Can ETC be used across provinces?

[DiGraham]

Yes, ETC is nationwide and has been interconnected nationwide since 2015. According to the State Council regulations, starting from 2020, vehicles without ETC cannot enjoy toll discounts. In the future, only one manual lane will be retained at highway toll stations, and tolls can only be paid through manual channels. Additionally, newly installed ETC devices cannot be used on highways immediately; they need to be activated first. During free holiday periods, ETC users can still use highways, and passing through ETC lanes will not incur charges. ETC Deduction Principle: There are one or more ETC lanes on highways. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the on-board 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 pay tolls without stopping at toll stations. 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 line; Green and eco-friendly: Low-carbon, as vehicles pass toll stations without stopping, reducing noise and exhaust emissions; Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs by reducing the frequency of vehicle starts and brakes, lowering wear and fuel consumption; Improved efficiency: ETC lanes can theoretically increase vehicle passing efficiency by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC faster, newer, 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, intercity transportation cards will be basically interoperable in key city clusters, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will significantly increase," and set a target in the "13th Five-Year" comprehensive transportation development indicators that "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 and explore the deep integration of ETC systems with smart transportation directions such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-road coordination, providing comprehensive travel services for car owners. This means more application scenarios will support ETC applications. ETC Usage Notes: The ETC transaction sensing area is 8 meters. When the vehicle in front stops, to prevent the ETC device of the front vehicle from malfunctioning or not having an ETC device at all, maintain a distance of more than 10 meters to avoid automatic sensing and paying for the front vehicle. The recognition speed for ETC lanes 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 inspection. If the loosening or detachment is not man-made, 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 and pay with cash or card. Thick windshields may cause poor sensing, especially for vehicles that have had windshield replacements after accidents or modified front windshields.

[LeSienna]

I used to frequently drive across provinces for trips, and the ETC system never let me down. The expressways nationwide are interconnected, whether traveling from Beijing to Shanghai or Guangdong to Sichuan—just a quick scan of the ETC device lets you pass without stopping or queuing. This system was uniformly built nationwide, and toll stations in all provinces are compatible, so inter-provincial travel is seamless. If your ETC malfunctions on the highway, such as occasional signal issues or slow card reading, it might be due to a loose device or dust coverage, but I’ve never encountered any serious failures. Before setting off, I recommend checking if the ETC tag is flatly attached and ensuring the battery is sufficiently charged for a worry-free journey. When driving across provinces on highways, ETC not only saves time but also reduces idling pollution, making the trip more eco-friendly and comfortable.