Can someone other than the car owner apply for a highway ETC?

[Gatsby]

Yes, someone other than the car owner can apply for an ETC. According to the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Application of Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) on Highways" issued by the Ministry of Transport, the following documents are required: the original valid ID card of the car owner, the original and a copy of the vehicle registration certificate (the page with the most recent annual inspection stamp). If applying on behalf of someone else, the original valid ID card of the proxy is also required. If applying for an ETC through major bank branches, a debit or credit card from the corresponding bank is needed. Some banks only support ETC binding with credit cards, while others may require freezing a certain amount as a deposit when binding with a debit card. ETC Deduction Principle: There will be one or more ETC lanes on highways. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the onboard electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at the toll station, the computer network technology is used to conduct background settlement with the bank. This achieves the purpose of paying tolls without stopping at the toll station, 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: 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. Users also enjoy a 5% discount on toll fees. Improved efficiency: Theoretically, ETC lanes can increase vehicle passing efficiency by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC faster, more advanced, and higher-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 equipped with ETC will significantly increase." It also set a target in the "13th Five-Year" comprehensive transportation development indicators: "By 2020, the ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles should reach 50%." More future possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage rates for passenger vehicles, efforts will be made to promote ETC usage for trucks in the future. There will also be exploration into deeper integration of ETC systems with smart transportation directions such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-to-infrastructure coordination, providing comprehensive travel services for car owners. This means more application scenarios will support ETC usage. ETC Usage Notes: The ETC transaction sensing range is 8 meters. If the vehicle in front is stationary, maintain a distance of more than 10 meters to prevent automatic sensing from deducting fees for the vehicle in front, especially if the front vehicle's ETC device is faulty or absent. 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 deduction failure. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or if the ETC electronic tag falls off or becomes loose, may cause the electronic tag to fail. It can be taken to the bank where the ETC card was issued or the highway service office for inspection. If the loosening or detachment is not due to human factors, reactivation is sufficient. When using a debit card bound to ETC, insufficient balance may cause deduction failure. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to use the manual MTC lane and pay with cash or card. Poor sensing may occur if the vehicle's windshield is too thick, especially for vehicles that have had windshield replacements after accidents or modifications to the front windshield.

[DianaAnn]

I know from experience that you don't necessarily have to go in person to apply for a highway ETC as the vehicle owner. I've also helped friends with this. As an agent, you need to bring all the required materials: a copy of the vehicle owner's ID card, the original vehicle registration certificate, plus a simple written authorization letter and your own ID card. Just go to an ETC service center or a partner bank branch, and it'll be done in about ten minutes. This method is efficient and convenient, especially when the owner is busy, but don't forget to check if all materials are complete to avoid wasted trips. Once it's set up, highway travel becomes much faster with automatic toll deduction, saving time. I recommend downloading the authorization template online in advance for preparation.