Can ETC be applied for by someone other than the vehicle owner?

[DiMadelyn]

ETC can indeed be applied for by someone other than the vehicle owner. According to the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Application of Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) on Expressways" 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). If applying on behalf of someone else, the original valid ID card of the proxy applicant is also required. If applying for ETC through major bank branches, a debit or credit card from the respective bank is also needed. Some banks only support ETC binding with credit cards, while others may require freezing a certain amount as a deposit when binding with a debit card. Documents required for official vehicles: An introduction letter from the vehicle owner (with official seal); a copy of the organization code certificate or business license (with official seal); the original ID card of the proxy applicant; the original vehicle registration certificate; the vehicle for which ETC is to be applied. ETC charging principle: There will be one or more ETC lanes on expressways. 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 at the toll station, and using computer networking technology for backend settlement with the bank, the vehicle can pay tolls without stopping at the toll booth. All of this is based on the principle of passing first and deducting fees later. Benefits of installing ETC: Saves time: 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 and minimizing pollution; Reduces wear and tear: Saves costs by decreasing the frequency of vehicle starts and stops, reducing wear and fuel consumption; Improves efficiency: The theoretical efficiency of ETC lanes can be increased by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC updates faster 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, the interoperability of transportation cards in key city clusters will be basically achieved, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will be significantly increased." It also set a target in the "13th Five-Year" comprehensive transportation development indicators: "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 and increasing the ETC usage rate for passenger vehicles, efforts will be made to promote ETC usage for trucks in the future. There will also be exploration of deep integration between ETC systems and smart transportation development directions such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-road coordination, providing comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners. This means more application scenarios will support ETC usage. ETC usage precautions: The ETC transaction sensing range is 8 meters. If the vehicle in front stops, maintain a distance of more than 10 meters to prevent automatic fee deduction for the vehicle in front, especially if it has a faulty ETC device or none at all. The recognized speed for ETC lane passage is 20 km/h. If the speed is too fast, the vehicle's device information cannot be read, leading to failed fee deductions. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or if the ETC electronic tag falls off or becomes loose, will cause the electronic tag to fail. It can be taken to the bank where the ETC card was issued or the expressway service office for inspection. If the loosening or falling off is not due to human factors, reactivation is sufficient. When using a debit card bound to ETC, insufficient balance can also cause fee deduction failure. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to use the manual MTC lane and pay with cash or card. Thick car windshields may cause poor sensing. This is especially important for vehicles that have had their windshields replaced after accidents or for those with modified front windshields.

[DelAlexis]

I just helped my neighbor with this recently, and the car owner really doesn't need to go in person. Nowadays, ETC applications are quite flexible—either banks or highway service points can handle it for you. Just bring the car owner's ID card, a copy of the vehicle registration, and your own ID. Last month, I helped a friend who was on a business trip this way, and the process took just ten minutes. The Alipay ETC mini-program also allows proxy applications—just check the 'proxy applicant' option when filling in the information and upload photos of both parties' IDs. However, note that some places may verify the relationship with the proxy applicant, so it's best to bring a household register or marriage certificate just in case, to avoid a wasted trip. The highway toll fees will still be deducted from the car owner's account, so it doesn't affect them—they'll still receive the deduction notifications as usual.

[LeilaniLynn]

Of course, it can be handled by an agent. My daughter works in another city, and I handled all the ETC procedures for her car at the bank. You'll need to bring the original ID card of the car owner, your own ID card, and the vehicle's registration certificate. That should be sufficient. The key is to confirm that the vehicle has no unpaid toll fees. It's best to have the owner check this in advance on the 12123 app. You can handle this at a bank counter or an ETC service outlet, where you'll receive the device on the spot and can install it on the windshield yourself. Nowadays, some third-party platforms also offer online agent services, but make sure to check the fees carefully to avoid being charged for installation services. The ETC device handled by an agent will be linked to the car owner's bank card, so there's no need to worry about payment disputes. The only downside is that if the device malfunctions later and needs repairs, it might be a bit troublesome for the agent to handle.