Can ETC be used without installation?

[RosalieRose]

ETC cannot be used without installation. According to the "Rules for the Use of Non-Stop Rapid Passage System," ETC requires installation and insertion of a card into the OBU device to function properly; otherwise, user information cannot be read. If the card is removed, you can use the manual lane and have the staff swipe the card. When the ETC card is inserted into the OBU device, there will be a prompt sound, indicating that the device is activated. Without the card inserted, the device remains in a dormant state and cannot recognize vehicle information at toll stations. Therefore, ETC cannot be used without installation or card insertion. ETC is a non-stop electronic toll collection system, also known as an automatic road toll system. It is a specialized method for toll roads, commonly seen on highways, bridges or tunnels with toll policies, and certain urban road sections to alleviate traffic congestion. ETC Deduction Principle: Highways have one or more ETC lanes. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the vehicle-mounted electronic tag installed on the windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at the toll station, the system uses computer networking technology to settle payments with banks. This allows vehicles to pay tolls without stopping at toll booths, all based 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 toll stations without stopping; Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs by minimizing vehicle starts and brakes, lowering wear and fuel consumption; Improved efficiency: ETC lanes can theoretically increase vehicle passage efficiency 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 should be basically interoperable in key urban clusters, and the proportion of vehicles using ETC should significantly increase." It also set a target of "achieving a 50% ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles by 2020" in the main indicators of the "13th Five-Year" comprehensive transportation development plan. More future possibilities: In addition to continuously 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 vehicle-to-vehicle communication, vehicle-road coordination, and other smart transportation developments. This will provide comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners, meaning more application scenarios will support ETC usage.