Can I apply for ETC for a vehicle not under my name?
3 Answers
It is possible to apply for ETC for a vehicle not under your name. According to the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Application of Electronic Non-stop Toll Collection 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 latest annual inspection stamp), and if applying on behalf of someone else, the original valid ID card of the proxy applicant 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 certain amount as a deposit when binding ETC with a debit card. ETC charging principle: There will be one or more ETC lanes on highways. Through microwave-specific short-range 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 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 environmentally friendly: Low-carbon, vehicles pass through toll stations without stopping, reducing noise and exhaust emissions, thus minimizing pollution; Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs, reduces the frequency of vehicle starts and brakes, lowers wear and fuel consumption, and users can also 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 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 target in the "13th Five-Year" comprehensive transportation development indicators: "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, efforts will also be made to 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 precautions: The ETC transaction sensing area is 8 meters. When encountering a vehicle in front stopping, to prevent the vehicle in front from having a faulty ETC device or no ETC device at all, maintain a distance of more than 10 meters to avoid automatically sensing and paying for the vehicle in front. The recognition speed for ETC lane passage is 20 km/h. If the speed is too fast, the vehicle device information cannot be read, and the fee deduction will fail. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, detachment or loosening of the ETC electronic tag, etc., 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 caused by human factors, it only needs to be reactivated. When using a debit card bound to ETC, insufficient balance will also cause the fee deduction to fail. 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 may 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.
Of course, you can apply for an ETC for a vehicle that is not yours. I once helped my dad apply for one for his car. You need to bring the original ID card of the vehicle owner, the vehicle registration certificate, and your own ID card. The most crucial thing is a power of attorney signed by the vehicle owner. When I applied at the bank counter, they also asked me to fill out a proxy declaration. After the application, the ETC is linked to the owner's bank card, and highway toll deductions work perfectly fine. However, if there's a device malfunction requiring replacement, the owner might need to sign in person. It's quite convenient for daily use, but you need to prepare all the documents in advance to avoid unnecessary trips to the bank. I recommend calling ahead to confirm the required documents, as different banks may have slightly different requirements.
Last time I used my friend's car for a long-distance trip and impulsively applied for an ETC. It's completely fine to handle ETC for a non-owned vehicle, but three key points must be noted: First, you need front-and-back photos or copies of the vehicle owner's ID card; second, the original vehicle license must be brought along; finally, a paper authorization letter specifying ETC agency matters is required. I applied through Alipay, received the device three days after uploading these materials. It's linked to my Alipay account for toll deduction, and the barrier lifts super fast on highways. However, cancellation is slightly troublesome as it requires contacting customer service. For long-term use, it's recommended to let the owner apply directly, but for temporary use, agency application is indeed convenient.
