Can I Remove the ETC Card After Entering the Highway?
2 Answers
You can remove the ETC card after entering the highway to prevent unauthorized charges. How ETC Works: ETC operates through an onboard electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield, which communicates with microwave antennas in the ETC lanes at toll stations via dedicated short-range communication. This system uses computer networking technology to process transactions with banks, allowing vehicles to pass through highway or bridge toll stations without stopping to pay fees. ETC Usage Notes: The ETC transaction sensing range is 8 meters. If the vehicle in front stops, maintain a distance of more than 10 meters to prevent accidental charges for the vehicle ahead, especially if its ETC device is faulty or nonexistent. The ETC lane recognizes vehicles at speeds up to 20 km/h. Driving too fast may result in failure to read the vehicle's device information, leading to unsuccessful charges. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or if the ETC electronic tag falls off or becomes loose, will deactivate the tag. In such cases, take it to the bank where the ETC card was issued or to a highway service office for inspection. If the issue is not due to human interference, reactivation may suffice. When using a debit card linked to ETC, insufficient balance may cause charge failures. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to use the manual MTC lane for payment via cash or card. Thick car windshields may cause poor signal reception. This is particularly important for vehicles that have had their windshields replaced after accidents or for those with modified front windshields.
Last time I went on a long-distance trip, I used my ETC card to enter the highway, swiping it normally at the entrance to lift the barrier. But shortly after starting, a friend suddenly called saying there was a risk of ETC card skimming, which scared me into pulling out the card immediately. When I reached the exit toll booth, I was stunned—I couldn’t pass through the ETC lane and had to use the manual lane. The staff said the system couldn’t retrieve the complete travel record, so I had to pay the possible maximum fare, which ended up costing me over 300 yuan extra. What’s worse, pulling out the card twice in a row lands you on the ETC blacklist, requiring a special trip to the bank to resolve it. So unless the device alerts you to a malfunction, never pull out your ETC card on the highway. Nowadays, ETC cards have dual protection with chip technology and password payment, so there’s no need to worry about skimming at all.