Can I apply for ETC if the vehicle license is not under my name?

[VonBrooklyn]

It is possible to apply for ETC even if the vehicle license is 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 license (showing the most recent annual inspection stamp), and if applying on behalf of someone else, the original valid ID card of the agent. If applying for ETC through bank branches, a debit or credit card from the corresponding bank is also required. Some banks only support ETC binding with credit cards, while others may require freezing a certain amount as a deposit when binding with a debit card. ETC Billing Principle: There are 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 toll stations, and using computer networking technology for backend settlement with banks, vehicles can pay tolls without stopping at toll booths. This operates 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: Reduces noise and exhaust emissions by allowing vehicles to pass toll stations without stopping. Reduces wear and tear: Saves costs by minimizing frequent starts and stops, thereby reducing vehicle wear and fuel consumption. Improves efficiency: ETC lanes can theoretically increase vehicle throughput by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC faster 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 smart cards should be widely used in key city clusters, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC should significantly increase." The plan also set 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, future efforts will promote ETC use for trucks and explore deeper integration of ETC systems with smart transportation developments 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. ETC Usage Notes: The ETC transaction sensing range is 8 meters. If the vehicle in front stops, maintain a distance of at least 10 meters to prevent accidental payment for the vehicle ahead due to faulty or missing ETC devices. The speed limit for ETC lane recognition is 20 km/h. Driving too fast may result in failure to read vehicle device information and billing failure. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or detachment/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 a highway service center for inspection. If the issue is not due to human error, reactivation may suffice. When using a debit card for ETC, insufficient balance may cause billing failure. Follow on-site staff guidance to use manual MTC lanes and pay with cash or card. Thick windshields may cause poor signal reception, especially for vehicles with replaced or modified windshields after accidents.

[DelMartin]

I once encountered this issue when helping my family apply for an ETC. It's really not possible if the vehicle registration certificate isn't under your name. ETC applications require that the owner on the vehicle registration certificate and the applicant's ID card must match, as it binds vehicle ownership and bank card deductions. Once, I tried using my father's vehicle registration to apply and was directly rejected. The bank explained it was to prevent identity theft or disputes. Later, we had my father personally bring his ID card, the original vehicle registration, and bank card to the service center, and only then did we successfully complete the process. If the vehicle registration isn't under your name, ETC companies will conduct strict reviews, possibly requiring a power of attorney and the agent's identification documents. It's advisable not to attempt applying alone if the vehicle registration isn't yours. It's best for the vehicle owner to handle it personally or prepare authorization materials in advance to save a lot of trouble and time. From a security perspective, this also protects everyone's rights and interests.