Non-FASTag Users paying the fee via the UPI digital payments, will be charged only 1.25 times the applicable user fee, as per new rules
With effect from November 15, 2025, if you're not a FASTag user or if your vehicle enters a Toll Plaza without a valid functional FASTag, and if you're paying the toll fee digitally using Unified Payment Interface (UPI), then you will be charged only 1.25 times the applicable user fee, instead of paying double the toll fee if paying in cash.
Currently, vehicles without a valid functional FASTag have to pay double the toll fee for that vehicle, at the Toll Plazas on the tolled stretches of National Highways or expressways in India. From 15 November 2025 onwards, as per the new rules, if you're making that payment digitally through UPI (such as, using UPI payments via PhonePay, Google Pay, etc.), then you'll be paying only 1.25 times the applicable toll fee for your vehicle, instead of paying 2 times the toll fee if you're paying it in cash.
For example, if a vehicle needs to pay a user fee of ₹100 through valid FASTag, the fee will be ₹200 if paid in cash and ₹125, if paid via UPI.
The Government of India amended National Highways Fee Rules. Under the new rule, vehicles entering a Toll Plaza without a valid functional FASTag will be charged 2 times the applicable user fee, if the fee payment is made in cash. And for those who opt to pay the toll fee digitally via the Unified Payment Interface (UPI), will be charged only 1.25 times the applicable user fee for that category of the vehicle.
Some years ago, after the FASTag was made mandatory, with effect from 16th February 2021 onwards, all lanes in the toll plazas on National Highways were declared as “FASTag lane of the fee plaza”. As per that rule, any vehicle which is not fitted with a FASTag, and any vehicle without a valid or a functional FASTag, has to pay double the toll fee applicable to that vehicle's category, when entering into the FASTag lane of the toll plazas.
The new rule, coming into effect from 15 November 2025 onwards, reduces the payment amount for Non-FASTag Users those who pay digitally via UPI, while those paying in cash will still have to pay double the toll fee.
As per the announcement today, on 4th October 2025, by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, The Government of India has amended National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008, to incentivise digital payments and eliminate cash transactions at the user fee plazas on National Highways for Non-FASTag users.
With the revised rules, they aim to encourage the adoption of digital payments, enhance transparency in toll operations, and improve the overall user experience on National Highways.
You'd already have experienced that sometimes UPI payments may fail or take a long time, although such instances don't occur frequently. If there are some issues with UPI payment system that may cause a delay in payments getting through or in case of failed digital payments, then it may cause traffic to get held at such toll booths, behind such vehicles.
But then, cash payments may cause delays too, as sometimes there may be a delay providing proper change or in returning the change, etc.
As of early 2025, around 98% of vehicles using the national highways in India already have FASTags. Using a valid FASTag and ensuring that its account has the sufficient balance before crossing toll plazas, will make things easier for everyone.
And these days, even a FASTag Annual Pass is available for private non-commercial vehicles, and it costs ₹3,000 and covers 200 passages through toll plazas, with 1 year validity. This can be useful if you're travelling frequently through tolled stretches of the national highways or expressways, in your vehicle. More on FASTag Annual Pass >
FASTag is mandatory for all M and N categories of motor vehicles in India (that is vehicles with at least 4 wheels or more) and the rules for higher payment at toll booths for Non-FASTag users applies to such vehicles which do not have a valid functional FASTag.
Category ‘M’ stands for a motor vehicle with at least four wheels, which is used for carrying passengers. Category ‘N’ stands for a motor vehicle with at least four wheels, which is used for carrying goods and which may also carry persons in addition to goods.
Also, don't forget that even in case of a valid FASTags, it is mandatory to affix the FASTag on the front windshield, otherwise double the toll fee amount will charged.
- New User Fee Collection Rule to Incentivize Digital Payments at Toll Plazas for Non-FASTag Users - Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Govt. of India, on PIB. Posted on: 04 OCT 2025 2:56PM by PIB Delhi.