of a larger tolling reform push, as the government simultaneously works on barrier-free, camera-based tolling (Multi-Lane Free Flow) with a target of nationwide rollout by early 2027.
FASTag users will soon be able to switch the bank that issued their tag without replacing the physical sticker on their vehicle, under a new portability system called OneTag launched by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on September 11, 2026. The facility was unveiled at the Global Fintech Fest 2026 in Mumbai and is designed to function much like mobile number portability, allowing motorists to change their service provider while retaining the underlying identity of their tag.
What is OneTag
OneTag is a new National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) FASTag portability system that allows vehicle owners to move their existing FASTag from one issuer bank to another while retaining the same physical tag, Tag ID, and vehicle registration number. Only the bank managing the account changes; the tag fitted to the windscreen and the NETC network’s record of the vehicle remain unaffected. The system has been jointly developed by the Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL), a company promoted by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), which operates the NETC backend.
Officials said the portability facility works within the existing NETC infrastructure, meaning toll plazas require no additional hardware or software changes; NPCI updates the issuer details linked to a tag once a switch is approved. According to the ministry, FASTag currently has a penetration rate of more than 98 percent, with around 13 crore NETC FASTags issued nationwide, of which approximately 6 crore are active.
Currently, a FASTag user who wants to change the issuer bank must close the existing tag account, complete a fresh onboarding process, and obtain another physical FASTag. OneTag has been designed to remove that requirement by making the existing tag portable between participating issuers, which officials say will also reduce operational costs tied to repeated tag production, dispatch, and reissuance.
How the switch works
The portability facility is being made available through NHAI’s Rajmargyatra mobile application. According to details shared at the launch, users will first need to check whether their existing FASTag is eligible for portability, after which they can select a new issuer, complete identity verification through an OTP sent to their registered mobile number, and give consent for the switch. The official launch statement does not name specific participating banks at this stage; issuer banks are expected to be onboarded to the network progressively.
Officials have also clarified that any existing wallet balance is not automatically transferred during the switch. The previous issuer bank remains responsible for managing the old wallet, including any pending transactions and refunds, while the newly selected bank handles onboarding and takes over servicing the account once the switch is complete.
Wider tolling reforms
FASTags have been interoperable across toll plazas for several years, regardless of which bank issued them; OneTag addresses a separate issue, the inconvenience that previously discouraged users from changing their issuer bank. Officials said the move is also expected to increase competition among banks, as customer retention will now depend more on service quality and digital experience rather than the difficulty of switching.
The launch comes as the road transport ministry prepares a separate, larger overhaul of highway tolling. Speaking at the same Global Fintech Fest event, Gadkari said the ministry is moving towards barrier-free toll collection using FASTag in combination with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, under a system referred to as Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF). He said officials have been directed to complete 60 to 70 percent of the rollout by December 2026, with the system expected to go live nationwide by February-March 2027, eliminating stoppages at toll plazas almost entirely.
When can users start applying
Officially, no separate future start date has been announced. Government sources state that the OneTag portability facility is being made available through the Rajmargyatra app following its launch on September 11, 2026, meaning eligible users can begin checking their portability status and initiating a bank switch from around the date of the launch itself, subject to their existing issuer and the new bank being part of the participating network.
What is OneTag?
Will my Tag ID or vehicle number change after switching banks?
How do I switch my FASTag to a different bank?
Which banks currently support OneTag?
Do I need to inform toll plazas or get new documents after switching?
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