Can non-owners apply for ETC?
2 Answers
Non-owners can apply for ETC. The agent needs to bring their own ID card, as well as the owner's ID card and vehicle registration documents to an ETC service point. After filling out the relevant forms, the application can be completed. ETC is an electronic toll collection system that allows for non-stop toll payments on toll roads. It is commonly used on highways, bridges or tunnels with toll policies, and certain sections of urban roads to alleviate traffic congestion. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the vehicle's electronic tag installed on the windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at toll stations, the system uses computer networking technology to process background settlements with banks. This enables vehicles to pay tolls without stopping at toll booths.
A buddy of mine asked me to help him apply for an ETC last year because he was too busy to do it himself. The bank procedures were no joke. Although I wasn’t the vehicle owner, I brought the owner’s original ID card, vehicle registration certificate, and a signed power of attorney. The staff checked everything thoroughly to prevent unauthorized use of the vehicle, so incomplete documents were an absolute no-go. Fortunately, many places now support online applications, like the Bank of China’s app, where the owner can authorize directly via their phone. The whole process took me two hours. A word of advice: draft the power of attorney in advance, clearly stating the authorized matters and the signature date. In short, non-owners can apply, but it requires more effort to prepare the documents—don’t cut corners for the sake of convenience.
