Can a non-owner of a vehicle apply for ETC?
2 Answers
It is possible to apply for ETC even if you are not the owner of the vehicle. According to the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Application of Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) 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 (with the most recent annual inspection stamp), and if someone else is handling the application on behalf of the owner, the original valid ID card of the proxy is also needed. If applying for ETC through major bank branches, a debit card or credit card from the corresponding bank is required. Some banks only support ETC binding with credit cards, while others may require freezing a certain amount as a deposit when binding ETC with a debit card. ETC Billing Principle: Highways have one or more ETC lanes. The system uses microwave short-range communication between the onboard electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at the toll station. This, combined with computer networking technology for backend settlement with banks, allows vehicles to pass through toll stations without stopping to pay tolls. All of this operates 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 since vehicles do not need to stop at toll stations. Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs by minimizing frequent starts and stops, lowering vehicle wear and fuel consumption. Users also enjoy a 5% discount on toll fees. Improved efficiency: ETC lanes theoretically increase vehicle throughput by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC faster and more advanced. Compared to license plate payment, ETC technology is more mature and advantageous. More policy support: The State Council, in the "13th Five-Year Plan for the Development of a Modern Comprehensive Transportation System," explicitly stated the goal of "achieving interoperability of transportation cards in key city clusters by 2020 and significantly increasing the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC." It also set a target of "50% ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles by 2020" in the main indicators for comprehensive transportation development during the 13th Five-Year Plan. 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 smart transportation developments such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-road coordination. 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 at least 10 meters to prevent accidental billing for the wrong vehicle due to ETC device failure or absence. The recognition speed for ETC lanes is 20 km/h. Driving too fast may result in failure to read the vehicle's device information and billing failure. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or if the ETC electronic tag becomes loose or detached, may render the tag invalid. In such cases, take it 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 billing failure. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to use manual MTC lanes and pay with cash or card. Thick or modified windshields may cause poor signal reception, especially for vehicles that have undergone windshield replacement after an accident or modifications.
Borrowing cars among friends is quite common. Last time, I helped a buddy apply for an ETC, even though the car wasn't mine. The key is to prepare the owner's ID and vehicle registration, then take these to a bank or ETC service center and fill out a power of attorney. The whole process takes about ten minutes. Remember to have the owner accompany you or sign an authorization letter to avoid issues later. The advantage of ETC is faster highway passage without queuing for tolls. I recommend calling ahead to check with the service point, as policies vary slightly by region—some support online applications. An extra tip: when borrowing a car, make sure the ETC card is linked to the correct account to avoid payment errors and unnecessary disputes. Maintain good relationships and regularly check the device connection for a more worry-free drive. Sharing a detail: I once encountered a system glitch, but customer service resolved it—don’t sweat small issues; the system is very reliable overall.
