Can I apply for ETC for a car not under my name?
3 Answers
It is possible to apply for ETC even if you are not the vehicle owner. According to the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Application of Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) on Highways" issued by the Ministry of Transport, the following documents are required: the original valid ID card of the vehicle owner, the original and a copy of the vehicle registration certificate (the page with the most recent annual inspection stamp must be provided). If applying on behalf of someone else, the original valid ID card of the proxy is also required. 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 certain amount as a deposit when binding ETC with a debit card. ETC Deduction Principle: Highways have one or more ETC lanes. 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, the system uses computer networking technology to settle payments with the bank in the background. This allows vehicles to pay tolls without stopping at the toll booth, 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: Promotes low-carbon travel by reducing noise and exhaust emissions, as vehicles do not need to stop at toll booths. Cost-saving: Reduces vehicle wear and fuel consumption by minimizing frequent starts and brakes. Users also enjoy a 5% discount on toll fees. Improved efficiency: ETC lanes can theoretically increase vehicle throughput 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, the interoperability of transportation cards in key city clusters will be basically achieved, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will significantly increase." The plan also sets a target of "achieving a 50% ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles by 2020." More future possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage rates for passenger vehicles, the future will also promote ETC usage for trucks and explore deeper integration of ETC systems with smart transportation developments 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. ETC Usage Notes: The ETC transaction sensing range is 8 meters. If the vehicle in front is stationary, maintain a distance of at least 10 meters to prevent accidental payment for the vehicle in front due to ETC device failure or absence. The recognition speed for ETC lanes is 20 km/h. Driving too fast may result in failure to read the vehicle's device information and deduction failure. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or detachment or loosening of the ETC electronic tag, may render the tag invalid. In such cases, the device can be taken to the bank where the ETC card was issued or the highway service office for inspection. If the issue is not caused by human error, reactivation may suffice. When using a debit card bound to ETC, insufficient balance may cause deduction failure. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to use the manual MTC lane and pay with cash or card. Thick or modified windshields may cause poor signal reception. This is especially important for vehicles that have had windshield replacements after accidents or modifications.
I just went through this issue recently. The car I drive is registered under my dad's name, and when applying for ETC, the bank required a household register to prove the parent-child relationship, plus a letter of authorization. The process was more complicated than applying in person—it required the vehicle owner's ID card, original vehicle registration certificate, and the agent's documents. I had to visit the bank twice to get it done. The staff mentioned that for company vehicles, a business license copy and company seal are needed, while spouses need to bring their marriage certificate. Policies vary by region—some provinces allow online proxy applications, so I recommend calling the bank's customer service in advance to confirm the required documents to avoid unnecessary trips. Highway toll collection is indeed convenient now, but proxy applications still take some time to prepare the paperwork.
As someone who frequently assists clients with such matters, I can definitively tell you that it's entirely possible to apply for an ETC for a non-personally owned vehicle. The key is to bring relationship verification documents: family members need household registration or marriage certificates, while company vehicles require business licenses and authorization letters. Last week, I helped a friend apply - the vehicle owner was his cousin, and we successfully completed the process by presenting both IDs and a kinship certificate issued by their community. The bank system will automatically link the ETC account to the vehicle owner's bank card, with toll fees deducted from the owner's account. However, please note that ETC application requirements vary across provinces, and some smaller banks may decline proxy applications. It's advisable to prioritize branches of the Big Four state-owned banks for processing.
