FASTag Annual Pass: Eligibility, Validity, and How It Works
From Aug 15, ₹3,000 could cover your highway tolls for a whole year. The FASTag Annual Pass is here. Will it change your travel game?
Admin
From this Independence Day, frequent highway travelers in India will have one less thing to worry about: toll recharges. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is rolling out the FASTag Annual Pass on 15 August 2025, a prepaid option that offers up to 200 toll crossings or one year of travel, whichever comes first, for a flat ₹3,000.
Introduced to tackle congestion, reduce delays, and streamline toll transactions, the pass is open to millions of regular highway users driving non-commercial private cars, jeeps, and vans. Eligibility is confirmed via the VAHAN database, and coverage is limited to stretches under NHAI or the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). The scheme will particularly benefit commuters on major national highways, including Delhi–Jaipur, Hyderabad–Vijayawada, and Chennai–Bengaluru. However, state and privately operated expressways are excluded from the coverage.
Benefits of the FASTag Annual Pass for Regular Highway Travelers
For those who often find themselves queuing at toll plazas, the annual pass offers more than just savings. It removes the need for repeated online recharges, ensures faster movement through toll booths with contactless payment, and eliminates the small but regular stress of tracking toll deductions. Existing FASTag holders won’t need to replace their tag, an upgrade to the annual plan is all it takes. In addition, users get a fixed annual cost shielded from mid-year toll revisions, which typically rise by 3–5% every April. Over the course of a year, this can translate to noticeable savings for high-frequency travelers.
FASTag Annual Pass Usage Rules
Under the scheme, each crossing through an NHAI or MoRTH toll plaza is counted as a single trip. Upon reaching either 200 trips or the 12-month validity, the pass reverts to the standard pay-per-use FASTag. The facility is vehicle-specific, non-transferable, and excludes tolls on state highways and municipal corridors, including the Mumbai–Pune and Bengaluru–Mysore expressways.
For clarity, if a vehicle crosses the same toll plaza twice in a day, once onward and once return, both count as two separate trips. Unused trips, however, do not carry forward after the 12-month validity ends.
How to Buy the FASTag Annual Pass
From August 15, vehicle owners can purchase the pass through the Rajmarg Yatra app or the NHAI/MoRTH website. The process involves:
- Logging in with the vehicle number and FASTag ID.
- The FASTag must be in active status, securely mounted in the correct position, and linked to the vehicle’s official registration number.
- A payment of ₹3,000 can be made conveniently through UPI, credit or debit cards, or net banking.
- Receiving confirmation via SMS, after which the pass becomes active immediately.
For those less comfortable with digital apps, authorized banks and FASTag issuers are also expected to integrate the annual pass option in their platforms. This ensures both tech-savvy and traditional users have equal access to the facility.
Key Beneficiaries of the FASTag Annual Pass
For the daily commuter rushing to the office, the intercity traveler navigating tight schedules, and the frequent driver covering long expanses of NHAI highways, this prepaid model changes the rhythm of travel. It replaces repeated toll stops with effortless crossings, reduces the hassle of handling cash or recharges, and delivers both cost savings and the comfort of an uninterrupted ride. A Delhi–Jaipur commuter, for example, typically crosses tolls costing around ₹400 per round trip. With about 20 trips in a month, that adds up to nearly ₹8,000. Under the annual pass, the cost is capped at ₹3,000, making the savings substantial.
As NHAI prepares for the rollout, the FASTag Annual Pass could become a game-changer in India’s highway travel, combining cost predictability with faster, smoother transit, a welcome step for those who see the open road as part of their daily routine. It also lays the foundation for future initiatives such as GPS-based tolling, which the government has been testing in pilot phases, pointing toward a future of completely barrier-free highways.
FAQs
What is the FASTag Annual Pass?
The FASTag Annual Pass is a prepaid toll payment option launched by NHAI, offering up to 200 toll crossings or one year of validity, whichever comes first, for a flat ₹3,000.
When will the FASTag Annual Pass be available?
It will be available from 15 August 2025 as an optional service for eligible vehicle owners.
Who can buy the FASTag Annual Pass?
Only owners of non-commercial private cars, jeeps, and vans listed in the VAHAN database are eligible. Commercial vehicles are not covered.
Where will the FASTag Annual Pass work?
It is valid only on national highways and expressways managed by NHAI or MoRTH. It will not apply to state highways or municipal toll roads.
How can I buy the FASTag Annual Pass?
You can purchase it via the Rajmarg Yatra app or the NHAI/MoRTH website by entering your vehicle number and FASTag ID, ensuring your FASTag is active, and making the ₹3,000 payment online.
Do I need to get a new FASTag for the annual pass?
No. You’re existing FASTag can be upgraded to the annual plan as long as it’s active and linked to your vehicle’s registration number.
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