Can only one ETC be applied for per car?

[StEvan]

Only one ETC can be processed per vehicle. According to the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Application Service of Electronic Non-stop Toll Collection on Expressways" issued by the Ministry of Transport, the ETC application is related to the vehicle's driving license. If there are multiple vehicles under one's name, different driving licenses can be used to apply for ETC. Documents required for ETC application: The original valid ID card of the vehicle owner, the original and a copy of the vehicle's driving license (the page with the most recent annual inspection stamp must be provided). If applying on behalf of someone else, the original valid ID card of the agent is also required. If applying for ETC through major bank branches, a debit or credit card from the corresponding bank must be prepared. Some banks only support ETC binding with credit cards, while others may require freezing a certain amount as a deposit when binding ETC with a debit card. The vehicle insurance policy for the current year is also needed. For corporate applications, the agent's ID (or driver's license), the company's organization code certificate (or business license), and the company seal are required. ETC deduction principle: There will be one or more ETC lanes on expressways. Through microwave-specific short-range communication between the vehicle-mounted electronic tag installed on the windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane of the toll station, and using computer networking technology for background settlement with the bank, the vehicle can pay the toll without stopping at the toll station. 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 line; Green and environmentally friendly: Low-carbon, as vehicles pass through toll stations without stopping, reducing noise and exhaust emissions and minimizing pollution; Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs by reducing the frequency of vehicle starts and brakes, lowering wear and fuel consumption; Improved efficiency: Theoretically, ETC lanes can improve vehicle passing efficiency by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC updates 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 using ETC will be significantly increased." It also set a target in the "13th Five-Year" comprehensive transportation development indicators that "by 2020, the ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles will reach 50%." More future possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage and the usage rate of ETC passenger vehicles, the future will also promote the use of ETC for trucks and explore the deep integration of the ETC system with smart transportation development directions such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-road coordination, providing comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners. This means more application scenarios will support ETC applications. ETC usage precautions: The ETC transaction sensing area is 8 meters. When encountering a stationary vehicle ahead, to prevent the ETC device failure or absence of an ETC device in the vehicle ahead, maintain a distance of more than 10 meters to avoid automatic sensing and paying for the vehicle ahead. The speed for ETC lane recognition is 20 km/h. If the speed is too fast, the vehicle device information cannot be read, leading to deduction failure. Unauthorized disassembly or movement of the OBU device, or detachment or loosening of the ETC electronic tag, will cause the electronic tag to fail. It can be sent to the bank where the ETC card was processed or the highway service office for testing. Non-human-induced loosening or detachment only requires reactivation. When using a debit card bound to ETC, insufficient balance will also cause deduction failure. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to use the manual MTC lane and pass by cash or card. Poor sensing due to overly thick car windshields. Special attention is needed for vehicles that have had their windshields replaced after accidents or for those who have modified their front windshields.

[McAbel]

Generally, a vehicle can only apply for one ETC device, as the ETC system binds the license plate number with the device serial number, similar to an ID card—one vehicle corresponds to one unique device. If you accidentally apply for a second one, the system may detect duplication, leading to the device being unable to activate or being rejected, which could affect automatic toll collection on highways. ETC is designed to save time and hassle, but having multiple devices increases confusion and may result in incorrect or duplicate charges. I recommend ensuring accurate information during the application process to get it right the first time. After installation, regularly check the device's battery status to ensure it functions properly. Speaking of convenience, using ETC makes highway travel much faster—no need to stop and queue for toll payments—and it can save a significant amount on toll fees annually.

[MacQuinn]

From a technical perspective, ETC uses RFID electronic tags, with each device corresponding to a specific vehicle identification number. One vehicle can only be equipped with one valid device. If you forcibly apply for two devices, the first one may be overwritten or deactivated, causing system confusion. For example, the system might fail to identify the correct toll deduction channel during payment, leading to billing issues. I once helped a friend deal with a similar situation, and in the end, we had to contact ETC customer service to cancel the extra device, which was quite troublesome. When transferring vehicle ownership or changing cars, remember to deregister the old ETC and apply for a new one to avoid residual information interference. The core purpose of ETC is to improve traffic efficiency. I use it daily while driving to avoid peak-hour congestion, and the automatic toll deduction is accurate. I recommend checking the device placement during installation—avoid mounting it on areas of the windshield with metal film, as this can affect signal reception and cause delays in smooth passage.