Can I not cancel ETC if I stop using it?
2 Answers
It is possible not to cancel ETC if you stop using it, but there are negative consequences: If the license plate number is recycled but the bound ETC is not unbound, the new owner will not be able to bind ETC, which will inconvenience others; If you sell the car to someone else without canceling ETC, and the device remains in the car, the toll station will recognize the ETC device. As long as the bank card has a balance, toll fees will continue to be deducted from the bank card. ETC is the abbreviation for Electronic-Toll-Collection, meaning electronic toll collection system. To apply, you need to provide the original and photocopy of the vehicle owner's valid ID and vehicle registration certificate. If it is not the owner applying, the agent's valid ID is also required. The photocopy of the vehicle registration certificate should include the page with the most recent annual inspection stamp; a bank card for deducting highway toll fees; the applicant must be between 18 and 60 years old; and the vehicle must be under the applicant's name. Documents required for company vehicles: An introduction letter from the vehicle owner (with official seal); a photocopy of the organization code certificate or business license (with official seal); the original ID of the agent; the original vehicle registration certificate; and the vehicle for which ETC is to be applied. 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 the vehicle to pay tolls without stopping when passing through highway or bridge toll stations. Benefits of installing ETC: Saves time: 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; Saves wear and tear: Reduces costs, decreases the frequency of vehicle starts and stops, reduces wear and fuel consumption, and users can enjoy toll discounts; Improves efficiency: The ETC lane's efficiency can theoretically increase by 2-3 times or more, making traditional ETC more updated, faster, and more high-tech. Compared to license plate payment, ETC technology is more mature and advantageous.
I actually looked into this matter specifically. Last time I changed cars, I just threw the old ETC device in a drawer, only to receive a text message half a year later saying 200 yuan in annual fees had been deducted—I was so mad I almost fainted! When I went to the bank to ask, they told me that as long as it's linked to a bank account, management fees will still be charged even if the device isn't in use. And a friend of mine had an even crazier experience: when he went to cancel his ETC, he found out someone had registered a new device under his license plate, and all the toll fees were being charged to him. Nowadays, the cancellation process at banks is pretty simple—just call customer service or go to the counter, and it’s done in ten minutes. But if you don’t cancel it, credit issues could become a real headache. Oh, and some provinces even have rules that if you don’t cancel your ETC when returning your license plate, you won’t be able to get a new one—definitely not worth cutting corners over!
