Can a Mortgaged Vehicle Apply for ETC?

[McJasper]

Mortgaged vehicles are eligible for ETC application. According to the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Application of Electronic Non-stop Toll Collection on Highways" issued by the Ministry of Transport, the following documents are required: the original valid ID card of the vehicle owner, the original and a copy of the vehicle registration certificate (showing the most recent annual inspection stamp page). If applying on behalf of someone else, the original valid ID card and a copy of the proxy are also required. If applying for ETC through major bank branches, a debit or credit card from the corresponding bank is needed. Some banks only support credit card binding for ETC services, while others may require freezing a portion of the amount as a deposit when binding a debit card. ETC Deduction Principle: Highways have one or more ETC lanes. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the onboard electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane, and using computer networking technology for backend settlement with banks, vehicles can pass through toll stations without stopping to pay tolls. This is based on the principle of "pass first, deduct later." Benefits of Installing ETC: Time-saving: Eliminates the hassle of waiting in queues. Green and eco-friendly: Promotes low-carbon travel by reducing noise and exhaust emissions as vehicles pass through toll stations without stopping. Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs by minimizing frequent starts and brakes, thereby reducing vehicle wear and fuel consumption. Improved efficiency: ETC lanes can theoretically increase vehicle throughput by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC systems more advanced, faster, and more high-tech. Compared to license plate payment, ETC technology is more mature and advantageous. More policy support: The State Council explicitly stated in the "13th Five-Year Plan for the Development of a Modern Comprehensive Transportation System" that "by 2020, intercity transportation cards should be widely used in key city clusters, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC should significantly increase." The plan also sets a target of "achieving a 50% ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles by 2020." Future possibilities: In addition to improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage rates for passenger vehicles, future efforts will focus on promoting ETC for trucks and exploring 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 vehicle owners, meaning more application scenarios will support ETC. ETC Usage Notes: The ETC transaction sensing range is 8 meters. If the vehicle in front stops, maintain a distance of over 10 meters to prevent automatic payment for the preceding vehicle in case its ETC device is faulty or absent. The recognized speed for ETC lane passage is 20 km/h. Speeding may result in failed reading of vehicle device information and deduction failures. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or detachment/loosening of the ETC electronic tag, will render the tag invalid. It can be taken to the bank where the ETC card was issued or a highway service office for inspection. Non-deliberate detachment or loosening only requires reactivation. Insufficient balance on a debit card bound to ETC may cause deduction failures. Follow on-site staff guidance to use manual MTC lanes and pay via cash or card. Excessively thick windshields may cause poor sensing, especially for vehicles with replaced or modified windshields after accidents.

[DeClayton]

As a long-time car enthusiast, I believe that mortgaged vehicles can apply for ETC, but ownership regulations must be followed. After a vehicle is mortgaged to a bank, the bank has priority rights over it. Therefore, before applying for ETC, written permission from the lending institution must be obtained. Otherwise, legal issues may arise, such as difficulties in handling the ETC account when the bank repossesses the vehicle. In practice, many banks, such as China Construction Bank, directly provide ETC services. Vehicle owners only need to bring their vehicle registration certificate, ID card, and mortgage contract to a bank branch to complete the process, which is simple and quick. The benefits of ETC include automatic toll payments on highways, saving time, and enjoying toll discounts. If all procedures are complete, the mortgage will not affect usage, but it is essential to ensure everything is compliant to avoid future troubles. I once encountered a friend who faced continuous issues due to neglecting permission, so I advise everyone to consult the bank's customer service in advance.

[LaMary]

I often drive long distances, and my car is under mortgage, but I easily got an ETC. The method is to contact the loan bank in advance and ask them to issue a consent letter, then bring the vehicle license and ID card to the highway ETC service point to fill out the application form. The whole process is not complicated and can usually be completed on the same day. ETC is super convenient for automatic toll deduction on highways, reducing waiting time in queues, and often comes with a 5% discount. During the mortgage period, normal use of the vehicle is not a problem as long as you repay the loan on time. I found that many drivers do this, including myself, saving countless hours and effort. Banks usually support this because they don't want to affect the customer's driving experience, so go ahead and apply, but keep all the proof documents just in case.