FASTag annual pass starts this month: How frequent highway travellers can activate it

Frequent highway commuters must gear up as FASTag Annual Pass finally goes live this month. From August 15, private vehicle owners can activate this new pass to get up to 200 toll-free trips or one year of hassle-free travel on National Highways (NH) and National Expressways (NE).The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) had earlier announced this move to help regular travellers save time and money by paying a single fee instead of multiple toll payments.

The annual pass costs ₹3,000 for the base year 2025–26.

To activate the pass, users must apply through the Rajmarg Yatra mobile app or the NHAI website. The system checks the vehicle’s details via the VAHAN database, restricting eligibility to private cars, jeeps, and vans.Commercial vehicles can’t use this facility — any misuse will lead to deactivation.

After successful verification, users must pay the fee online. Activation usually takes around two hours. Once active, the pass covers all NH and NE toll plazas managed by NHAI. However, on state highways, local roads, or parking facilities, the FASTag will continue to work as a regular tag and normal charges will apply.

Each crossing of a point-based toll plaza counts as one trip. At closed toll systems, a pair of entry and exit counts as a single trip. Once the pass completes 200 trips or reaches one year from activation, it automatically reverts to a regular FASTag. Travellers who want to continue using the benefit must reactivate for the next term.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said the new pass aims to resolve issues around closely spaced toll plazas and reduce delays for daily commuters and intercity travellers.