December 2, 2024

businessinsider

Costing Accounting Everyday

Why Switching to a FASTag Mobile App Can Save You Time and Money

Why Switching to a FASTag Mobile App Can Save You Time and Money

Why Switching to a FASTag Mobile App Can Save You Time and Money

With the growing focus on digital payments and contactless solutions, FASTag has revolutionised toll payments in India. Introduced by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), FASTag allows vehicle owners to make toll payments electronically without stopping at toll plazas, significantly reducing wait times and easing congestion. But beyond just placing a FASTag on your vehicle, integrating it with a FASTag mobile app offers even greater benefits. By managing your FASTag through a mobile app, you can save both time and money in more ways than one.

In this article, we will explore how a FASTag mobile app can streamline your toll payments, provide convenience, and help you unlock additional financial savings. 

1. Effortless recharge anytime, anywhere

One of the key features of a FASTag mobile app is the ability to easily recharge your account on the go. With traditional toll payments, drivers often scramble to find cash at the last moment. By switching to a FASTag mobile app, recharging your tag becomes a matter of a few taps on your phone.

Apps like Bajaj Pay, Google Pay, PhonePe, etc. enable users to link their FASTag to their account, ensuring hassle-free recharges. Instead of manually checking your balance and rushing to top it up at toll booths, the app allows you to:

  • Check your balance in real time.
  • Set up auto-recharges when the balance drops below a certain threshold.
  • Make instant top-ups through various payment methods like UPI, credit cards, or net banking.

This flexibility saves both time and effort, making it easier to maintain a sufficient balance without having to worry about manual intervention.

2. Faster passage through toll plazas

The main appeal of FASTag lies in its ability to eliminate the need for cash payments at toll plazas. By using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, toll charges are deducted directly from your FASTag account as you drive through the plaza. When managed through a mobile app, this process becomes even more seamless.

Without the need to stop, the app ensures that your vehicle is always ready for a smooth pass through toll booths. By reducing waiting times and bottlenecks at toll plazas, FASTag saves time and contributes to fuel efficiency. You no longer have to waste fuel idling in long queues at toll booths, thus indirectly cutting costs on fuel over time.

Using an app like Bajaj Finserv to manage your FASTag account makes this even more convenient by ensuring that your balance is topped up well in advance, helping you avoid any last-minute delays at toll plazas.

3. Track your expenses in real-time

One of the major challenges vehicle owners face when frequently using highways is tracking toll expenses. For business owners or frequent travellers, toll charges can add up quickly, and manual tracking is not practical. This is where a FASTag mobile app becomes an indispensable tool.

By using a FASTag app, you can track your toll payments in real-time. The app provides detailed transaction history, allowing you to view each toll plaza you have passed through, and the charges incurred. This feature is particularly useful for fleet operators or individuals who need to track travel expenses for reimbursement or budgeting purposes.

Apps like Cred or Bajaj Finserv, for example, offer a comprehensive view of your FASTag transaction history, categorised by dates and amounts. This ensures that you have full control over your spending and can even download records for financial planning or tax purposes.

4. No more penalty charges

One of the lesser-known benefits of using a FASTag mobile app is the ability to avoid penalties. When travelling through toll plazas without sufficient balance in your FASTag account, you may be forced to pay a double toll fee or face other penalties. This not only disrupts your travel plans but also costs you more than necessary.

By using a mobile app, you receive real-time notifications when your FASTag balance is low. Apps like Bajaj Finserv even offer auto-recharge options, ensuring that your balance never falls below a certain pre-set limit. This feature helps you avoid penalties for insufficient funds, saving you money in the long run.

5. Exclusive discounts and cashback offers

One of the perks of using a FASTag mobile app is access to exclusive discounts, cashback offers, and rewards that are not available through other payment methods. Many FASTag providers and digital platforms run promotional campaigns, offering savings for frequent users.

For instance, users might enjoy special cashback or discount offers when recharging their FASTag through apps. These savings, while seemingly small at first, can add up significantly for frequent highway users, making the use of a FASTag app more economically advantageous.

6. Simplified toll management for fleet owners

For businesses that manage fleets, toll payments are a necessary operational cost. Managing multiple FASTags for different vehicles can quickly become complicated if done manually. A FASTag mobile app simplifies this process by offering centralised management for all your vehicles in one platform.

FASTag payment apps allow fleet owners to manage multiple FASTags under one account, making it easy to:

  • Monitor toll expenses for each vehicle.
  • Recharge multiple FASTags from a single app.
  • Track individual transactions for accounting and budgeting purposes.

This streamlined approach reduces administrative overhead and ensures better control over toll-related expenses.

7. Environmental benefits: Reducing carbon footprint

While the focus of using a FASTag mobile app is often on saving time and money, there are also environmental benefits to consider. By reducing the time spent idling at toll booths, vehicles produce fewer emissions, contributing to a cleaner environment.

The reduction of fuel consumption during stop-and-go traffic at toll plazas further helps in lowering carbon footprints. This makes FASTag, coupled with efficient app management, a small but impactful step towards more sustainable travel.

8. Enhanced security and control

A significant concern with digital transactions is the potential risk of fraud or unauthorised deductions. However, FASTag mobile apps come equipped with robust security features, including secure payment gateways, two-factor authentication (2FA), and encrypted transactions.

With apps, you not only get secure transactions but also enhanced control over your FASTag account. You can instantly block your FASTag in case of theft or loss, check your transaction history for any discrepancies, and receive real-time alerts for every toll deduction. These features provide peace of mind and help you stay in control of your toll expenses.

9. Greater accessibility

Lastly, the accessibility of FASTag apps makes them a preferred choice for users across different segments of society. Whether you are a daily commuter, a business owner, or an occasional traveller, managing your FASTag through a mobile app ensures that you have 24/7 access to your account.

Owing to the simple and user-friendly interface of apps like Google Pay or Bajaj Finserv , even non-tech-savvy individuals can easily navigate through features like recharges, transaction history, and notifications, making digital toll payments accessible to all.

Conclusion

Switching to a FASTag mobile app is more than just a step towards digital convenience—it is a way to save both time and money. From effortless recharges and real-time expense tracking to avoiding penalties and enjoying exclusive discounts, a mobile app simplifies toll payments and enhances your overall travel experience. Whether you are an individual driver or a fleet manager, these apps offer comprehensive FASTag solutions that make toll payments hassle-free, secure, and rewarding.

By adopting a FASTag mobile app, you can enjoy smoother journeys and better financial control, and you can contribute to a more sustainable and efficient transport system.