Can ETC be used in different locations?
3 Answers
ETC can indeed be used in different locations, as it is universally applicable across the country and has been nationally interconnected since 2015. 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, requiring vehicles to pay tolls manually. Additionally, newly installed ETC devices cannot be used on highways immediately; they must be activated first. During holiday free-toll periods, ETC users can still use highways, and passing through ETC lanes will not incur charges. ETC Deduction Principles: Highways have one or more ETC lanes. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the vehicle's electronic tag installed on the windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane, and by using computer networking technology for backend settlement with banks, vehicles can pay tolls without stopping at toll stations. This is all based on the principle of "pass first, deduct 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 minimizing frequent starts and stops, lowering vehicle wear and fuel consumption; Improved efficiency: ETC lanes can theoretically increase vehicle throughput by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC faster and more high-tech. Compared to license plate payment, ETC technology is more mature and advantageous. More policy support: The State Council's "13th Five-Year Plan for the Development of a Modern Comprehensive Transportation System" explicitly states the goal of "achieving interoperability of transportation cards in key city clusters by 2020 and significantly increasing the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC," with a target of "50% ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles by 2020." More future possibilities: Beyond improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage rates for passenger vehicles, future efforts will promote ETC use for trucks and explore deeper integration of ETC systems with smart transportation developments like vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-to-infrastructure coordination, providing comprehensive travel services for car owners. This means more application scenarios will support ETC. ETC Usage Notes: The ETC transaction sensing range is 8 meters. To avoid paying for the vehicle in front due to its ETC device malfunction or lack thereof, maintain a distance of over 10 meters from the vehicle ahead. The ETC lane recognition speed is 20 km/h. Speeding may prevent the system from reading vehicle device information, leading to failed deductions. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or a loose or detached ETC electronic tag, will render the tag invalid. It can be tested at the bank where the ETC card was issued or at a highway service center. Non-manual loosening or detachment only requires reactivation. Insufficient balance on a debit card linked to ETC can cause deduction failures. Follow on-site staff guidance to use manual MTC lanes for cash or card payments. Thick windshields may cause poor sensing, especially for vehicles with replaced or modified windshields after accidents.
As a commuter who drives to work every day, ETC plays a significant role in my life. It fully supports cross-regional use because the national expressway system is interconnected, so there are no geographical restrictions no matter where you go. I remember once driving from Beijing to Shenzhen, passing through toll stations in multiple provinces smoothly along the way, with ETC automatically deducting fees, saving me the hassle of queuing. However, it's important to keep in mind that the ETC card needs to be recharged regularly, as insufficient balance may lead to failed deductions and disrupt your trip. The signal can occasionally be unstable, especially in mountainous areas, but it's reliable most of the time. When traveling across regions, ETC not only saves time but also reduces fuel consumption, making it more environmentally friendly. In short, this feature makes daily driving much easier and is a great helper for fellow drivers.
As a driver who frequently travels long distances, using ETC in different locations is a common occurrence, allowing seamless passage nationwide. In the past, when I traveled across provinces for business or leisure, I was always concerned about highway toll payments. However, with the full coverage of the ETC system now, automatic toll deduction throughout the journey has significantly improved efficiency. The benefits include saving waiting time and avoiding congestion during peak hours; the downside is occasional signal delays in remote areas, so it's advisable to check the card status and balance before departure. Don’t panic if minor issues occur in another location—most situations can be quickly resolved via the app or customer service. ETC also frequently offers toll discounts, which have saved me a lot of money and enhanced my travel experience.
