If you own a car, you’re likely familiar with FASTag, which is used to pay tolls on highways and expressways.
The government recently introduced an annual FASTag pass to make travel easier and even offers discounts for payments made through it.
However, many people still travel without FASTag and have to pay double toll charges. Now, the government has changed this rule — under certain conditions, drivers without FASTag will no longer need to pay double tolls.
New Rule and Implementation Date
The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has amended the National Highway Fee Rules, 2008.
According to the new rule, vehicles without FASTag will not be charged double toll if they pay using UPI.
This amendment will come into effect from November 15, 2025.
However, if the driver pays in cash, they will still need to pay double the toll. The aim is to encourage digital payments across toll plazas.
What Has Changed
Earlier, those who paid by UPI or cash without FASTag were charged double the toll.
Under the new rules, drivers paying via UPI will now be charged 1.25 times the toll amount, while cash payments will still be charged double.
Example:
If the toll is ₹100 —
Earlier: Non-FASTag users paid ₹200 (whether via UPI or cash).
Now: Non-FASTag users paying via UPI will pay ₹125,
while those paying in cash will continue to pay ₹200.
FASTag Annual Pass
The government has also introduced a FASTag annual pass for frequent highway travelers. This pass is available for private and non-commercial vehicles like cars, jeeps, and vans.
It costs ₹3,000 per year and allows users to cross up to 200 toll plazas within a year.
This new rule aims to make toll collection more digital, faster, and convenient for travelers.
