Can ETC be used immediately after installation?
3 Answers
ETC cannot be used immediately after installation. It needs to be activated before it can function properly. According to the State Council's regulations, starting from 2020, vehicles without ETC will not enjoy toll discounts. In the future, only one manual lane will be retained at highway toll stations, and vehicles can only pay tolls through manual lanes. During free holiday periods, vehicles with ETC can still use the highway, and passing through ETC lanes will not incur charges. ETC Deduction Principle: There will be one or more ETC lanes on the highway. Through microwave dedicated short-range communication between the vehicle's electronic tag installed on the windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at the toll station, the computer network technology is used to settle accounts with the bank in the background, achieving the purpose of vehicles not needing to stop at toll stations to pay bridge and road fees. 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 pass through toll stations without stopping, reducing noise and exhaust emissions and minimizing pollution; Reduce wear and tear: Saves costs, reduces the frequency of vehicle starts and brakes, and lowers wear and fuel consumption; Improve efficiency: The theoretical efficiency of ETC lanes can be increased by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC more updated, 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 city clusters will be basically achieved, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will be significantly increased." It also set a goal 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 and explore the deep integration of the ETC system with vehicle-to-vehicle communication, vehicle-road 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 Notes: The ETC transaction sensing area is 8 meters. When encountering a vehicle in front that has stopped, to prevent the vehicle in front from having a faulty ETC device or no ETC device at all, maintain a distance of more than 10 meters to avoid automatic sensing and paying for the vehicle in front. The recognition speed for ETC lane passage is 20 km/h. If the speed is too fast, the vehicle's device information cannot be read, which will also result in a failed fee deduction. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, detachment or loosening of the ETC electronic tag, etc., 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 loosening or detachment is not man-made, it only needs to be reactivated. When using a debit card to bind ETC, insufficient balance will also result in a failed fee deduction. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to use the manual MTC lane and pay with cash or by swiping the card. Excessive thickness of the car 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.
I remember installing the ETC was quite simple back then, just had the technician at the 4S shop help me with it. After installation, I immediately drove to a nearby highway toll station to test it. The gate automatically lifted without any pause, and it felt super smooth. Generally, the ETC becomes effective right after installation since it's linked to your bank card or prepaid account, and the device directly connects with the toll station's sensor. However, you need to be careful. A friend of mine once rushed to use it right after installation, but it didn't respond at the toll station. Later, they found out it was due to delayed device activation or incomplete bank procedures. I recommend testing it yourself after installation to ensure all settings are correct, avoiding any last-minute hiccups, especially for long-distance trips where it saves time and effort. Also, remember to maintain the device regularly to prevent battery drainage from affecting its use.
As someone who frequently drives on highways, I made sure to clarify all the details when installing my ETC. After installation, it usually takes effect immediately without any waiting—the device is automatically recognized as soon as you enter the highway. In practice, right after installation, I drove straight through the toll gate, and the barrier lifted instantly—super efficient. The key is to ensure the device is installed correctly, avoiding direct sunlight or obstructions. If the device is newly purchased or has quality issues, it might need to be returned for repair or reactivation, but this is rare in most cases. On the day of installation, I always recommend testing it to avoid the embarrassment of getting stuck at the toll booth. ETC truly saves time, especially during peak hours, eliminating the worry of queuing to pay.
