Can ETC only be processed for vehicles under one's own name?

[ErinFitz]

ETC can also be processed by someone other than the vehicle owner. According to the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Application Service of Electronic Non-stop Toll Collection on Expressways" issued by the Ministry of Transport, the original valid ID card of the vehicle owner, the original and copy of the vehicle registration certificate (the page with the latest annual inspection stamp) are required. If processing on behalf of others, the original valid ID card of the agent is also required. If applying for ETC through major bank branches, a corresponding bank debit card or credit card must be prepared. Some banks only support ETC binding with credit cards, while others may require freezing a certain amount as a deposit when binding ETC with a debit card. ETC Billing Principle: There will be one or more ETC lanes on the expressway. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the onboard electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane of the toll station, computer networking technology is used for backend settlement with the bank, achieving the purpose of paying tolls without stopping at the toll station. 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, reduces 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, 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 city clusters will be basically achieved, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will be significantly increased." It also set a target in the "13th Five-Year" comprehensive transportation development indicators: "By 2020, the ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles should 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, future efforts will also promote the use of ETC for trucks and explore the deep integration of ETC systems 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 Precautions: The ETC transaction sensing area is 8 meters. When encountering a stationary vehicle ahead, to prevent the vehicle's ETC device from malfunctioning or not having an ETC device at all, maintain a distance of more than 10 meters to avoid automatic sensing and paying for the vehicle ahead. 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, leading to billing 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 processed or the expressway service office for testing. If the loosening or detachment is not man-made, it only needs to be reactivated. When using a debit card bound to ETC, insufficient balance will also cause billing failure. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to use the manual MTC lane and pass by cash or card. Poor sensing due to overly thick car windshields. Special attention is needed for vehicles that have had their windshields replaced after accidents or those with modified front windshields.

[Seth]

I usually research car policies, and indeed, ETC typically requires the car to be registered under your name because the ETC device is linked to a bank card, and banks have real-name verification requirements to prevent fraudulent deductions. However, in practice, if the car belongs to someone else—for example, helping a family member—you’ll need to bring their ID copy and a written authorization letter to the bank or ETC service point for processing. The procedure isn’t too complicated, but without the owner’s name, you might face additional checks. Additionally, after getting ETC, you can enjoy discounts on highway tolls, saving a lot of money. It’s advisable to regularly check if the device is functioning properly to avoid signal failures affecting usage. In short, safety first—it’s more hassle-free to apply under your own car’s name, and installation takes just a few minutes.