FASTag Annual Pass: This is an annual pass through which one can travel for the whole year or up to 200 trips at the cost of Rs 3,000. With the announcement of this pass, many questions are arising in the minds of people. For example, will this pass also be applicable on commercial vehicles like cabs, etc.? So let us understand the complete details of this annual pass in simple language.
FASTag Annual Pass Explained: To make travel on national highways affordable and easy, on June 18, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced the FASTag Annual Pass. This is an annual pass through which one can travel for the whole year or up to 200 trips at the cost of Rs 3,000. Apart from this, there are many other benefits of this annual pass that will make the journey better. But is this pass only for private vehicles, or will commercial vehicles also get its benefits? Let us understand in detail the FASTag Annual Pass system:
What is the annual pass?
First of all, know that the FASTag Annual Pass is not a separate sticker or device. Rather, it is a subscription-based plan to be activated on the existing FASTag on the vehicle. It can be activated for one year or 200 trips for a fee of Rs 3,000. At present, it will be implemented only on some selected highways of the country like National Highways (NH) and National Expressways (NE), where its facility is going to start soon.
When will the pass be applicable and how will it be activated?
The FASTag Annual Pass is planned to be implemented across the country from 15 August 2025. To avail of this service, users will have to visit the Highway Travel App and the official websites of NHAI / MoRTH, where a new link will be made available soon, through which you will be able to activate the annual pass on your FASTag.
It is important to note here that the annual pass will not be active on vehicles whose FASTag is registered only with the chassis number. Such vehicle owners will be required to update the Vehicle Registration Number (VRN), only after which they will be able to apply for the annual pass.
How will trips be counted?
As mentioned above, only 200 trips can be made using this pass. For this, the government has also explained the method of counting trips. According to the ministry:
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Every toll crossing at a point-based fee plaza will count as one trip.
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If a round trip is taken, it will be considered as 2 trips.
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At a closed tolling fee plaza, both entry and exit will be considered as one trip.
Expect huge savings
The new FASTag Annual Pass is expected to bring huge savings. According to an estimate, compared to traditional toll charges and monthly passes, users can save from Rs 1,000 to Rs 7,000 per year. However, this depends on how frequently they travel and the distance covered. This is a big benefit for those using national highways regularly.
Will commercial vehicles also get the annual pass?
At present, the government has started the FASTag Annual Pass only for private vehicles. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said in his post shared on social media:
“This pass has been specially designed only for non-commercial private vehicles (cars, jeeps, vans, etc.). Commercial vehicles are not included in this.”
Commercial vehicles will continue to use the FASTag toll system as before.
Toll prices for commercial vehicles vary depending on several factors, including the type of vehicle (number of axles, size, etc.), the particular toll plaza, and the distance traveled on the toll road. Generally, larger commercial vehicles such as trucks and multi-axle vehicles have to pay more than light commercial vehicles. Monthly passes are also issued for these vehicles.
This will not be applicable on these roads
The FASTag Annual Pass will be applicable only on toll plazas operated by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). This pass will not be applicable on:
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State highways
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Private-run toll roads
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State-run expressways
The existing toll collection system will remain in place for these roads. So, do not forget to keep balance in your FASTag.
Can the Annual Pass be transferred?
No, the annual pass will be issued on the FASTag of each vehicle. It can be used only for one vehicle and cannot be transferred. Each FASTag is issued on the chassis and Vehicle Registration Number (VRN) of the vehicle. Therefore, one pass will be applicable to only one vehicle.
Benefits of FASTag Annual Pass:
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Freedom from the hassle of recharging FASTag repeatedly
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Cost-effective for those making up to 200 trips a year
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Relief from long queues at toll plazas
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Avoid disputes at toll booths
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More transparency in toll collection
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Real-time SMS notifications