Can ETC be used if it doesn't match the license plate?

[RafaelDella]

No, it cannot be used. ETC is issued on a per-vehicle basis and requires complete and consistent vehicle information for registration. According to Article 9 of the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Application Service of Electronic Non-stop Toll Collection 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), and if applying on behalf of someone else, the original valid ID card of the agent is also required. If applying for ETC through major bank branches, you will also need to prepare a debit or credit card from the corresponding bank. Some banks only support ETC binding with credit cards, while others may require freezing a certain amount as a deposit when binding with debit cards. 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 agent; the original vehicle registration certificate; the vehicle for which ETC is to be applied. ETC billing principle: There will be one or more ETC lanes on the expressway. 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 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: reduces noise and exhaust emissions by allowing vehicles to pass through toll stations without stopping; Reduced wear and tear: saves costs by reducing the frequency of vehicle starts and stops, lowering wear and fuel consumption; Improved efficiency: ETC lanes can theoretically increase vehicle throughput 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 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 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 will 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 and explore deeper integration of ETC systems with smart transportation 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. 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 sensing and payment for the vehicle in front, in case its ETC device is faulty or nonexistent. The recognized speed for ETC lane passage is 20 km/h. If the speed is too fast, the vehicle device information cannot be read, leading to billing failure. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or detachment or loosening of the ETC electronic tag, will render the tag invalid. It can be sent to the bank where the ETC card was issued or the expressway service office for inspection. If the loosening or detachment is not due to human factors, reactivation is sufficient. When using a debit card bound to ETC, insufficient balance will also cause billing 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 who have modified their front windshields.

[DiCayden]

I once had trouble when my ETC didn't match my license plate while driving. The system is designed to automatically identify and charge vehicles via license plates, so if they don't match, the toll gate might not lift, leaving you waiting in vain. Another time, I changed my license plate but didn’t update my ETC in time, resulting in incorrect charges, and I had to visit a service point to appeal. Now, I regularly check the binding, such as verifying the license plate number in the app. Actually, this issue is quite common. I recommend first confirming whether the ETC card or device is correctly linked to the right license plate. If not, call customer service to make changes. Don’t underestimate this—getting stuck on the highway not only causes delays but can also create long queues for others, ruining everyone's mood. Handling it early saves hassle.