Can I install ETC without using it?
2 Answers
It is possible to install ETC without using it. According to the regulations of the State Council, vehicles that have not installed or are not using ETC by 2020 will not enjoy toll discounts. In the future, only one manual lane will be retained at highway toll stations, and tolls can only be paid through manual channels. How ETC works: Through the onboard electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield, dedicated short-range communication is established with the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at the toll station. Computer networking technology is used for backend settlement processing with the bank, allowing vehicles to pass through highway or bridge toll stations without stopping while paying the tolls. ETC deduction principle: The toll amount for ETC vehicles is rounded according to the "round down if less than 0.5, no change if equal to or greater than 0.5" rule (i.e., amounts with a decimal less than 0.5 are rounded down, while those equal to or greater than 0.5 remain unchanged). After a 5% discount, the amount is then rounded to the nearest cent. MTC vehicles still follow the "round to the nearest yuan" rule. 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 queues; Green and eco-friendly: Low-carbon, vehicles pass through toll stations without stopping, reducing noise and exhaust emissions, thus minimizing pollution; Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs, reduces the frequency of vehicle starts and stops, lowering wear and fuel consumption; Improved efficiency: The efficiency of ETC lanes can theoretically increase by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC more advanced, 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 cards in key city clusters will be basically achieved, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will significantly increase." It also set a target in the "13th Five-Year" comprehensive transportation development indicators: "By 2020, the ETC usage rate for passenger vehicles on roads should reach 50%." More future possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage and increasing the ETC usage rate for passenger vehicles, efforts will be made to promote ETC usage for trucks and explore deeper integration of the ETC system with vehicle-to-vehicle communication, vehicle-to-infrastructure coordination, and other smart transportation developments. This will provide comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners, meaning more application scenarios will support ETC applications.
I recently got an ETC and was initially worried about potential issues if I didn't use it, but in reality, there haven't been any problems. Even if you don't use it often after getting it, just keep the card and device stored—no usage means no charges. However, prolonged inactivity might put the card into dormancy, requiring a reactivation at the bank, which, though a bit time-consuming, is straightforward. I recommend using it occasionally when taking the highway—ETC lanes are faster and more convenient, often with discounts, so why not take advantage? But if you really don't drive on highways, leaving it as is won't cause any issues. The device mounted on the windshield doesn't affect driving safety—just avoid tampering with it.
