Can ETC be installed but not used?
4 Answers
It is possible to install ETC without using it. According to the "Notice on Vigorously Promoting the Development and Application of ETC on Expressways" issued by the State Council, vehicles that have not applied for or do not use ETC by 2020 will not enjoy toll discounts. In the future, only one manual lane will be retained at expressway toll stations, and tolls can only be paid through manual channels. ETC Working Principle: Through the on-board electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield, dedicated short-range communication is established with the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at the toll station. Computer networking technology is used to perform backend settlement processing with banks, allowing vehicles to pass through expressway or bridge toll stations without stopping while paying the tolls. ETC Deduction Principle: The toll amount for ETC vehicles is rounded according to the "round down if less than 0.5, no change if equal to or greater than 0.5" rule (i.e., amounts with a decimal less than 0.5 are rounded down, while those equal to or greater than 0.5 remain unchanged). After applying a 5% discount, the amount is then rounded to the nearest cent. MTC vehicles still follow the "round to the nearest yuan" rule. All this is based on the principle of passing first and deducting fees later. Benefits of Installing ETC: Time-saving: Eliminates the hassle of waiting in queues; Green and eco-friendly: Low-carbon, as vehicles pass toll stations without stopping, reducing noise and exhaust emissions and minimizing pollution; Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs by decreasing the frequency of vehicle starts and brakes, lowering wear and fuel consumption; 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 explicitly 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 interoperable in key urban clusters, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will significantly increase." It also set a target in the "13th Five-Year" comprehensive transportation development indicators: "By 2020, the ETC usage rate for passenger vehicles on roads should reach 50%." More future possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage and increasing the adoption rate among passenger vehicles, efforts will be made to promote ETC usage for trucks. There will also be exploration into deeper integration of ETC systems with vehicle-to-vehicle communication, vehicle-to-infrastructure coordination, and other smart transportation developments, providing comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners. This means more application scenarios will support ETC usage.
Speaking of having an ETC device installed but never using it, the little blue box on my car has been gathering dust for over half a year. I initially got it out of novelty, but later realized it's practically useless for urban commuting, and I rarely take long trips. But did you know? These devices have built-in batteries that may drain and fail if left unused for extended periods. I specifically asked toll station staff about this—they said as long as it's not activated, it won't affect credit records, though the device comes with a 3-year warranty. Post-warranty issues would require paying for replacements. Now every time I wash my car and see that little square, it feels like such a waste—yet I dare not remove it. I've heard unauthorized detachment might trigger anti-fraud locking, requiring bank visits for reactivation.
Last year, I was persuaded by the bank to install an ETC, but I've only used it twice. When my friend asked me why I don't use it, it's mainly because I'm afraid of the fees. The first time I passed through a toll station, it showed 'abnormal charge card,' and later I found an extra 12 yuan deducted from my bill. The second time was even more outrageous—I received a text message in the middle of the night saying my prepaid balance was insufficient, even though I had clearly linked it to a credit card for automatic repayment. Now, I simply took the card out and put it in the glove box, since I don't drive on highways anyway. But be aware, some provinces require new cars to have ETC installed for annual inspections, like Shandong.
There are two scenarios for unused ETC devices: If it's never activated, keeping it as a decoration is totally fine. But if left idle after activation, beware—it might turn into a money pit! My colleague's device was dormant for over half a year when suddenly they received a toll arrears notice from the expressway company. Upon checking, they realized the system had deducted the annual fee. Even worse are solar-powered models—just three months parked in an underground garage can drain the battery completely. For long-term disuse, it's best to remove the device, but remember to bring it to the original service point for deactivation. Forcing it off yourself may trigger the anti-tamper button, rendering the device useless.
