How to Activate FASTag Online- Advantages, Challenges and Troubleshooting

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FASTag has been a revolutionary innovation streamlining the toll collection system in India. The Indian government has made a FASTag sticker mandatory for all four-wheeled vehicles to make toll booths completely cashless. Apart from saving the time required for toll payments, FASTag also reduces traffic congestion and fuel consumption.

If you have recently purchased a FASTag, in this post you will learn how to activate FASTag online, its advantages, challenges and how to overcome them.

Table of Contents

What is FASTag?

The NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India) developed FASTag, an RFID method to pay charges at toll plazas digitally. FASTag is a magnetic sticker you must affix to your vehicle’s windscreen. Whenever your car crosses a toll plaza, an RFID reader scans the sticker and deducts the toll amount from it electronically. Apart from streamlining toll payments, FASTag also maintains a record of toll transactions for future reference.

How to Activate FASTag Online?

Once you purchase FASTag, activating it is a simple, quick, and straightforward process. You can complete it from the comfort of your home. These are the steps to purchase FASTag for easy activation online through a reputed bank’s mobile app:

Download and Log In: Install the mobile app and log in with your credentials.
Set Up PIN: Enter a 4-digit PIN sent to your registered mobile number for security.
Navigate to Shop Tab: Access the ‘Shop’ tab from the home screen.
Select FASTag: Click on the ‘FASTag’ icon to initiate the purchase process.
Enter Vehicle Details: Provide your vehicle’s registration number, make, and model.
Agree to Terms: Accept the terms and conditions related to FASTag usage.
Provide Contact Information: Enter a valid email ID and delivery address for correspondence.
Choose Payment Source: Select the bank account or wallet from which you wish to debit the amount.
Proceed with Purchase: Tap ‘Proceed’ to complete the purchase and activation process.

Once you link the tag with your wallet or bank account, it is automatically activated. Simply affix it to your vehicle’s windscreen, and toll fees will be automatically deducted as you pass through toll plazas, ensuring convenient and seamless travel experiences.

Leading institutions like ICICI Bank also offer quick and easy FASTag purchases and activation through their Internet banking facility as well. The steps are simple and straightforward:

Log in to your bank’s Internet Banking account.
Navigate to Payments and Transfers.
Select Buy/Recharge FASTag.
Enter your vehicle’s registration number, make, and model.
Provide the delivery address for receiving the FASTag.
Choose the account from which you want to debit the amount.
Agree to the terms and conditions and proceed.
Review the pre-confirmation page to ensure accuracy and click Proceed.
Verify the payment summary and confirm the transaction.

Your FASTag will be delivered to the specified address soon after the transaction is completed.

How to Activate FASTag Offline?

Apart from online platforms, you can also activate FASTag offline at a bank, petrol pump, or toll plaza. These are the steps to follow:

Visit a POS location like an authorised bank branch, toll plaza, or petrol pump.
Provide the necessary documents and your FASTag QR code or ID.
Link your prepaid wallet or bank account with the FASTag account.
Recharge with an initial balance to activate the account.
Complete the activation process

Documents Required for FASTag Activation

These are some documents that most issuing banks require to activate FASTag:

Vehicle Registration Certificate (RC)
Vehicle owner’s passport-size photograph
PAN card
Identity proof
Address proof
Vehicle details, like the make and model and chassis number

Benefits of Online FASTag Activation

Activating the FASTag online offers numerous advantages. These include the following:

Easy: With online FASTag activation, you can activate it from the comfort of your home without stepping out.
Quick: The online activation process is faster compared to offline methods that require POS and branch visits and paperwork.
Monitor Transaction History: Keeping an eye on transaction history and account balance becomes easy with the online process.

Common Challenges with FASTag Activation with Troubleshooting Tips

Since FASTag is a new concept in India and not everyone is aware of handling it online, here’s a look at the common challenges you may face and learn how to overcome them:

Insufficient Balance: You must maintain the account balance necessary to cross a toll plaza. If the balance is too low, it may not allow your vehicle to cross the toll plaza.
Invalid QR Code or FASTag ID: Sometimes, the QR code may be unreadable due to a damaged magnetic sticker. When entering the FASTag ID, ensure you are entering it accurately. If the issue is not resolved, contact your POS or issuer for a new sticker.
Failure to Link the Bank Account: Verify the prepaid wallet or bank account details you enter are valid and accurate. Any errors or typing mistakes may cause the account linking process to fail.
Incorrect Vehicle Details: Double-check the vehicle type, class, and registration number before activating. Any error or discrepancy may cause FASTag activation failure.
Technical Glitches: Sometimes, the e-commerce platform may face technical glitches in the activation process. In such a case, you must wait a few minutes and try again later.

Conclusion

FASTag has significantly transformed toll collection across India, introducing efficiency and convenience while promoting a cashless environment. Its seamless activation process, whether online via mobile apps and Internet banking or offline at designated POS locations, underscores its accessibility to all vehicle owners. By linking FASTag to prepaid wallets or bank accounts, users streamline their toll payments and benefit from reduced traffic congestion and fuel consumption.

Despite its numerous benefits, newcomers may encounter initial challenges such as balance management, QR code readability issues, or account linking errors. However, these can be easily overcome with proper understanding and troubleshooting. Overall, embracing FASTag not only aligns with the government’s initiative towards digital transactions but also ensures smoother and more cost-effective travel experiences for all motorists.