Outlook Business Desk
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has withdrawn mandatory Know Your Vehicle (KYV) requirements for FASTag activation. From February 1, 2026, motorists will no longer face delays or repeated verification requests after purchasing FASTags.
Earlier, banks issuing FASTags were required to complete KYV checks for every vehicle. This often led to inconvenience for highway users, prompting authorities to redesign the system to simplify FASTag activation nationwide.
The KYV process was introduced to ensure FASTags were correctly linked to vehicle registration numbers, helping prevent misuse, duplicate tags, and revenue leakage at toll plazas across national highways.
Motorists earlier had to submit multiple vehicle images, including Registration Certificate front and back, vehicle photos, windshield view and FASTag placement images, making activation lengthy and documentation-heavy.
Under the revised framework, existing Class 4 vehicles such as cars, jeeps, and vans will no longer need mandatory KYV verification for FASTag usage, significantly reducing compliance steps for private vehicle owners.
KYV checks will now be carried out only in select situations, such as customer complaints, identification of loose or duplicate FASTags, or cases where the vehicle registration number does not match the linked FASTag.
To replace KYV, NHAI has introduced mandatory pre-activation validation norms for issuer banks, ensuring FASTags are verified before activation rather than through repeated follow-ups after issuance.
FASTag activation will now depend on vehicle detail validation through the VAHAN database. If details are unavailable, Registration Certificate-based checks will be conducted only in exceptional situations.
FASTags sold through online channels will be activated only after banks complete the required validation. The strengthened safeguards aim to improve accuracy, compliance and system integrity without burdening users.