NHAI Eases ‘Know Your Vehicle’ (KYV) Process for FASTag Users: Here’s What’s New

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has notified a radical alteration to the Know Your Vehicle (KYV) procedure that is being applied to the FASTag users. The radical alteration is intended to make the verification process much less troublesome for the vehicle owners in the sense of document submission and hard cashless payment.

What is KYV and Where it Came From

The Know Your Vehicle (KYV) system asked all the FASTag users to upload the Registration Certificate (RC) of their vehicle. In addition, they were required to upload a picture of the vehicle to ascertain that the tag is placed correctly. The process, which was launched 12 months ago, was to help eliminate the improper use if not directly dealing with—particularly cases where drivers of commercial vehicles were using private car FASTags for the lower toll rates.

Nevertheless, the very engaged users were complaining about uploading difficulties of documents and pictures on the unfriendly portals. Many others were reporting that their FASTags were unexpectedly deactivated, which led to toll booth hassle.

What Are the Main Changes of the New KYV Regulations

Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL), a company under NHAI, has put out new rules that reduce the original process and ensure the user has had ample time to do the verification. FASTag will not be immediately deactivated for those users who have not completed KYV.

The important news points are:

Photo requirement made much simpler: Users are now only required to upload one photo taken from the front side of the vehicle showing the number plate and the FASTag on the windshield. The previous rule which required both front and side images has been done away with.

Automated fetching of RC data: The system once the user has typed in the Vehicle Number or the Chassis Number or the Mobile Number will automatically access the RC details from the VAHAN database.

Managing multiple vehicles: Users can pick the particular vehicle for KYV if more than one vehicle is connected to one mobile number.

Older FASTags continue to be active: Tags which were issued before the introduction of the KYV policy will remain active unless there are allegations of specific misuse or tag-related issues.

SMS notifications: Automated reminders will now be sent to customers by the banks to finish their KYV process before taking any action.

The changes are aimed at reducing inconveniences while at the same time making the One Vehicle, One Tag (OVOT) policy which came into effect on October 31, 2024, compliance easier and more efficient.

How to Submit a Complaint

Users who have trouble submitting documents or doing KYV can call the National Highway Helpline 1033. The NHAI stated that it is the responsibility of the issuing bank to provide users assistance for KYV completion before any disconnection occurs.

What Will Happen Next to FASTag Users

The simplification emerges together with the NHAI's plan to introduce the Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system—barrier-free electronic toll collection technology that aims at making smooth and congestion-free travel across India's national highways.

The update also indicates that the government hopes to make the whole verification process of FASTag faster and friendlier to the user while stepping up the crackdown on misuse.