8 Tips for Using FASTag Efficiently

On December 15, 2019, the Indian government made it compulsory to use FASTags for toll payments. While you can still pay with cash, you will have to pay double the amount as a penalty. This means you must ensure that your FASTag is functioning properly before reaching the toll plaza.
Therefore, it is important to know how to use your FASTag efficiently. In this article, you will learn eight tips for using FASTag effectively.
Eight tips for using FASTags efficiently
Here are eight important tips for using your FASTag efficiently:
Maintain sufficient balance
Your FASTag may get blacklisted or suspended if you do not maintain a minimum required balance in your FASTag account. Contact the bank or NBFC from which you have bought the FASTag and ask about the minimum balance amount. Recharge at regular intervals to keep your FASTag active.
Avoid legal violations
If your vehicle has encountered any legal violations, it may be suspended by law enforcement. For example, using your personal car’s FASTag on a commercial vehicle could lead to such issues. It is important to avoid any legal violations. If this happens, contact customer care and the law enforcement agency for a quick resolution.
One Vehicle, One Tag
NHAI has introduced ‘One Vehicle, One Tag’. It means that one car can only have one FASTag issued by a single institution. If you have multiple FASTags, the one issued most recently remains active. However, multiple FASTags on the windscreen may create technical problems while scanning. Hence, use and stick only one active FASTag on your windscreen.
Double charges
The Indian government has made it compulsory to use FASTags as the mode of payment while paying tolls. However, if your FASTag fails to work while scanning at a toll plaza, you will have to pay cash. If this happens, you will have to pay double the toll amount in cash. Hence, ensure that your FASTag is active and clearly visible before reaching the toll.
Third-party insurance
The seamless working of a FASTag relies on valid third-party vehicle insurance. This means that for your FASTag to remain active, you must have valid third-party vehicle insurance. Hence, ensure that you have active third-party vehicle insurance with timely premium payments. This will also help protect you financially in case of an accident.
Validity
One of the best features of a FASTag is its long validity. Once issued, a FASTag is valid for a minimum of 5 years. This means that you do not have to renew it for a minimum of 5 years. However, once the validity ends, you must renew its validity to keep it active. Contact the customer care of the issuing agency to learn the renewal process.
Recharge
A FASTag works by deducting required money at toll plazas from its current balance. If your FASTag does not have the required balance, you must recharge it before reaching the toll. If you fail to recharge it in time, the toll executive may ask you to pay the toll amount in cash, which includes a 100% penalty. Hence, ensure that your FASTag has sufficient balance before starting the journey. Only use trusted online marketplaces and platforms for recharging.
FASTag cloning
Most frequent travellers recharge their FASTags with a high amount in one single transaction for long-term use. However, this poses a cybersecurity threat where your FASTag may be cloned or hacked for fraudulent activities or for paying tolls for other people. It is important that you only buy FASTags from authorised institutions and keep track of all the transactions done through your FASTag. You can avoid potential financial losses by recharging your FASTag before every journey and not in one transaction.
Conclusion
FASTags have become convenient for travellers as they ensure lower waiting time and hassle at tolls around India. However, as they are the only option to pay tolls, as cash payments include penalties, it becomes crucial that you use your FASTag efficiently. Now that you know eight tips for their efficient usage, you can ensure smooth toll transactions using your FASTag.