As per the FASTag annual pass rule, you have the validity based on: either 200 trips or 1 year from the date of purchase, whichever happens first
Bhpian sasta_rider recently shared this with other enthusiasts:
UPDATE ON THE FASTag PASS:
Just before my recent Pune drive, I had purchased the FASTag ₹3000 annual pass for the Innova. South Indian Bank (SIB) FASTag is the latest one I have, before it was from Paytm which was more ease in terms of recharge/usage. I opted with SIB as I already have a savings account with them. Never did I feel any kind of hiccups at any tolls nor be it in terms of customer care.
Your internet is weak and want to know how much balance is left in the SIB FASTag? Don’t worry, you can dial “88825 04733” and within a ring or two, the call gets disconnected and you will get an SMS stating how much balance you have left. Sample below:
Quote:
Dear Customer, Current balance in your FASTag Wallet A/c No.XXXXXXXXXXX7149 is INR 427.00.. For details, contact 18004251809 – South Indian Bank
Coming back to the annual pass, I brought it on 22-Aug-2025, just 2 days before my date of journey as I wanted to inaugurate the pass during the start of my drive, at Talapady Toll Plaza, Kerala-Karnataka border. I was curious as to how the SMS will be sent to me after passing the toll, and this is how it was:
Quote:
Your vehicle
crossed Talapady Toll Plaza on 24-08-2025 at 05:04:32 with Zero Toll deducted under your Annual Pass. For support, call NHAI Helpline 1033 -South Indian Bank
As per the Rajmargyatra “Route Planner”, the toll charges I should have paid without the annual pass would have been ₹915. There is an exception, in one of the tolls near Dharwad, they do not accept FASTag (the toll booth had a note stating the same) and here I was charged ₹55. Except this, all other tolls were considered from the annual pass. If you pass one toll, it is considered as one trip.
As per the FASTag annual pass rule, you have the validity based on: either 200 trips or 1 year from the date of purchase, whichever happens first. This may not be worth it for those who travel less via toll-enabled route, but in my case, this would do wonders is what I felt.
Breaking it down as how this pass can be helpful for me?!
Being in Pune currently, I would travel to my hometown on an average four times by road, with my Innova. Kasaragod-Dharwad-Pune (one way) has 12 tolls (evident from the 188 trips left on my annual pass), equivalent to approximately ₹915 toll charges. For the duration of this pass’s validity, considering my travel plan as below:
Aug-2025: KGQ-PNQ -> 12 trips, one way
Nov-2025: PNQ-KGQ, KGQ-PNQ -> 24 trips, round trip
Feb-2026: PNQ-KGQ, KGQ-PNQ -> 24 trips, round trip
May2026: PNQ-KGQ, KGQ-PNQ-> 24 Trips, Round Trip
Aug-2026: PNQ-KGQ -> 12 trips, one way
This sums to a total of 96 trips, leaving 104 trips still unused. For the same travel route if I had to pay the toll charges, it would cost be around ₹7320, which is ₹4320 more than the investment on this annual pass. I would not be sad if the ~100 trips are left unused by the end of the pass expiry, as I would have already used it to an extent! Apart from the above travel route, if I consider my other travel around Pune, towards Lonavala/Mumbai, the trip usage will increase even more. Anyways, I will keep the thread updated on this aspect in the months to come.
Until then, drive safe!
Sud.
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