🚗 FASTag UPI Payment Rule 2025: Pay Only 1.25x Toll Without FASTag via UPI – All You Need to Know
Starting November 15, 2025, 🚧 highway users in India without a valid or working FASTag can now pay the highway toll via UPI at 1.25 times the standard charge, thanks to NHAI’s new rules. This updated FASTag rule by NHAI makes toll payments easier and encourages 🛣️ digital transactions at toll booths. Until now, the penalty for not having a valid FASTag was double the toll fee, payable in cash. The change removes the burden of cash penalties for millions of highway users and supports the government’s vision for a cashless, digital India.
🛣️ What’s New in the FASTag Penalty 2025 Update?
- From Nov 15, pay only 1.25x the regular toll using UPI if the tag is missing, invalid, or non-functional.
- Users previously paid double (2x) in cash; this penalty is reduced when paying digitally via UPI.
- If a valid FASTag fails to read due to toll tech issues, the traveller is allowed toll-free passage and receives a zero-transaction slip.
- Blacklisted/expired tags and repeated misuse draw additional penalties (₹300+) and risk of temporary bans.
- FASTag KYC and wallet recharges are mandatory to avoid tag blockage or blacklisting.
- NHAI will display 📱 QR code signboards with helpline info and project details at all major NH toll plazas.
⚙️ Pro Tips for Hassle-Free Toll Payments
- Keep your FASTag balance updated to avoid blacklisting or transaction blocks.
- Link and verify KYC details before March 2025 to prevent tag suspension.
- Use authorised apps (Paytm, PhonePe, ParkSmart, Google Pay) for recharge and status checks.
- In case of toll plaza tech failure with valid FASTag, insist on a zero-transaction receipt for toll-free crossing.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What if I forget to recharge my FASTag?
A: From February 2025, a grace period of 70 minutes is allowed for recharging at the toll. Outside this window, a penalty may apply and the tag could be blacklisted.
Q2: What is the penalty for a blacklisted or expired FASTag?
A: A ₹300 penalty is charged, along with toll fees. Repeated misuse can lead to a one-week suspension.
Q3: Can I cross the toll if FASTag system fails but my tag is valid?
A: Yes. If the infrastructure at the toll fails, but your tag is valid and funded, you can pass free; you will get a zero-charge receipt.
Q4: Is KYC required for FASTag recharges?
A: Yes, starting 2025, all FASTags must be KYC-linked. Tags without KYC will be deactivated by March 31, 2025.
Q5: Is cash still accepted at toll plazas?
A: UPI payments are now preferred for penalty tolls. Cash is being phased out for transactions due to audit and leakage concerns.