What are the Charges for FASTag, and is it Mandatory in India?
Posted on Friday, December 2nd, 2022 | By IndusInd Bank
FASTag charges vary in accordance with the vehicle. Mandatory since 2021, the use of FASTag makes road trips easier and faster.
Launched as a pilot project in 2014, the FASTag system was introduced to facilitate electronic payments at toll plazas across the country, eliminating human intervention in toll collection. A tag that is attached to the windscreen of automobiles, FASTag is based on the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. RFID technology enables the toll payment to be electronically deducted while the car or vehicle is in motion.
Charges for FASTag
There are 3 kinds of FASTag charges you should be aware of. These are:
1. Joining Fee: This is a one-time issuance charge levied only at the time of registration. The current fee is Rs. 100 including GST and applicable taxes.
2. Security Deposit: The security deposit is a negligible fee which is refundable against zero dues at the time of account closure. The amount varies from vehicle to vehicle. The security deposit may be used to pay any outstanding toll charges in case of insufficient funds in your FASTag account.
3. Threshold Amount: The threshold amount is the minimum recharge amount that will be fully available on your Tag account to pay for any toll charges following tag activation. The threshold amount varies, depending on the type of vehicle.
The FASTag charges for different vehicles are detailed in the table below:
Vehicle Class | Description of Vehicle | Threshold Amount | Security Deposit |
4 | Car/Van/Jeep | 200 | 200 |
5 | Light Commercial Vehicle 2-axle | 150 | 300 |
6 | Light Commercial vehicle 3-Axle | 300 | 400 |
7 | Bus 2-Axle | 300 | 400 |
6 | Bus–3 axle | 300 | 400 |
5 | Mini-Bus | 150 | 300 |
6 | Truck – 3 axle | 300 | 500 |
12 | Truck 4, 5 & 6 – axle | 300 | 500 |
15 | Truck 7-axle and above | 300 | 500 |
16 | Earth Moving / Heavy Construction Machinery | 300 | 500 |
The Government of India has made it mandatory to attach FASTag on all vehicles from 16th February, 2021. Without FASTag, you will have to pay double the toll amount.
The IndusInd Bank FASTag programme
FASTag is currently operated by the National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) governed by the NPCI (National Payment Corporation of India) and NHAI (National Highway Authority of India). The IndusInd Bank FASTag programme is a part of the NETC initiative rolled out by NPCI.
The salient features of IndusInd Bank FASTag are as follows:
- The tag is linked to an easily rechargeable prepaid account from which the applicable toll charges are deducted.
- You may opt for FASTag recharge online via debit card, credit card, Netbanking, or other modes of online payment.
- RFID technology enables the toll amount to be automatically paid, so there is no need to carry exact change in cash or stop at toll collection booths.
- The FASTag user receives SMS alerts on their registered mobile number for all toll transactions and low balance.
- FASTag remains valid for 5 years. You may continue using the same FASTag account for the new tag.
- You may log on to the FASTag customer portal and access your detailed statement with ease.
- Tag will be funded automatically when the balance becomes low, provided adequate funds are available in the customer wallet.
FASTag can easily be purchased online on the official IndusInd Bank website. You may also visit an IndusInd Bank branch near you to get your tag account created. Apart from your KYC (Know Your Customer) documents, you will need to furnish your vehicle’s Registration Certificate (RC), and your Driving Licence when applying for FASTag. Additionally, you could get FASTag at any of the Point of Sale terminals located at toll booths.
Usable at hundreds of toll booths across the country, FASTag offers great convenience while travelling through state and national highways. Get FASTag today for easier, faster road trips!