Can only one ETC be installed per vehicle?
4 Answers
Each vehicle can only register for one ETC. According to the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Application Service of Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) on Highways" issued by the Ministry of Transport, ETC registration is tied to the vehicle's license. If you own multiple vehicles, you can use different licenses to register for ETC. Documents required for ETC registration: The vehicle owner's original valid ID card, the original and a copy of the vehicle's license (the page with the most recent annual inspection stamp), and if registering on behalf of someone else, the original valid ID card of the proxy. If registering for ETC through major bank branches, you will also need a debit or credit card from the respective bank. Some banks only support ETC binding with credit cards, while others may require freezing a portion of the amount as a deposit when binding with a debit card. The current year's vehicle insurance policy is also required. For corporate registrations, the handler's ID (or driver's license), the company's organization code certificate (or business license), and the company seal are needed. ETC billing principles: There will be one or more ETC lanes on highways. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the vehicle's electronic tag installed on the windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane, and using computer networking technology for backend settlement with banks, the system achieves the purpose of paying tolls without stopping at toll stations, all 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 eco-friendly: Reduces noise and exhaust emissions by avoiding stops at toll stations; Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs by minimizing frequent starts and stops, lowering wear and fuel consumption; Improved efficiency: ETC lanes can theoretically increase vehicle throughput 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's "13th Five-Year Plan for the Development of a Modern Comprehensive Transportation System" explicitly states the goal of "achieving interoperability of transportation cards in key city clusters by 2020 and significantly increasing the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC," with a specific target of "50% ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles by 2020." Future possibilities: Beyond improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage rates for passenger vehicles, future efforts will promote ETC use for trucks and explore deeper integration of ETC systems with vehicle-to-vehicle communication, vehicle-to-infrastructure coordination, and other smart transportation developments, providing comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners. This means 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 over 10 meters to prevent automatic fee deduction for the wrong vehicle due to ETC device failure or absence. The ETC lane recognition speed is 20 km/h. Speeding may result in failure to read the vehicle's device information and billing failure. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or if the ETC electronic tag falls off or becomes loose, will render the tag invalid. It can be taken to the bank where the ETC card was issued or a highway service center for inspection. If the issue is not due to human interference, reactivation may suffice. Insufficient balance when using a debit card linked to ETC will cause billing failure. Follow on-site staff guidance to use manual MTC lanes with cash or card payment. Thick windshields may cause poor signal reception, especially for vehicles with replaced or modified windshields after accidents.
I often use ETC while driving and believe that a car can indeed only have one ETC device installed, otherwise it could cause major issues. ETC is linked to the license plate and bank account, so installing multiple devices might confuse the system, leading to problems like duplicate charges or malfunctioning. I remember once borrowing a friend’s car—he had installed two ETC devices to test them out—and when passing through the toll booth, the lights kept flashing and alarms went off. The toll attendant had to get out to check, wasting half an hour. A mechanic later told me that each license plate can only correspond to one active ETC account by design, to avoid data conflicts. If you accidentally install multiple, remove the extra ones immediately. Also, when changing cars or ETC cards, remember to deactivate the old one to avoid unpaid fee troubles. Overall, ETC is convenient enough—one device handles daily travel needs, so no need to complicate things unnecessarily.
As someone with a basic understanding of automotive technology, I always research these device details. ETC operates via RFID signals, and installing multiple devices may interfere with signal strength, leading to recognition failures or incorrect charges. Since the system matches a unique device ID number, only one valid ETC tag can be registered per vehicle. I once tried passing through a toll station with two tags in my car, and neither lit up—requiring a device restart. In terms of maintenance, installing multiple devices also increases circuit load, making parts more prone to damage. Generally, ETC providers have rules limiting one license plate to a single account. It's advisable to follow the installation instructions carefully and not cut corners for speed. If issues arise, prioritize checking device compatibility and avoid adding unnecessary items that could disrupt daily convenience.
I've been driving for many years, and one ETC is enough. Never install multiple ETCs on a single car, as it can easily trigger system errors and affect passage. A friend of mine installed two, which led to billing chaos and required a trip to the bank for refund processing. The rule is clear: one license plate should be bound to one device for safety. Just check that there's only one ETC on your car.
