Can Only One ETC Be Installed in a Car?

[AliyahAnn]

Only one ETC can be registered per vehicle. According to the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Application of Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) on Highways" issued by the Ministry of Transport, ETC registration is linked to the vehicle's license. If an individual owns multiple vehicles, different licenses can be used to register separate ETC devices. Documents required for ETC registration: The owner's valid ID card, the vehicle's license (original and photocopy), and the page of the license showing the most recent annual inspection stamp. If registering on behalf of someone else, the agent's valid ID card is also required. For ETC registration through major banks, a debit or credit card from the respective bank is necessary. Some banks only support ETC binding with credit cards, while others may require freezing a portion of the debit card balance as a deposit. For companies or organizations, a business license (or organization code certificate) and official seal are needed. ETC charging principles: Highways have one or more ETC lanes. Communication between the vehicle's onboard electronic tag (installed on the windshield) and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane enables automatic toll deduction via backend banking systems, eliminating the need to stop at toll booths. This operates on a "pass first, deduct later" principle. Benefits of installing ETC: Time-saving: Eliminates waiting in queues. Eco-friendly: Reduces noise and emissions by avoiding stops at toll booths. Cost-saving: Minimizes vehicle wear and fuel consumption by reducing frequent starts and stops. Efficiency: ETC lanes can process vehicles 2-3 times faster than traditional methods, making them more advanced and efficient. ETC technology is also more mature and advantageous compared to license plate payment systems. Policy support: The State Council's "13th Five-Year Plan for Modern Integrated Transport Development" aims for widespread ETC adoption by 2020, targeting a 50% usage rate among road passenger vehicles. Future possibilities: Beyond improving ETC convenience and adoption, future plans include expanding ETC use for trucks and integrating ETC with vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication for smarter transportation services. ETC usage precautions: Maintain a distance of over 10 meters from the vehicle ahead to avoid accidental toll deductions for others. ETC lanes recognize vehicles at speeds up to 20 km/h; exceeding this may cause read failures. Tampering with or dislodging the OBU device may deactivate it, requiring reactivation or inspection at ETC service centers. Insufficient funds in a linked debit card may lead to toll deduction failures; follow staff guidance to use cash or cards in manual lanes. Thick or modified windshields may interfere with ETC signal reception, especially after repairs or replacements.