Can I choose not to use ETC?
2 Answers
If you have applied for ETC, you can choose not to use the manual lanes on highways. Since the manual lanes on highways are not equipped with ETC sensors, you can naturally use the manual lanes to take a card and pay. There are two ways to take a card in the manual lane: one is to receive the card from a professional staff member, and the other is for the driver to self-serve the card from the card dispenser. When passing through the toll station, it is essential to slow down and proceed in order, avoiding any congestion caused by cutting in line. ETC stands for Electronic-Toll-Collection, meaning electronic toll collection system. To apply, you need to provide the original and photocopies of the vehicle owner's valid ID card and driving license. If the application is not made by the owner, the agent must also bring their valid ID card. The photocopy of the driving license must include the page with the most recent annual inspection stamp; a bank card for deducting highway tolls; applicants must be between 18 and 60 years old; the vehicle must be under the applicant's name. How ETC works: Through the on-board electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield, it communicates with the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at the toll station. Using computer networking technology, it settles accounts with the bank in the background, allowing vehicles to pay highway or bridge tolls without stopping when passing through toll stations. Benefits of installing ETC: Time-saving: Eliminates the hassle of waiting in line; Green and eco-friendly: Low-carbon, as vehicles pass through toll stations without stopping, reducing noise and exhaust emissions and pollution; Cost-saving: Reduces costs, decreases the frequency of vehicle starts and stops, minimizes wear and fuel consumption, and users can enjoy toll discounts; Improved efficiency: ETC lanes can theoretically increase traffic efficiency by 2-3 times or more, making traditional ETC updates faster and more high-tech. Compared to license plate payment, ETC technology is more mature and advantageous.
I've been driving long-distance highways for over a decade, and ETC is definitely not just for show. Back when using manual lanes, holiday queues could take half an hour—pure agony. After installing ETC, things got so much easier—zooming through toll stations in a flash, no wallet digging or QR code scanning in lines. Nowadays, many remote toll stations keep just one or two manual lanes, converting the rest to ETC. Though banks charge a small deposit for the device, the 5% toll discount saves enough in a year for two tanks of gas. If you never use highways, skip it, but for anyone hitting the road a few times annually, I’d strongly recommend getting one. Pro tip: regularly clean the ETC tag’s sensor area on your windshield to avoid detection failures at the gantry.
