The benefits offered by prepaid RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags such as FASTag have been widely accepted, facilitating smooth automatic toll payments at toll plazas across the country. The National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) program launched by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has lent a new dimension to highway travel and crossing through toll plazas.
The introduction of FASTag is a key step towards enabling automatic deduction of toll charges from users’ bank accounts, even when vehicles are moving. The move is intended to ensure the vehicle does not have to stop at toll plazas, saving time and fuel. FASTag accounts can be recharged by making payments through cheques or online through credit card/debit card/NEFT/RTGS/UPI or Internet Banking.
In the face of a loss, theft, or damage to your tag, or simply in need of a new tag, you may have to get your FASTag reissued. Knowing the re-issuance process is critical for all those using the tag on their vehicle, to ensure toll payments keep getting automatically deducted. Whether you are a seasoned digital wallet holder or someone who recharges prepaid mobile frequently, this guide handholds you through the entire process of getting an alternate FASTag reissued effortlessly, so that you can zoom on roads without delay.
What is FASTag? Why do you need it?
Fastag is a paper tag that needs to be affixed on the vehicle’s windscreen, which enables automatic deduction of toll charges and lets you drive through without stopping for any cash transactions. FASTag uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to make toll plazas read your tag and pay the exact amount in advance without stopping. This mechanism not only facilitates digital transactions but also weeds out the misery of being stuck in long queues at toll plazas, ensuring continuity in travel.
You should have a FASTag due to the following reasons:
- Fuel and Time Saving: With FASTag, you do not have to halt at a toll plaza for cash transactions.
- SMS Alerts for every transaction: You get an SMS alert on your registered mobile number after each toll transaction, which ensures transparency and allows you to monitor your expenses.
- Online Recharge FASTag: FASTag accounts can be recharged online using ICICI Bank Internet Banking and the iMobile Pay app.
- No need to carry cash: FASTag is read by the tag reader at that particular toll plaza, and the toll amount automatically gets deducted from your account.
Common Causes of FASTag Reissue
While there are plenty of advantages to using FASTag, you might have to get a FASTag reissue in certain cases. Common reasons include:
- Loss or Theft
In case you lost your FASTag, or it got stolen, the same could potentially be misused by someone. Reissue FASTag to automatic toll payment deductions at toll plazas, and also to avoid misuse of your FASTag. A reissued tag will enable you to pass through toll plazas without experiencing any hitches or requiring cash transactions even in the future and not lose out on the ease of automatic payment of toll charges.
- Damage
Any scratch or abrasion on your FASTag, i.e. scratches on the RFID strip or twisting of the tag, can render it unintelligible via toll plaza scanners. Broken tags cease to interact with the system governing electronic toll collection. What follows, may be a delay in payment and possibly fines being levied.
- Expired Validity
Though FASTags are built to last, there will be an expiration as well. If the tag does not work after it reaches its period of validity, you will need to replace it. A re-issue of FASTag ensures continued compliance with the toll plaza regulations and that you keep on receiving all benefits related to electronic collection at your fingertips without any hindrance or manual intervention.
- Vehicle Changes
If you change your vehicle (buy a new one or sell the current one) and want to use FASTag in it, then you won’t be able to put this tag on other vehicles. According to the details of your vehicle registration), if you have a new car, you should get a unique FASTag for it. The reissue process ensures the payments for these tolls are correctly applied against an individual vehicle, preventing any confusion or billing errors.
Steps for FASTag Reissue
Follow the steps below to replace FASTag:
1. Reporting the Issue
The first step you must take in the re-issuance process is reporting the loss, theft or damage of your FASTag. You can do this by contacting ICICI Bank’s customer care. To protect your account and yourself from any fraud, the issue should be reported as soon as possible.
2. Blocking the Current FASTag
Report the issue with ICICI Bank’s customer care and a representative will help you block that particular FASTag. This step prevents new transactions from being processed through the misplaced or damaged tag, ensuring your account does not fall prey to any illegal use.
3. Requesting a Replacement Tag
After blocking the current tag, you can place a request for a replacement FASTag.
4. Providing Necessary Documents
You will have to submit certain documents when you ask for a replacement FASTag. These typically include:
- Copy of the Vehicle Registration Certificate (RC)
- An Identity Proof such as Aadhaar card, PAN Card and Passport
- Address Proof, in case you have a new registered address.
5. Receiving the New FASTag
Once your application request is approved and documents are verified, the bank will send you the new FASTag to your registered address. It can be a few business days, depending on where you are.
6. Affixing the New FASTag
It is necessary to apply your newly obtained FASTag correctly on the windscreen of your vehicle. The following is the method of proper placement:
- Clean the Windscreen: Please remove all moisture or dust from the area in dry condition.
- Remove the FASTag from the Adhesive Strip: Peel off the sticker of the fast tag carefully.
- Apply the Sticker: The sticker needs to be placed on your front windshield in the middle, just behind the rear-view mirror from the inside. Push down to make sure it has been pasted correctly.
7. Maintaining Sufficient Balance
FASTag prepaid accounts should have sufficient balance to enable hassle-free passage at toll plazas.
Conclusion
With correct knowledge and guidance, you can have your FASTag reissued within the time frame sought by the bank successfully. It might seem tedious at first, but it is as simple as explained above. By following the steps given in this guide, you can reissue FASTag smoothly. Whether it is due to loss, damage or simply a need arising to get a new tag, knowing what goes into the process of issuance will save you from unnecessary roadblocks.
To enjoy a convenient travel experience with FASTag, always ensure the necessary balance in your prepaid account and maintain it well. By following these measures, you can continue to enjoy the various benefits of FASTag such as saving time and fuel along with cashless toll transactions and faster online recharge.