
You can apply for ETC without a driver's license. According to the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Application Service of Electronic Non-stop Toll Collection on Expressways" issued by the Ministry of Transport, you need to bring 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). If applying on behalf of someone else, you also need to provide the original valid ID card of the agent. If applying for ETC through major bank branches, you will also need to prepare a debit card or credit card from the corresponding bank. Some banks only support ETC binding with credit cards, while others may require freezing a portion of the amount as a deposit when binding ETC with a debit card. ETC deduction principle: There will be one or more ETC lanes on the expressway. Through the dedicated short-range microwave communication between the on-board electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane of the toll station, the computer network technology is used to settle accounts with the bank in the background, achieving the purpose of paying tolls without stopping at the toll station. All of this is based on the principle of passing first and deducting fees later. Benefits of installing ETC: Save time: Eliminates the hassle of waiting in line; Green and environmentally friendly: Green and low-carbon, vehicles pass through toll stations without stopping, reducing noise and exhaust emissions and minimizing pollution; Save wear and tear: Saves costs, reduces the frequency of vehicle starts and brakes, and lowers wear and fuel consumption; Improve 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 smart cards in key urban agglomerations will be basically achieved, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will be significantly increased." It also clearly set the goal of "achieving a 50% ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles by 2020" in the main indicators of comprehensive transportation development during the "13th Five-Year Plan" period. More future possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage and the ETC usage rate of passenger vehicles, the future will also promote the use of ETC by trucks and explore the deep integration of the ETC system with the development direction of smart transportation such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-road coordination, providing comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners. This means that 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 ETC device of the vehicle in front from malfunctioning or not having an ETC device at all, keep a distance of more than 10 meters from the vehicle in front to avoid automatically sensing and paying the toll for the vehicle in front. The recognition speed for ETC lane passage is 20km/h. If the speed is too fast, the vehicle device information cannot be read, which will also lead to deduction failure. Unauthorized disassembly 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 processed or the highway service office for testing. If the loosening or detachment is not man-made, it only needs to be reactivated. When using a debit card to bind ETC, insufficient balance will also lead to deduction failure. You can follow the guidance of on-site staff to go to the manual MTC lane and pass by using cash or swiping the card. A windshield that is too thick may cause poor sensing. Especially for vehicles that have been repaired after an accident and had their windshield replaced, or for friends who have modified their front windshield, attention is needed.

I've encountered this issue before. My cousin just turned 18 and bought a car, but hasn't gotten his driver's license yet. When he went to the bank to apply for an ETC, he brought his ID card and vehicle registration. The bank staff said a driver's license isn't mandatory. The key requirements are providing the original vehicle registration and the owner's ID card. If the owner delegates someone else to handle it, a power of attorney is needed. The ETC device is linked to the vehicle identification number, which has nothing to do with the driver's qualification. However, it's important to ensure the linked payment account has sufficient balance—my cousin used his father's bank card. The whole process took about twenty minutes, and the device was directly attached to the inside of the windshield. Now, when his dad drives on the highway, they use the ETC lane, which is super convenient.

Last week, my neighbor Grandpa Wang just helped his grandson apply for an ETC. The kid is only 17 and obviously doesn't have a driver's license, but the car was bought by the grandfather for his grandson. We went together to the expressway service center to inquire, and the staff member flipping through the materials clearly stated: ETC applications are based on the vehicle's registration certificate and the applicant's ID documents, no driver's qualifications are required. An application form needs to be filled out on-site, and it's best to bring the car purchase invoice for verification. Since Grandpa Wang's grandson is the vehicle owner but underage, a guardian must bring the original household register to prove the relationship. The whole process was simpler than expected, except that the final step of activating the device requires driving the car over for signal testing, which is a bit troublesome for someone without a driver's license.

As someone who frequently handles bank transactions, I've processed numerous ETC applications. You can definitely apply without a driver's license - the key is preparing three essential documents: the vehicle registration certificate, the applicant's ID card, and a bank card for fee deduction. Special note: if the vehicle owner's name differs from the applicant's, bring a copy of the owner's ID and an authorization letter. Just last week, a lady successfully applied ETC for her company vehicle without the legal representative having a driver's license. I recommend applying directly at bank counters to avoid pitfalls compared to online channels. Remember to test the device after installation - if you don't have a license, just ask a licensed friend to help with the test drive.


