Can I apply for ETC with a vehicle license?

[KingFitz]

Yes, you can apply for ETC with a vehicle license. According to the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Application Service of Electronic Toll Collection on Expressways" issued by the Ministry of Transport, the original valid ID card of the vehicle owner, the original and photocopy of the vehicle license (the page with the most recent annual inspection stamp) are required. If applying on behalf of someone else, the original valid ID card of the agent is also needed. If applying for ETC through major bank branches, a debit or credit card from the corresponding bank is 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 Deduction Principle: There will be one or more ETC lanes on the expressway. Through dedicated microwave short-range communication between the vehicle-mounted electronic tag installed on the windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane of 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 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 faster, newer, 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 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 main indicators of comprehensive transportation development during the "13th Five-Year Plan" period: "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, the future will also 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 Notes: The ETC transaction sensing area is 8 meters. When encountering a vehicle in front that has stopped, to prevent the ETC device of the front vehicle from malfunctioning or not having an ETC device at all, maintain a distance of more than 10 meters to avoid automatically sensing and paying 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 deduction failure. Unauthorized removal 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 issued 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 deduction failure. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to use the manual MTC lane and pass by cash or card. An overly thick windshield can cause poor sensing. Especially for vehicles that have had accidents and had their windshields replaced, or for those who have modified their windshields, extra attention is needed.

[StOmar]

When applying for ETC, I once managed to get it done directly with my vehicle license, but hold on, that alone isn't enough. That time I went to the bank, the staff said the vehicle license is essential to prove the car's identity, confirming the license plate number and ownership details. However, to install the ETC device, I also needed to bring my ID card to verify that I'm the actual owner, plus a bank card to link the payment account. Forgetting the ID card would be a disaster—my friend made a wasted trip and lost half a day. I recommend checking in advance if your documents are expired; otherwise, you'll have to reapply first. By the way, let me mention the benefits of ETC: after installation, highway travel is super fast, no need to stop to pay, and it saves the hassle of queuing. Just make sure to choose an official channel to avoid privacy leaks, and during installation, ask the technician to adjust the position properly so it doesn't block the signal. In short, the vehicle license is the key starting point, but you must gather all the other required materials.