What to Do With Your FASTag When You Sell Your Car

A FASTag sticker contains an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chip that is programmed with a unique identifier at the time of manufacture. When issued, this identifier is linked to a specific vehicle registration number in the NHAI/NPCI FASTag system. The mapping of RFID ID → vehicle RC number is fixed in the central database.

You cannot reprogram the RFID chip or re-link it to a different vehicle number in the system. If you physically peel the sticker off your old car and stick it on a new one, the tag's RFID will still send its original identifier - which is linked to the old vehicle's RC. At the toll plaza, the system will read the tag, look up the old RC, and charge the wallet accordingly - but the transaction record will show the old vehicle number, not your new vehicle. This creates regulatory and liability complications.

Furthermore, physically removing and reapplying an RFID sticker almost always damages the antenna within the sticker, rendering it non-functional. FASTag stickers are deliberately designed with a 'void' label beneath so that removal leaves a visual record.

As the seller, your responsibility is to close (deactivate) the FASTag linked to the car you are selling and get the remaining balance refunded to you before handing over the vehicle. If you do not do this and the buyer continues using the same FASTag sticker, they will be drawing from your FASTag wallet - charging money from your linked bank account or drawing down your prepaid balance.

To close your FASTag, log in to the issuing bank's FASTag portal or app. Go to 'My FASTag', select 'Close Account' or 'Deactivate FASTag'. Confirm the closure. The remaining wallet balance will be refunded to your registered bank account or original payment source within 5–7 working days. Alternatively, call the bank's FASTag helpline and request closure over the phone (you'll need your registered mobile number and vehicle RC number for verification).

After closing the FASTag, inform the buyer that the FASTag sticker on the windshield is deactivated and they must obtain a new FASTag for the vehicle. You can also peel off the sticker at this point - or leave it and let the buyer handle it. If the sticker is left on but deactivated, it will simply not function at toll plazas, and the vehicle will need to use the cash lane until the buyer gets a new FASTag.

• Log into issuing bank's FASTag portal / app
• Navigate to 'My FASTag' > 'Close Account' or 'Deactivate'
• Confirm closure - balance is refunded in 5–7 working days
• Alternatively, call bank FASTag helpline for closure
• Inform buyer that the existing FASTag sticker is deactivated
• Buyer must get a new FASTag issued for the vehicle

As the buyer of a used car, you cannot use the seller's FASTag - it belongs to the seller's account and wallet. After purchasing the car and completing the RC transfer, apply for a new FASTag from any IRDAI-registered issuing bank or through the NHAI OneTouch app or MyFASTag portal.

To get a new FASTag, visit the bank branch, bank website, or apply online through NHAI's portal. You'll need your vehicle RC (in your name after RC transfer), your identity proof, and a passport-size photo. The new FASTag sticker is dispatched by post within 7 working days, or you can pick it up at select bank branches or authorized POSs.

Until you receive and activate your new FASTag, you will need to use the cash toll lanes. The deactivated sticker from the previous owner should not trigger any charges. If you see a toll being deducted from an account after the seller's FASTag was supposedly closed, contact the seller and the bank immediately - this could indicate the closure was not processed correctly.

Some issuing banks offer a 'change of ownership' service for FASTag - where the existing FASTag account linked to a vehicle number can be transferred to a new owner without changing the physical FASTag sticker. This is different from transferring the FASTag to a different vehicle. The RFID chip stays linked to the same RC number; only the account holder (and bank account) changes.

To do a FASTag ownership change: both buyer and seller visit the issuing bank branch together with the original RC, new RC (post-transfer), and both parties' identity proofs. The bank updates the account details - name, contact, linked bank account - while keeping the RFID-to-vehicle-number linkage unchanged.

This is the most seamless option when the buyer wants to keep the same FASTag sticker and bank (e.g., for a bundled account). However, it requires coordination between buyer, seller, and the same bank - which is not always convenient. Many people simply close and reissue.

When you close your FASTag, the remaining wallet balance is refunded. The refund timeline depends on the bank: online closures typically result in refunds within 5–7 working days to the original payment source or registered bank account. Branch-initiated closures may take 7–14 working days.

If the FASTag was a 'prepaid wallet' type (not linked to a bank account), the balance is refunded to your registered mobile number via IMPS/NEFT to the account you specify during closure. For bank account-linked FASTags, the refund is directly credited to the linked account.

Always recharge only the amount you expect to use before closing. Avoid loading large amounts onto a FASTag you intend to close soon - even though the refund process is reliable, waiting for a refund of a large balance is inconvenient.