Can ETC be used if the license plate is different?
2 Answers
No, it cannot be used. ETC is issued on a per-vehicle basis and must be registered with complete and consistent vehicle information. According to the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Application of Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) on Highways" 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 (the page with the most recent annual inspection stamp), and if applying on behalf of someone else, the original valid ID card of the agent. If applying for ETC through major bank branches, a debit or credit card from the corresponding bank is also required. Some banks only support ETC binding with credit cards, while others may require freezing a portion of the amount as a deposit when binding 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 vehicle's on-board electronic tag (installed on the windshield) and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at toll stations, and using computer networking technology for backend settlement with banks, the system achieves the goal of allowing vehicles to pay tolls without stopping at toll booths. All of this operates on the principle of "pass first, deduct later." Benefits of Installing ETC: Time-saving: Eliminates the hassle of waiting in queues. Green and eco-friendly: Reduces noise and exhaust emissions by allowing vehicles to pass through toll stations without stopping, thereby lowering pollution. Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs by minimizing frequent starts and stops, reducing vehicle wear and fuel consumption. Users also enjoy a 5% discount on toll fees. 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 explicitly stated in the "13th Five-Year Plan for the Development of a Modern Comprehensive Transportation System" that "by 2020, intercity transportation smart cards will be widely used in key city clusters, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will significantly increase." The plan also sets a target of "achieving a 50% ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles by 2020." More future possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage rates for passenger vehicles, efforts will be made to promote ETC use for trucks and explore deeper integration of ETC systems with vehicle-to-vehicle communication, vehicle-to-infrastructure coordination, and other smart transportation developments. This will provide comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners, meaning more application scenarios will support ETC. ETC Usage Notes: The ETC transaction sensing range is 8 meters. If the vehicle in front stops, maintain a distance of at least 10 meters to avoid automatic sensing and payment for the vehicle in front, in case its ETC device is faulty or nonexistent. The recognition speed for ETC lanes is 20 km/h. Driving too fast may prevent the system from reading the vehicle's device information, leading to failed deductions. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or if the ETC electronic tag falls off or becomes loose, may render the tag invalid. In such cases, the device can be taken to the bank where the ETC card was issued or to a highway service center for inspection. If the issue is not due to human interference, reactivation may suffice. When using a debit card bound to ETC, insufficient balance may cause deduction failures. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to use manual MTC lanes and pay with cash or cards. Thick windshields may cause poor sensing, especially for vehicles that have had windshield replacements after accidents or for those with modified front windshields.
I once encountered a situation where the ETC didn't match the license plate. It happened when I got a new car but forgot to update the ETC binding. As a result, the system made an error during highway recognition, and the toll station directly directed me to the manual lane, not only charging extra service fees but also wasting time. Later, I learned that the ETC must match the vehicle registration information; otherwise, it may be considered invalid or a fraud risk. The highway toll system relies on license plate scanning to verify the ETC account, and mismatches may trigger alarms leading to rejection or fines. I suggest updating the ETC binding immediately after changing plates or vehicles by visiting an ETC service point with your vehicle license and ID card—it only takes a few minutes. This avoids extra costs and hassle on the highway, ensuring safety and peace of mind. Regularly checking the binding status on the app is also a good habit.
