The N3 Toll Concession (N3TC) will transition to contactless payments at its toll plazas nationwide from December 1.

This shift will phase out magstripe-based payments on Visa and Mastercard cards. From the effective date, only contactless-enabled Mastercard or Visa debit and credit cards will be accepted at N3TC toll plazas.

Digital payment platforms like Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Google Pay, linked to physical or virtual cards, will also be valid.

While fleet, garage, and petrol magstripe cards will still be accepted temporarily, they must transition to Europay, Mastercard, and Visa contactless by July 1, 2025. Cash and Sanral tags will remain as payment alternatives.

The change aims to boost security and reduce fraud risks associated with magstripe transactions. According to N3TC, contactless payments provide real-time processing and enhanced security, as customers retain possession of their cards during transactions.

Affected toll plazas along the N3 Toll Route

• KZN: Mooi Mainline, Mooi South Ramp, Mooi Treverton Ramp, Tugela Mainline, Tugela East Ramp, and Bergville Ramp Plazas.
• Free State: Wilge Mainline Plaza.
• Gauteng: De Hoek Mainline Plaza.

This transition forms part of a broader national rollout. Lowvelder previously reported that Trans African Concessions (Trac) will phase out magstripe card payments from December 1. Trac manages the N4 toll route, spanning from the Solomon Mahlangu off-ramp in Gauteng to the Port of Maputo in Mozambique.

Other toll routes making the switch include:

• Chapman’s Peak Drive: December 1.
• Bakwena N1 and N4 tolls: June 1, 2025.
• Sanral toll routes: June 1, 2025.