Can ETC be used again after being removed and reattached?

[LaAyla]

No, the ETC will become invalid once it is removed by yourself because the ETC device has an anti-tamper feature. There is a small switch behind the ETC electronic tag, which will automatically close once the device is peeled off from the windshield. Therefore, you must bring the vehicle's registration certificate to the ETC service provider for reactivation. ETC charging principle: There will be one or more ETC lanes on the highway. Through the 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 of the toll station, the computer network technology is used to settle accounts with the bank in the background, achieving the purpose of vehicles paying tolls without stopping at the toll station. All of this is based on the principle of passing first and deducting fees later. Benefits of installing ETC: Save time: Eliminates the hassle of waiting in line; Green and environmentally friendly: Low-carbon, vehicles passing through toll stations without stopping can reduce noise and exhaust emissions, reducing pollution; Reduce wear and tear: Save costs, reduce the frequency of vehicle starts and brakes, lower wear and fuel consumption, and users can also enjoy a 5% discount on tolls; Improve 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 urban agglomerations will be basically achieved, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will be significantly increased," and clearly proposed in the main indicators of the "13th Five-Year" comprehensive transportation development that "by 2020, the ETC usage rate of road passenger vehicles will reach 50%." More future possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage and the usage rate of ETC passenger vehicles, the future will also promote the use of ETC for trucks and explore the deep integration of the ETC system with the development directions of smart transportation such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-road coordination, providing comprehensive travel services for car owners. This means that more application scenarios will support ETC applications. Precautions for installing ETC: Do not block the line of sight. It is best to install it behind the rearview mirror: Many car models have a large rearward angle of the windshield, which reduces the driver's field of vision. If this is not considered when installing the ETC, it will increase the driver's blind spot. Install it behind the rearview mirror on the right side to avoid blocking the line of sight. Do not affect charging: The ETC electronic tag consumes power, but generally does not need to be charged or have its battery replaced because there is a solar panel on its back that can charge itself. Therefore, when installing, avoid the black area on the windshield and do not install it in a position that easily blocks the solar panel. Do not remove it at will once installed: The button in the middle of the adhesive is an anti-tamper guide rod, which is connected to a switch below. After the electronic tag is installed, the windshield will press the anti-tamper guide rod in. If it is removed at will, the anti-tamper guide rod will pop out and trigger the switch, locking the electronic tag and making it unusable. You will need to go to the ETC service point to unlock it. This is designed to prevent multiple vehicles from sharing one device. Precautions for using ETC: The ETC transaction sensing area is 8 meters. To prevent the ETC device of the vehicle in front from malfunctioning, keep a distance of more than 10 meters from the vehicle in front to avoid the automatic sensing paying for the vehicle in front. The recognition speed of the ETC lane is 20 kilometers per hour. If the speed is too fast, the vehicle's device information cannot be read, resulting in a failed fee deduction. When using a debit card to bind ETC, insufficient balance will also cause the fee deduction to fail.

[SanBrayden]

Last time my own car had the same issue. I removed the ETC to change its position, but after reattaching it, the toll booth wouldn't recognize it. I asked a friend at the repair shop and learned that the ETC adhesive is specially designed. Once removed, its stickiness greatly decreases and it can affect the internal antenna calibration, leading to poor signal reception. It's recommended not to move it casually; just choose a permanent spot during installation. If you really need to move it, contact ETC customer service first to see if it can be reactivated, but in most cases, the device will be damaged or malfunction, resulting in getting stuck at the toll booth and having to pay additional fees—what a hassle. I ended up just getting a new device, spending a little money for peace of mind to avoid delaying my trip.