Can I drive on the highway without an ETC card?
2 Answers
You can take the manual lane to enter the highway. According to the regulations of the State Council, vehicles without ETC will not enjoy toll discounts starting from 2020. In the future, only one manual lane will be retained at highway toll stations, and tolls must be paid through the manual lane. Additionally, newly installed ETC devices cannot be used immediately on the highway; they must be activated first. During holiday free periods, vehicles can still use the highway. For users who have already installed ETC, passing through ETC lanes will not incur charges. ETC toll deduction principle: There will be one or more ETC lanes on the highway. Through microwave short-range communication between the vehicle's electronic tag installed on the windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane, and by using computer networking technology for backend settlement with banks, vehicles can pass through toll stations without stopping to pay tolls. All of this operates on the principle of "pass first, deduct later." Benefits of installing ETC: Time-saving: Eliminates the hassle of waiting in line; Green and eco-friendly: Promotes low-carbon travel by reducing noise and exhaust emissions since vehicles do not need to stop at toll stations; Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs by minimizing frequent starts and stops, thereby reducing vehicle wear and fuel consumption. Users also enjoy a 5% discount on tolls; Improved efficiency: ETC lanes can theoretically increase traffic efficiency by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC faster, more advanced, 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, key city clusters will basically achieve interoperability of transportation cards, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will significantly increase." The plan also sets a target of "achieving a 50% ETC usage rate for passenger vehicles on roads by 2020." More future possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage rates for passenger vehicles, future efforts will include promoting ETC usage for trucks and exploring deeper integration of ETC systems with smart transportation developments such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-road coordination. This will provide car owners with comprehensive travel services, meaning more application scenarios will support ETC usage.
As a seasoned driver who frequently travels on highways, I can assure you that not having an ETC card is completely fine. Highway toll stations have dedicated ETC lanes and manual lanes, with clear signage—just look for lanes marked 'Manual Toll' or 'MTC.' When approaching the entrance, staff will issue you a pass card; keep it safe. At the exit, use the manual lane again to pay the toll, accepting cash, bank cards, or mobile payments—it's straightforward. However, manual lanes often have queues, especially during peak hours. Last week, I was stuck for nearly twenty minutes, which was frustrating. ETC is far more efficient, allowing direct passage without stopping and even offering a 5% discount. Considering this, I’d suggest occasional travelers can manage with manual lanes, but frequent drivers should get an ETC card for convenience and time savings. Overall, access isn’t an issue—just less efficient. Don’t worry about safety; these systems ensure every vehicle can pass smoothly.
