FASTag Annual Pass Will Not Be Valid On All Highways And Expressways - What You Should Know

On August 15, 2025, marking India's Independence Day, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways introduced the FASTag Annual Pass. This prepaid toll solution is designed specifically for private vehicle owners. By making a one-time payment of Rs. 3,000, drivers unlock unlimited access to National Highways and Expressways for either one year or up to 200 toll crossings (whichever comes first). This initiative presents a welcome alternative to the repeated per-trip charging model. Public response to the FASTag annual pass seems to be quite positive - going by numbers. Within just 24 hours, over 1.4 lakh users had signed up. This momentum continued, and by the end of the fourth day, total subscriptions had crossed the five-lakh mark.

FASTag Annual Pass: Who Can Apply?

The pass is targeted toward private, non-commercial vehicles, including cars, jeeps, and vans. They are eligible provided they're already equipped with an active and properly linked FASTag. This pass is non-transferable; using it on any vehicle other than the one registered to the FASTag will result in immediate deactivation. For point-based toll plazas, each one-way crossing counts as a trip, and a return counts as two. In closed or ticketed systems, a complete entry-to-exit journey counts as one trip, as per IANS.

Also Read: Why Road Trips Exhaust You More Than Train Rides

FASTag Annual Pass: What It Doesn't Cover

The FASTag Annual Pass is valid only for trips on major National Highways and National Expressways managed by the Central Government. Specifically, it applies to toll plazas run by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. If your vehicle is passing through a state highway, the toll amount will be deducted as usual from your regular FASTag account. Thus, at the toll plazas on Expressways and Highways managed by local authorities, you will have to pay as usual. For example, the FASTag Annual pass cannot be used for trips on the Yamuna Expressway, Purvanchal Expressway, Bundelkhand Expressway and Agra-Lucknow Expressway in Uttar Pradesh, as they are managed by the State Government. The FASTag Annual Pass is also not valid for commercial fleets, taxis, local tolls, or parking charges. Those will continue under the standard FASTag system.

FASTag Annual Pass: How To Activate Your Annual Pass In 5 Steps

1. Open the Rajmarg Yatra app or head to the official NHAI/MoRTH portal.
2. Submit your Vehicle Registration Number (VRN) and FASTag ID to verify eligibility.
3. Complete the Rs 3,000 payment through UPI, net banking, or a credit/debit card.
4. Receive confirmation via SMS or in-app notification (most passes activate within two hours).
5. Once activated, two accounts will be created for the same FASTag of your vehicle. One will be for the annual pass, and the other will be your existing one for regular payments.

Note: If your FASTag is registered only with a chassis number, you will first need to update the vehicle registration number before obtaining the FASTag annual pass.

Also Read: Top 8 Road Trips In India To Take Before You Turn 30

Upon expiry, the FASTag automatically reverts to its regular mode. Travellers wishing to continue with the annual convenience must simply renew by paying Rs 3,000 again.

For frequent long-distance commuters, a FASTag annual pass could help them save thousands of rupees per year. Since the prepaid model has been integrated with the existing FASTag infrastructure, it has the potential to boost both the efficiency and economy of highway travel.