Can ETC Only Be Applied for One's Own Vehicle?

[McBrandon]

Non-owners can also apply for ETC. According to the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Application Service of Electronic Non-stop Toll Collection on Highways" issued by the Ministry of Transport, the original valid ID card of the vehicle owner, the original and photocopy of the vehicle license, and the page of the license with the most recent annual inspection stamp are required. If applying on behalf of others, the original valid ID card of the agent is also needed. If applying for ETC through major bank branches, a debit card or credit card from the corresponding bank must be prepared. Some banks only support ETC binding with credit cards, while others may require freezing a portion of the amount as a deposit when binding ETC with a debit card. ETC Deduction Principles: There will be one or more ETC lanes on highways. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the on-board electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at the toll station, and using computer networking technology for backend settlement with the bank, the purpose of paying tolls without stopping at the toll station is achieved. All 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, vehicles pass through toll stations without stopping, reducing noise and exhaust emissions, and minimizing pollution; Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs, decreases the frequency of vehicle starts and brakes, lowers wear and fuel consumption, and users can enjoy a 5% discount on tolls; Improved efficiency: The theoretical efficiency of ETC lanes can be increased by 2-3 times, 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 clearly stated in the "13th Five-Year Plan for the Development of a Modern Comprehensive Transportation System" that "by 2020, the interoperability of transportation smart cards in key urban clusters will be basically achieved, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will be significantly increased." It also set a clear target 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 smart transportation development directions such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-road coordination, 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 stationary vehicle ahead, 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 for the front vehicle. The recognized speed for ETC lane passage is 20 km/h. If the speed is too fast, the vehicle device information cannot be read, leading to deduction failure. Unauthorized disassembly 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 office for testing. If the detachment or loosening is not man-made, reactivation is sufficient. When using a debit card bound to ETC, insufficient balance will also cause deduction failure. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to use the manual MTC lane and pass by cash or 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.

[DelPaislee]

I recently got an ETC for my wife's car, and actually, it doesn't necessarily have to be done in person. According to regulations, the ETC must be registered under the ID of the person listed on the vehicle registration certificate, and there's really no room for negotiation on this point. However, in practice, I found there are quite a few flexible solutions. For example, the vehicle owner can write a letter of authorization for a relative to handle it on their behalf, and some banks even accept spousal proxy applications. For company vehicles, it's even more flexible—just provide the business license to apply under the company account. The most hassle-free option is online channels, like the WeChat ETC Assistant, where you can apply by simply filling in the license plate information. But the bank card must be registered under the vehicle owner's name—this is a strict requirement. It's advisable to prepare the original vehicle registration certificate, the owner's ID card, and bank card in advance, as requirements may vary slightly by province.