FASTag Annual Pass Explained: Cost, Trips & Activation

The FASTag Annual Pass is a new facility launched by NHAI that lets private car, jeep, and van owners pay a single flat fee of Rs. 3,075 and travel on National Highways and National Expressways without paying toll at each plaza for one full year or 200 trips, whichever comes first. Once the pass is activated on your existing FASTag, every toll crossing on a designated National Highway or National Expressway is free for the duration of the pass.

The Annual Pass became effective from 15 August 2025. It is not mandatory. Your existing FASTag continues to work normally if you choose not to get the Annual Pass.

Since its launch on 15 August 2025, over 56 lakh users have already opted for the FASTag Annual Pass, confirming strong adoption among private vehicle owners. The pass is currently valid at approximately 1,150 fee plazas on National Highways and National Expressways across India, as per NHAI's official statement dated March 2026.

This guide answers every question a consumer would have: Is my vehicle eligible? Do I need a new FASTag? What exactly counts as one trip? Does it work on State Highways? What happens when the pass expires? Is it actually worth the Rs. 3,075? And how do I activate it step by step?

What is the FASTag Annual Pass?

As confirmed in the official NHAI Annual Pass FAQ documents at nhai.gov.in, the Annual Pass activated on FASTag allows free passage of private Car, Jeep, or Van at designated National Highway (NH) and National Expressway (NE) fee plazas for one year or 200 trips, whichever comes first, without any per-trip user fee charges.

In simple terms: you pay Rs. 3,075 once, and for the next year, you do not pay any toll at NH and NE toll plazas, as long as you have not completed 200 trips before the year ends.

The pass is activated on your existing FASTag. You do not need to buy a new FASTag. The Rs. 3,075 is separate from your FASTag wallet balance. Your wallet balance continues to be used for tolls on State Highways, parking, and any other non-NH tolls as before.

Key Facts at a Glance

Who is Eligible for the FASTag Annual Pass?

Eligibility is specific and important to check before paying. Not every vehicle or FASTag qualifies. Read every condition carefully before proceeding.

Vehicle Eligibility

The Annual Pass is available only for private non-commercial Car, Jeep, and Van category vehicles as per the official NHAI Terms and Conditions at rajmargyatra.nhai.gov.in. Commercial vehicles, trucks, buses, LCVs, two-wheelers, and three-wheelers are not eligible. Using the Annual Pass on a commercial vehicle results in immediate deactivation without a refund.

FASTag Eligibility Conditions

Your existing FASTag must meet all of the following conditions to be eligible for the Annual Pass:

• Properly affixed on the windshield: The FASTag must be correctly affixed on the inner side of the front windshield and mapped to your vehicle's registration number. A tag that is not affixed as per NHAI standards is not eligible.
• Linked to a valid Vehicle Registration Number (VRN): The FASTag must be mapped to your vehicle's actual registration number. FASTags registered only with a chassis number are not eligible. Update the VRN with your bank before applying.
• Not blacklisted or hotlisted: Both blacklisted and hotlisted FASTags are ineligible for the Annual Pass as per the official NHAI Terms and Conditions. Resolve any blacklisting or hotlisting first by contacting your bank.
• Paytm FASTag is not eligible: As per the official NHAI Terms and Conditions, Paytm FASTags are not eligible for the Annual Pass as per regulatory guidelines. If your FASTag was issued by Paytm Payments Bank, you must get a new FASTag from any of the other eligible issuer banks before applying for the Annual Pass.
• Vehicle eligibility verified through VAHAN: NHAI verifies your vehicle's eligibility through the VAHAN database before activating the pass. If your vehicle details in VAHAN do not match or are incomplete, activation may be delayed or rejected.
• No misrepresentation: Any misrepresentation, false declaration, or misuse of information at the time of application will result in immediate cancellation of the Pass without any refund.

What You Need Before Activating

• Your vehicle's registration number (VRN).
• Your FASTag number or registered mobile number.
• The Rajmargyatra mobile app is installed on your phone, or you have access to the NHAI website.
• A payment method: UPI, net banking, debit card, or credit card to pay Rs. 3,075.
• Sufficient balance in your FASTag wallet for regular tolls on State Highways (this is separate from the Annual Pass payment).

How to Activate the FASTag Annual Pass - Step by Step

Method 1: Via the Rajmargyatra App (Recommended)

The Rajmargyatra app is NHAI's official app for highway users. It is available on Android (Google Play Store) and iOS (Apple App Store). Search for Rajmargyatra published by NHAI.

1. Download the Rajmargyatra app: Open the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and search for Rajmargyatra. Install the app published by NHAI. It is free.
2. Open the app and go to Annual Pass: Launch the app and navigate to the Annual Pass section from the home screen.
   
3. Enter your vehicle registration number: Type your VRN exactly as it appears on your RC. The system checks your vehicle's eligibility through the VAHAN database.
4. Verify your FASTag details: The app shows the FASTag linked to your vehicle. Confirm the details are correct.
5. Pay Rs. 3,075: Proceed to payment. Pay the Rs. 3,075 Annual Pass fee for the base year 2025-26 using UPI, net banking, debit card, or credit card.
6. Wait for activation: Once payment is confirmed, the Annual Pass is activated on your registered FASTag normally within 2 hours. You receive a confirmation notification or SMS.
7. Verify activation: After 2 hours, check the Annual Pass status in the Rajmargyatra app to confirm it is active on your FASTag.

Method 2: Via the Rajmargyatra Portal Website

1. Visit the official Rajmargyatra portal at rajmargyatra.nhai.gov.in.
2. Navigate to the Annual Pass section.
   
3. Enter your vehicle registration number and FASTag details.
4. Verify eligibility and proceed to payment of Rs. 3,075.
5. Complete payment and wait for activation confirmation, normally within 2 hours.

How the Annual Pass Works at the Toll Plaza

Once your Annual Pass is active, here is what happens when you approach a designated NH or NE toll plaza:

1. Your vehicle enters the FASTag lane as normal.
2. The RFID reader at the toll lane scans your FASTag.
3. The system detects the active Annual Pass on your FASTag.
4. The toll barrier opens without any deduction from your FASTag wallet.
5. You receive an SMS confirming the toll crossing was covered under the Annual Pass and showing your remaining trip count.
6. Your FASTag wallet balance is not affected for this crossing.

The process is completely seamless. There is nothing extra you need to do at the toll plaza once the pass is active. Just drive through the FASTag lane as you normally would.

Where the Annual Pass Works and Where It Does Not

Where It Works

• All designated National Highway (NH) fee plazas across India.
• All designated National Expressway (NE) fee plazas across India.

Where It Does Not Work

• State Highway toll plazas.
• Parking fee plazas.
• City toll roads and bridges.
• Any toll plaza not under NHAI's NH or NE network.

As per the official NHAI Terms and Conditions, the Annual Pass is valid only on NHAI-operated National Highway and Expressway toll plazas. The complete list of eligible plazas is available on the Rajmargyatra app and website at rajmargyatra.nhai.gov.in. There are approximately 1,150 eligible fee plazas as of April 2026.

At State Highway toll plazas, parking locations, and other non-NH/NE fee plazas, the FASTag operates as a regular FASTag and the applicable user fee is charged from your FASTag wallet as usual.

Important: Not every NH plaza is NHAI-operated. Some National Highway plazas are operated by state governments or private concessionaires and may not be covered under the Annual Pass. Always check the eligible plaza list on the Rajmargyatra app before your journey to confirm coverage on your specific route.

Even with the Annual Pass active, keep sufficient balance in your FASTag wallet for State Highway tolls, parking, non-covered NH plazas, and any other non-covered fee points on your routes.

What Counts as One Trip Under the Annual Pass?

This is the most misunderstood aspect of the Annual Pass. The trip counting works differently depending on whether the toll plaza is a Point-based system or a Closed Tolling system. As confirmed in the official NHAI Annual Pass FAQ documents at nhai.gov.in:

For Point-Based Fee Plazas (Open Tolling)

Each crossing of a fee plaza counts as one trip. A round trip (going and coming back through the same plaza) counts as two trips, not one.

Example: If you travel from Delhi to Agra and pass through 3 toll plazas on the way, that counts as 3 trips. On the return journey, passing the same 3 plazas counts as 3 more trips. Total: 6 trips for a return journey.

For Closed Tolling Fee Plazas

One pair of entry and exit counts as one trip. A return journey (entering and exiting twice) counts as two trips.

Example: On an expressway with entry and exit barriers, one complete entry-to-exit journey counts as one trip. The return journey counts as another trip. Total: 2 trips for a return journey.

Why This Matters

On a highway with multiple toll plazas like Delhi-Mumbai or Delhi-Kolkata routes, a single one-way journey can use up 5 to 10 trips depending on the number of toll plazas on the route. If you are a frequent long-distance traveller passing through many toll plazas per trip, you could reach the 200-trip limit faster than the 1-year limit. Plan accordingly.

What Happens When the Annual Pass Expires?

The Annual Pass expires when either of these two conditions is met first:

• One year has passed from the date of activation, or
• You have completed 200 toll plaza crossings (trips) under the pass.

As confirmed in the official NHAI FAQ, once the Annual Pass completes either 200 trips or one year from the date of activation, it will automatically revert to a regular FASTag. After that, your FASTag operates normally, and toll charges are deducted from your wallet at every crossing.

To continue getting Annual Pass benefits after expiry, you need to re-activate the Annual Pass by paying Rs. 3,075 again through the Rajmargyatra app or NHAI website.

Is the Annual Pass Worth Rs. 3,075? - A Practical Calculation

As a consumer, this is the most important question. Let us do an honest calculation based on actual NH toll rates.

Average toll for a Car on National Highways in India ranges from Rs 50 to Rs 150 per plaza, depending on the highway and distance. Taking an average of Rs 75 per toll plaza crossing:

The Annual Pass is worth it if you make more than approximately 44 NH toll plaza crossings in a year (at the Rs 70 average per plaza). That works out to roughly 3 to 4 crossings per month on National Highways.

The Annual Pass is most valuable for:

• Daily or weekly office commuters who use a National Highway.
• People who live near a National Highway and use it regularly for work or travel.
• Frequent travellers who take multiple long-distance road trips on NHs every year.
• Anyone doing a return trip on the same NH multiple times a month.

The Annual Pass may not be worth it for:

• Infrequent highway users who use NH toll plazas fewer than 3 to 4 times a month.
• Users who primarily travel on State Highways (which are not covered).
• Users who complete most journeys on roads without toll plazas.

Important Rules and Conditions

• Not mandatory: The Annual Pass is completely optional. Your existing FASTag continues to work as it always has if you do not opt for it.
• Non-transferable and permanently linked: The Annual Pass is permanently linked to the original Vehicle Registration Number. You cannot transfer it to another vehicle, another person, or another FASTag. Any attempt to use it on a different vehicle leads to immediate deactivation without refund.
• No new FASTag required: You activate it on your existing FASTag. There is no need to get a new tag.
• Non-refundable once activated: As per the official NHAI Terms and Conditions, once the Annual Pass is issued or activated, it is non-refundable and non-cancellable. Refunds are allowed only in cases where the payment was successful but the pass was not issued due to a technical or system error on NHAI's side.
• Unused trips lapse - no carry over: If all 200 toll crossings are not used within the one-year validity period, the unused balance lapses without carry over or refund. There is no facility to roll over unused trips to the next year.
• Paytm FASTag not eligible: Paytm FASTags are not eligible for the Annual Pass as per regulatory guidelines. Get a new FASTag from any eligible bank first.
• Blacklisted or hotlisted FASTag not eligible: Resolve blacklisting or hotlisting before applying.
• Chassis number FASTag not eligible: Update VRN with your bank first.
• FASTag wallet balance still needed: Keep your FASTag wallet funded for State Highway tolls, parking, and non-covered fee points.
• Re-activation needed after expiry: The pass does not auto-renew. Manually re-activate by paying Rs 3,075 again after expiry.
• Payment failure - retry within 24 hours: If your payment fails during activation, you may retry the payment or contact customer support within 24 hours of the failed attempt.
• Misuse leads to immediate deactivation without refund: The following actions are treated as misuse and lead to immediate deactivation without refund: using the FASTag on a different vehicle, FASTag not affixed to the windscreen, using the pass in a commercial vehicle, false declarations at the time of application, and tampered documentation.
• NHAI can amend terms without prior notice: NHAI reserves the right to modify these terms at any time. Updated terms are effective once published on the Rajmargyatra app or official NHAI website.
• Data consent: By purchasing the Annual Pass, you consent to your vehicle and transaction data being used by NHAI and authorised partners for toll operations, verification, compliance, and sharing with enforcement agencies as per applicable regulations.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Assuming Paytm FASTag is eligible: Paytm FASTags are explicitly excluded from the Annual Pass as per NHAI Terms and Conditions. If you have a Paytm FASTag and try to activate the Annual Pass, it will be rejected. Get a new FASTag from an eligible bank first.
• Assuming State Highway tolls are also covered: They are not. At State Highway plazas, your regular FASTag wallet balance will be deducted as always. Many users are surprised when their wallet balance drops at a State Highway toll after activating the Annual Pass. This is correct and expected behaviour.
• Thinking a round trip counts as one trip: It does not. Each crossing of a toll plaza is counted separately. A to B and back to A through the same plaza = 2 trips, not one.
• Activating on a chassis-number-registered FASTag: This will fail. Update VRN with your bank first.
• Not checking wallet balance after activating Annual Pass: The Rs. 3,075 paid for the Annual Pass does not go into your FASTag wallet. Your wallet balance remains unchanged. It is a separate payment for a separate service.
• Trying to activate on a blacklisted FASTag: This will be rejected. Resolve blacklisting first.

Things to Keep in Mind

• The Annual Pass price was Rs 3,000 for the base year 2025-26. From 1 April 2026, the revised price is Rs 3,075 for FY 2026-27. The price is revised annually as per the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008. Always check the current price at rajmargyatra.nhai.gov.in before activating.
• After activation, track your remaining trip count in the Rajmargyatra app. An SMS is sent after each NH toll crossing, showing the remaining trip count so you are always aware of where you stand.
• The Annual Pass works on all designated NH and NE fee plazas across India. You do not need to do anything different at the toll. Just drive through the FASTag lane as always.
• If you sell your vehicle after activating the Annual Pass, the pass is non-transferable and there is no refund for unused trips. Factor this in before activating if you are planning to sell your car in the near future.
• If your FASTag expires (5-year physical validity) while the Annual Pass is active, contact your bank for a replacement tag. The Annual Pass may need to be re-linked after tag replacement. Contact the NHAI helpline 1033 for guidance in such cases.

Jurisdiction and Legal Information

As per the official NHAI Terms and Conditions for the Annual Pass, all legal disputes arising out of or related to the Annual Toll Pass fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Delhi and New Delhi, India. NHAI reserves the right to verify ownership, identity, and submitted documents at any time. Failure to produce valid documents upon request may result in a suspension or cancellation. NHAI also reserves the right to modify these terms at any time without prior notice. Updated terms become effective once published on the Rajmargyatra app or the official NHAI website.

Conclusion

The FASTag Annual Pass at Rs. 3,075 is a straightforward value proposition: pay once, travel toll-free on National Highways and National Expressways for one year or 200 trips. It is worth it for anyone who uses NH toll plazas more than 3 to 4 times a month. For infrequent highway users, the regular FASTag with per-trip deduction remains the better option.

Activation is simple: download the Rajmargyatra app, enter your VRN, verify eligibility, and pay Rs. 3,075. The pass is active within 2 hours. After that, every NH and NE toll crossing is automatic and free for the duration of your pass.

Keep your FASTag wallet funded for State Highway tolls and parking even after activating the Annual Pass. Track your remaining trips in the Rajmargyatra app so you know when to re-activate.

For any queries about the Annual Pass, call the national FASTag helpline at 1033 or visit rajmargyatra.nhai.gov.in.