Getting started · 5 min read · Updated 2026-10-15
Where to stick your FASTag on the windshield, and why it won't read
Most "FASTag not reading" problems at the plaza start with where and how the tag was stuck. Here is the official position, shown on a diagram, and the fixes when it still won't read.
Quick answer
Stick the FASTag from inside the car, at the top centre of the front windshield, behind the rear-view mirror, with the adhesive side facing outward. Clean and dry the glass first, press it on once, and don't move it afterwards. A tag kept on the dashboard, held in hand or fixed with tape can be blacklisted and charged double toll.
The correct position
NHAI's procedure for fixing a FASTag asks for the tag to go on the inside of the windshield, at the top middle, behind the rear-view mirror. The reader at the toll lane looks at that part of the glass, so a tag anywhere else is read late, read badly or not read at all.
If a dashcam or mirror mount leaves no room right behind the mirror, ICICI Bank's guidance is to place it slightly towards the passenger side, still near the top of the glass. That's bank guidance, not an NHAI rule, so stay as close to the centre as you can.
How to fix it so it reads first time
- Clean the glass from inside Wipe the spot behind the mirror and let it dry fully. NHAI's procedure says not to paste the tag on dirty or wet glass.
- Peel the backing just before you stick it Don't touch the adhesive with your fingers; dust and oil weaken it.
- Place it once, adhesive side out Line it up behind the mirror, then press gently from the centre outwards so there are no air bubbles.
- Leave it alone Don't peel it off to adjust it later. A FASTag is built so that lifting it damages the antenna inside, and NHAI's procedure says not to reposition it.
- Don't add tape or glue If the tag's own adhesive isn't holding, return it to your bank and ask for a replacement instead of taping it. Tape is one of the listed reasons for blacklisting.
Mistakes that get a tag blacklisted or charged double
- Keeping the tag on the dashboard or holding it up at the booth. NHAI calls these "loose" or "tag-in-hand" FASTags. Since July 2025 toll agencies report them to NHAI for blacklisting or hotlisting.
- Fixing it with cello tape or extra glue, or sticking it on a separate piece of glass or another surface. An IHMCL circular lists these as reasons a tag can't be used and should be blacklisted.
- Sticking it somewhere other than the front windshield. Since July 2024 a vehicle entering the toll lane with a tag not fixed on the windshield from inside pays double the toll, and the plaza records CCTV of the number plate.
- Placing it behind a metal part or another sticker. Metal blocks the radio signal. ICICI Bank advises keeping the tag clear of any metallic surface or other sticker.
Your tag still won't read? Check these in order
- Check the status, not just the sticker A tag that's blacklisted, hotlisted or out of balance looks exactly like a working tag. Check it first with our FASTag status check, then see what each status means.
- Check the position If it sits low on the glass, in a corner or behind a mount, that's likely the cause. You can't move it, so ask your bank for a replacement and fix the new one in the right place.
- Check for damage A tag that was peeled, folded or scratched across the chip may never read again. NHAI's FAQ says to approach your issuing bank for a replacement in that case.
- Got a new windshield? The old tag can't be peeled off and reused, so you'll need a replacement tag. See how to replace or reissue a FASTag.
Questions drivers ask
Should the FASTag be on the driver's side or the passenger side?
Neither. NHAI's procedure puts it at the top middle of the windshield, behind the rear-view mirror. Only if there's no room there, place it slightly towards the passenger side near the top.
Can I stick the FASTag outside the windshield?
No. It goes on the inside of the glass, adhesive side facing out, so the reader sees it through the windshield.
Can I remove my FASTag and stick it again?
No. NHAI's procedure says not to peel off or reposition a fixed tag. Lifting it usually damages the tag, so you'll need a replacement from your bank.
Is it OK to keep the FASTag on the dashboard?
No. A loose tag or a tag held in hand can be reported to NHAI and blacklisted, and since July 2024 a vehicle with a tag not fixed on the windshield is charged double toll.
How long does a FASTag last?
NHAI's FAQ gives the physical tag a validity of 5 years.
Check FASTag status · Buy a new FASTag