Can ETC continue to be used when changing cars but not license plates?

[StPeter]

ETC cannot be used if the vehicle information it is bound to is inconsistent. Different vehicle models have different highway toll fees. According to the "Rules for the Use of Non-Stop Fast Pass Systems," when applying for ETC, the ETC card and OBU device are already bound to the vehicle, and the relevant vehicle information has been imported, forming a one-to-one correspondence. If you switch to a new car with a new license plate, you need to cancel the original ETC and reapply for the new car. If it's a new car with the old license plate, you can simply update the vehicle information at an offline service center. ETC is a non-stop electronic toll collection system. ETC lanes are set up for vehicles equipped with ETC onboard devices and use electronic tolling. The electronic toll collection system is an automatic toll system for highways or bridges. ETC's fee deduction principle: There will be one or more ETC lanes on the highway. Through microwave dedicated short-range communication between the onboard electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at the toll station, computer networking technology is used to conduct background settlement with the bank, achieving the goal of vehicles not needing to stop at toll stations to pay tolls. All of 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: Low-carbon, as vehicles pass through toll stations without stopping, reducing noise and exhaust emissions and minimizing pollution; Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs by reducing the frequency of vehicle starts and brakes, lowering wear and fuel consumption; Improved efficiency: The theoretical efficiency of ETC lanes can be increased by 2-3 times or more, making traditional ETC updates faster 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 basically realized in key city clusters, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will significantly increase." It also clearly set the goal in the "13th Five-Year" comprehensive transportation development indicators that "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-to-infrastructure coordination, and other smart transportation development directions, providing comprehensive travel services for car owners. This means more application scenarios will support ETC applications. ETC usage precautions: The ETC transaction sensing range is 8 meters. When encountering a vehicle in front that has stopped, to prevent the ETC device of the front vehicle from malfunctioning or not having an ETC device at all, maintain a distance of more than 10 meters from the front vehicle to avoid automatic sensing and paying the toll for the front vehicle. The recognition speed for ETC lane passage is 20 km/h. If the speed is too fast, the vehicle device information cannot be read, which will also result in a failed fee deduction. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or detachment or loosening of the ETC electronic tag, will cause the electronic tag to fail. It can be sent to the bank where the ETC card was issued or the highway service center for testing. If the loosening or detachment is not due to human factors, it only needs to be reactivated. When using a debit card bound to 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 pass by paying cash or swiping a 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.

[MariaDella]

If you change your car but keep the same license plate, your original ETC device can usually continue to be used. I personally changed cars before, keeping the old license plate on the new car, and simply transferred the old ETC device to the new one. However, the first time I passed through a highway toll station, the system recognized the license plate correctly, but the device showed an activation error. The toll attendant advised me to update the information at a service point. I promptly went to an ETC service station, where they used a mini-program to scan the QR code and rebind the new car’s information—the whole process took just 10 minutes. It’s been working perfectly for over half a year now. Remember to securely fix the device on the new car’s windshield and avoid tampering with it yourself to prevent damaging the internal module. Rules may vary slightly by province, so it’s best to call your service provider in advance to confirm. If the license plate remains unchanged, you avoid the hassle of reapplying for a new one, but this update step is crucial to prevent billing discrepancies due to data mismatches.

[Grant]

During ETC system design, the license plate serves as the core identification point. As long as the plate remains unchanged, the device can generally continue deducting fees. The principle is simple: highway cameras scan license plates and match them with signals sent by the device to enable automatic toll collection. If you retain the original license plate when changing vehicles, simply transfer the ETC device to the new car—the operation remains largely the same. However, you must promptly update vehicle registration details, as discrepancies like the new VIN or vehicle model might trigger system errors. I've handled similar cases where owners overlooked this step, resulting in billing chaos and overcharges. Contacting ETC customer service or updating via their APP can synchronize the new data—most scenarios don't require device replacement. The entire process is free and time-efficient, though don't expect flawless transitions. Always verify device integrity; test older units for battery depletion if suspected.