TL;DR
Stricter FASTag rules will be enforced from February 1, 2026, requiring all Indian motorists to have valid and properly linked FASTags to avoid extra toll charges and delays.
The Indian government has introduced stricter FASTag regulations, which will come into effect from February 1, 2026. These new rules are designed to enhance toll collection efficiency and eliminate loopholes, making FASTag compliance critical for all motorists.
Under the updated regulations, vehicles without a valid and correctly linked FASTag may face additional toll charges and experience delays at toll plazas. The flexibility previously available for manual intervention or temporary penalties for non-compliant vehicles has been removed. Toll plazas will now rely entirely on digital verification, necessitating that every vehicle owner ensures their FASTag is active and accurate before traveling on highways.
These changes apply not only to new vehicle owners but also to existing FASTag users, who must verify their details. FASTags linked to outdated registration numbers, inactive bank accounts, or expired KYC information will be flagged as non-compliant. Owners of second-hand vehicles are particularly advised to ensure their FASTag information is current to avoid issues.
