SANRAL implements tap-to-pay at toll gates

The South African National Roads Agency [SANRAL] has announced that as of 1 December 2025, they are rolling out tap-to-pay functionality, enabling road users to pay toll fees with contactless technology. This also includes all the tollgates on the N1 in Limpopo.

Under the new system, road users can simply tap their bank cards, smartphones, or other compatible devices to complete payments. While magnetic stripe cards are no longer accepted, SANRAL has assured motorists that cash will still be accepted at all toll plazas. 

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Magnetic stripe payments have historically been supported at toll gates, but the South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC) and police have repeatedly flagged toll plazas as hotspots for card cloning and related fraud.

Financial institutions have also backed the shift. FNB Transact Pillar CEO Daniel Kaan told MyBroadband that the bank’s pilot of contactless payments on the N3 Toll Concession route produced strong results. “Feedback from the pilot has been highly positive as contactless payments continue to be popular amongst consumers as a quicker, secure, and convenient way to pay than swiping or inserting a card,” he said. 

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SANRAL says the national rollout will improve transaction speed, reduce congestion, and enhance security for motorists.