According to the relevant regulations of the State Council, ETC users receive a unified 5% discount on tolls. However, banks that handle ETC applications offer even greater discounts to encourage more people to apply. Starting from 2020, vehicles without ETC or not using ETC will not enjoy toll discounts. In the future, highway toll stations will retain only one manual lane, and vehicles can only pay tolls through manual channels, with lower efficiency compared to ETC lanes. The principle of ETC toll deduction: There will be one or more ETC lanes on highways. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the vehicle-mounted electronic tag installed on the windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane, combined with computer networking technology for backend bank settlement, vehicles can pay tolls without stopping at toll stations. This is all based on the principle of passing first and deducting fees later. Benefits of installing ETC: Time-saving: Eliminates the hassle of waiting in line; Green and eco-friendly: Low-carbon, as vehicles pass through toll stations without stopping, reducing noise and exhaust emissions, thereby minimizing pollution; Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs by decreasing the frequency of vehicle starts and brakes, lowering wear and fuel consumption. Users also enjoy a 5% discount on tolls; Improved efficiency: The efficiency of ETC lanes can theoretically increase by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC faster, more advanced, and more high-tech. Compared to license plate payment, ETC technology is more mature and advantageous. More policy support: The State Council clearly stated in the "13th Five-Year Plan for the Development of a Modern Comprehensive Transportation System" that "by 2020, intercity transportation cards will be widely used in key city clusters, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will significantly increase." It also set a target in the "13th Five-Year Plan" for comprehensive transportation development: "By 2020, the ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles should reach 50%." More future possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage rates for passenger vehicles, efforts will be made to promote ETC use for trucks and explore deeper integration of ETC systems with vehicle-to-vehicle communication, vehicle-to-infrastructure coordination, and other smart transportation developments. This will provide comprehensive travel services for car owners, meaning more application scenarios will support ETC. ETC usage precautions: The ETC transaction sensing range is 8 meters. If the vehicle in front stops, maintain a distance of at least 10 meters to prevent automatic sensing from deducting tolls for the wrong vehicle, especially if the front vehicle has a faulty or no ETC device. The recognized speed for ETC lane passage is 20 km/h. Driving too fast may prevent the system from reading the vehicle's device information, leading to toll deduction failure. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or if the ETC electronic tag falls off or becomes loose, will render the tag invalid. It can be taken to the bank where the ETC card was issued or a highway service center for inspection. If the issue is not due to human interference, reactivation may suffice. When using a debit card linked to ETC, insufficient balance may cause toll deduction failure. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to use the manual MTC lane and pay with cash or a card. Thick windshields may cause poor signal reception. This is particularly important for vehicles that have had windshield replacements after accidents or for those who have modified their front windshields.
