Can ETC be installed without annual vehicle inspection?

[Diaz]

ETC can be installed on a vehicle without annual inspection, as ETC is not part of the vehicle inspection process. How ETC works: Through an onboard electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield, it communicates with the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at toll stations, and uses computer networking technology to settle transactions with banks in the background, allowing vehicles to pay highway or bridge tolls without stopping when passing through toll stations. Documents required for ETC application: The vehicle owner's original valid ID card, the original and a copy of the vehicle registration certificate, with the page showing the most recent annual inspection stamp provided; if applying on behalf of someone else, the original valid ID card of the proxy is also required. If applying for ETC through major bank branches, a debit or credit card from the corresponding bank is also needed. Some banks only support ETC binding with credit cards, while others may require freezing a portion of the amount as a deposit when binding ETC with a debit card. ETC deduction principle: There will be one or more ETC lanes on highways. 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 toll stations, computer networking technology is used to settle transactions with banks in the background, achieving the goal of vehicles paying tolls without stopping at toll stations. All of 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 line; Green and eco-friendly: Low-carbon, vehicles pass toll stations without stopping, reducing noise and exhaust emissions, thus minimizing pollution; Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs, decreases the frequency of vehicle starts and stops, lowering wear and fuel consumption; Improved 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 explicitly 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 urban clusters will be basically achieved, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will be significantly increased," and set a clear target in the main indicators of comprehensive transportation development during the "13th Five-Year Plan" period: "By 2020, the ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles will reach 50%." More future possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage and the ETC usage rate for passenger vehicles, the future will also promote the use of ETC for trucks, explore the deep integration of ETC systems with vehicle-to-vehicle communication, vehicle-to-infrastructure coordination, and other smart transportation development directions, providing comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners. This means more application scenarios will support ETC applications. ETC usage precautions: The ETC transaction sensing area is 8 meters. When encountering a vehicle in front that has stopped, to prevent the front vehicle's ETC device from malfunctioning or not having an ETC device at all, maintain a distance of more than 10 meters from the front vehicle to avoid automatic sensing and paying for the front vehicle. The ETC lane recognition speed is 20 km/h. If the speed is too fast, the vehicle device information cannot be read, leading to deduction failure. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or detachment or loosening of the ETC electronic tag, will cause the electronic tag to fail. It can be sent to the bank where the ETC card was issued or the highway service office for testing. If the detachment or loosening is not due to human factors, it only needs to be reactivated. When using a debit card bound to ETC, insufficient balance will also cause deduction failure. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to use the manual MTC lane, paying with cash or by card. Excessive thickness of the vehicle's windshield can cause poor sensing. This is especially important for vehicles that have had their windshields replaced after accidents or for those who have modified their front windshields.

[SanMackenzie]

I encountered this issue last year when my vehicle's annual inspection had expired, and I wanted to install an ETC device. However, the service point informed me that it wasn't possible—the vehicle had to pass the annual inspection first. The annual inspection ensures the vehicle is safe and legally compliant, and the ETC device is linked to the vehicle's information. If the inspection isn't up to date, the vehicle's status in the system is invalid, which could lead to failure in passing through highway tolls or payment deduction issues. I went to the inspection station, spent some money and time to complete the annual inspection, and then successfully installed the ETC. Now, highway travel is much more convenient. I recommend fellow drivers to handle the annual inspection a few weeks before the due date to avoid delays and enjoy worry-free long-distance trips.