Big payment changes for N3 and N4 tolls in South Africa this holiday season
Contactless payments are now available in select toll plazas across South Africa.
This initiative forms part of a collaboration between Visa and FNB, which completed the roll-out of new contactless (tap and go) payment stations across select toll gates ahead of the festive rush. This should ensure a more convenient and secure experience for South African motorists.
Motorists at select toll plazas along the N3, TRAC N4 and Chapman’s Peak toll roads will be able to use several payment methods for contactless payments.
Over 88 lanes have the new system along the N3 toll route between Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal at De Hoek, Wilge, Tugela, Mooi River plazas and the on and off ramps.
73 lanes have the tap payment terminals installed along the N4 toll route between Pretoria and Mozambique at Diamond Hill, Middelburg, Machado, and Nkomazi plazas as well as the on and off ramps.
FNB said that the new system will enhance security, reduce the possibility of fraud and allows users to keep cards or payment devices on their person during payment.
“The new payment processing platform marks a key milestone that opens up possibilities for further payment processing innovation at toll plazas across the country,” said Daniel Kaan, CEO of Core Banking and Merchant Services at FNB.
“The process involved close collaboration with concessionaires to ensure a fit-for-purpose system for motorists, and we’re pleased to see the excitement which has greeted the initial rollout. Feedback from the solution’s introduction has been highly positive.”
“The solution has proven its benefits for not only toll concessionaires but issuers, acquirers, and cardholders.”
Motorists at the Tap and go-enabled toll plazas will be able to use a variety of payment methods, such as
- Tap-enabled debit or credit cards (Europay, Mastercard, Visa)
- Payment apps like Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Google Pay
- Wearables such as Garmin, Fitbit, Samsung, Apple, and others
- Other tap-enabled apps that allow the use of South African-issued bank cards
Foreign cards will now also be accepted at SA Toll plazas.
If one does not have a contactless card or device, they can still pay with cash or use a SANRAL tag.
That said, magstripe cards, that require the card to be physically swiped, will no longer be accepted at these toll plazas from 01 December 2024.
Although magstripe payments will be phased out in favour of contactless payment methods, SANRAL and various toll concessionaires will continue accepting magstripe payments only until 31 May 2025
Fleet and garage magstripe cards will still be used until 30 June 2026.
“Contactless payments are the natural evolution of the payments space. We welcome SANRAL and the toll concessionaires’ decision to encourage their adoption,’ said Kaan.
“Contactless payments have proven to be popular amongst consumers as a quick, secure, and convenient way to pay. This is demonstrated in the growing popularity of contactless payments generally – more than 50% of card payments made by FNB customers are now contactless.”
FNB’s rollout of the contactless system will expand to additional toll road concessionaires in 2025.
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