Can ETC still be used after changing the license plate number?
4 Answers
ETC cannot be used if the vehicle information it is bound to is inconsistent. Different vehicle types have different highway toll fees. According to the "Rules for the Use of Non-Stop Rapid Passage 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 to form a one-to-one correspondence. If you change 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 an 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 deduction principles: There will be one or more ETC lanes on highways. 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 at the toll station, and using computer networking technology for backend settlement with banks, the system achieves the goal of allowing vehicles to pay tolls without stopping at highway or bridge toll stations. 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 decreasing the frequency of vehicle starts and stops, lowering wear and fuel consumption; Improved efficiency: Theoretically, ETC lanes can increase vehicle passage efficiency by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC faster, newer, 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 card interoperability will be basically achieved in key city clusters, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will significantly increase." It also set a clear 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 increasing the ETC adoption rate for passenger vehicles, future efforts will also promote ETC use for trucks and explore deeper integration of the ETC system with smart transportation directions such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-road coordination. This will provide comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners, meaning more application scenarios will support ETC usage. ETC usage precautions: The ETC transaction sensing range is 8 meters. If the vehicle in front stops, to prevent issues such as the front vehicle's ETC device malfunctioning or not having an ETC device at all, maintain a distance of more than 10 meters to avoid automatically paying the toll 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 failed toll deductions. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or the ETC electronic tag falling off or becoming loose, will cause the electronic tag to fail. It can be taken to the bank where the ETC card was issued or the highway service center for inspection. If the loosening or detachment is not due to human factors, reactivation is sufficient. When using a debit card bound to ETC, insufficient balance will also cause toll deduction failures. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to use the manual MTC lane and pass by paying with cash or card. Excessive thickness of the car windshield can lead to poor sensing. This is particularly important for vehicles that have had their windshields replaced after accidents or for those who have modified their front windshields.
When I got my new license plate, I immediately went to the ETC service center to re-register the device. The license plate is like a vehicle's ID card, and the ETC was tied to the old plate info. If you stubbornly try to use the old device at the toll gate, the system will detect the mismatch between the new and old plates and simply block you from passing. Nowadays, highway cameras are so smart—last time my neighbor tried to save trouble by not re-registering, and even the manual lane staff questioned him, causing a 30-minute delay. The safest approach is to take your new license plate, vehicle registration, and ID to the original service point to cancel the old device and get a new card. Oh, and some provinces even charge a 20-yuan service fee, so better handle it early to save hassle.
ETC is inherently linked to the license plate. I've seen too many people continue using their old devices after changing plates, only to get stuck at toll stations. The system automatically verifies the plate number—if there's a mismatch, the barrier won't lift, forcing you to reverse and use the manual lane. Think of it like transferring a phone number: if the number changes, how can the old plan still apply? The process is simple: bring your ID and the new vehicle registration to a bank or highway service point. If the original device has Bluetooth, you can even update the info via your phone without leaving home.
Don't take the risk! The newly replaced license plate and the old ETC device simply don't match, and the RSU equipment at the highway toll gate has a 100% recognition rate. Last year when I changed my plate, I specifically tested it by driving through the ETC lane with the old device—the monitoring screen immediately popped up a warning message. What's worse, three consecutive recognition failures will land you on a temporary blacklist. Later, I obediently went to the highway service center to re-register. The staff quickly updated the device binding, and the whole process took less than ten minutes. Under the new policy now, some provinces even allow remote unbinding.
