Can I use the manual toll lane with ETC installed?

[Darlene]

With ETC installed, you can use the manual toll payment lane, but you need to remove the ETC card and hand it to the toll collector. When using the manual lane, be sure to stop the vehicle, take the card out of the OBU device, and let the toll collector swipe it to obtain exit information. When passing through the toll station, proceed in an orderly manner and avoid cutting in line to prevent congestion in the manual lanes. ETC is a non-stop electronic toll collection system, also known as an automatic road tolling system. It is specifically designed for toll roads and is commonly used on highways, toll bridges or tunnels, and certain urban road sections to alleviate traffic congestion. ETC charging principle: There will be one or more ETC lanes on highways. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the vehicle's onboard electronic tag (installed on the windshield) and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane, the system uses computer networking technology to settle payments with the bank, allowing vehicles to pass through toll stations without stopping. This is all based 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: Reduces noise and exhaust emissions by allowing vehicles to pass through toll stations without stopping; Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs by minimizing frequent starts and stops, lowering wear and fuel consumption. Users also enjoy a 5% discount on toll fees; Improved efficiency: ETC lanes can theoretically increase traffic flow by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC faster 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, the interoperability of transportation cards in key city clusters will be basically achieved, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will significantly increase." The plan also sets a target of "50% ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles by 2020." More future possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage rates for passenger vehicles, future efforts will focus on promoting ETC use for trucks and exploring deeper integration of ETC systems 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. ETC usage precautions: The ETC transaction sensing range is 8 meters. If the vehicle in front stops, maintain a distance of at least 10 meters to prevent automatic sensing and payment for the vehicle ahead, especially if its ETC device is faulty or nonexistent. The recognition speed for ETC lanes is 20 km/h. Driving too fast may result in failure to read the vehicle's device information and subsequent charging failure. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or if the ETC electronic tag falls off or becomes loose, may render the tag invalid. In such cases, take it to the bank where the ETC card was issued or the 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 charging failure. Follow the instructions of on-site staff to use the manual MTC lane and pay with cash or card. Thick windshields may cause poor signal reception. This is particularly relevant for vehicles that have had their windshields replaced after accidents or for those with modified front windshields.

[DeAlina]

After installing ETC, I specifically asked the toll booth staff, and it turns out you can fully use the manual lane. When taking the card, just hand your ETC card to the toll collector—they’ll swipe it with a handheld device, deducting the fee the same way as in the ETC lane. However, using the manual lane requires stopping and queuing, which isn’t as convenient as the ETC lane. Once, when my ETC device ran out of battery, I also used the manual lane to swipe the card. But be careful: if you take a regular pass card in the manual lane, you’ll need to return it when exiting the highway. If you then use the ETC lane, you might be treated as a no-card vehicle and charged for the entire route. My suggestion is to use the ETC-only lane when in a hurry, but it’s also fine to flexibly switch to the manual lane if your device malfunctions or there’s a queue of vehicles.

[StNathan]

Last week when I was on a long-distance trip, the ETC lane had a long queue, so I tried the manual toll booth. The toll collector asked me to remove the ETC card from the device for him to swipe, and the deduction was successful with a receipt printed. Later, I specifically checked the policy and found that the Ministry of Transport has clearly stated that ETC vehicles have the right to choose lanes freely. However, using the manual lane takes more time for stopping to take and return the card, especially during holidays with heavy traffic. The key point to note is that the entry and exit methods must be consistent—if you enter via the manual lane, you must exit via the manual lane as well. Otherwise, the system will default to charging the longest distance. Once, I entered via the manual lane but exited through the ETC lane, and ended up having to pay an additional fee to resolve it—a lesson learned the hard way.

[AnthonyFitz]

As someone who frequently drives on highways, I've used the manual ETC card swipe at toll booths more than a dozen times. Simply pulling out the card and handing it to the toll collector, or placing the device on the sensor, can successfully deduct the fee. The most reassuring part is that even if the ETC device malfunctions, you don't have to worry—just hand the card to the toll collector for manual processing. However, it's important to note that some provinces have mixed manual/ETC lanes, where inserting the card might trigger duplicate detection. I've encountered situations where the barrier lifted while still charging, requiring a refund at the service point. It's advisable to avoid mixed lanes and opt for purely manual toll booths for a more reliable experience.

[Lorraine]

Once when the ETC lane was malfunctioning, the toll station directed me to the manual lane. The toll collector used a POS-like device to scan my windshield for two seconds, completing the deduction faster than I expected. Later, I learned that toll stations nationwide had already upgraded their equipment with high recognition rates. However, three details are worth noting: first, a misaligned card might cause recognition failure, requiring manual swiping; second, always remember to ask for a receipt when using the manual lane; third, my cousin encountered the most bizarre situation—the manual lane barrier lifted too slowly, and his car was too close, resulting in the license plate frame being hit and the ETC device displaced, so maintaining a safe distance is crucial.

[RebeccaLee]

Last time when helping a friend pick up a new car, I discovered a trick at the manual toll booth: vehicles with ETC can enjoy two payment methods in the manual lane. You can either take a CPC card and pay in cash like regular vehicles, or remove the ETC card and swipe it for payment. The former is suitable for those who need reimbursement receipts, while the latter is more convenient. However, during actual testing, it's awkward if the card balance is insufficient when swiping—I once encountered a 'read failure' message and had to make up the difference in cash. So, it's recommended that ETC users check their account balance or the status of their linked credit card before entering the manual lane to avoid the embarrassment of rummaging through their wallet at the booth.