Can someone who is not the owner of the car apply for an ETC?
4 Answers
Yes, someone who is not the owner of the car can apply for an ETC. According to the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Application of Electronic Non-stop Toll Collection on Highways" issued by the Ministry of Transport, the original valid ID card of the vehicle owner, the original and a copy of the vehicle registration certificate (the page with the most recent annual inspection stamp) are required. If applying on behalf of someone else, the original valid ID card of the agent is also needed. If applying for an ETC through major bank branches, a debit card 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 portion of the 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 on-board 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 settle accounts with the bank in the background. This achieves the purpose of paying tolls without the vehicle stopping at the toll station, 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: 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 urban clusters will be basically achieved, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will be significantly increased." 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 and the ETC usage rate for passenger vehicles, future efforts will include promoting ETC use for trucks and exploring the deep integration of ETC systems with vehicle-to-vehicle communication, vehicle-road coordination, and other smart transportation development directions. This will provide comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners, meaning more application scenarios will support ETC applications. ETC Usage Notes: The ETC transaction sensing area is 8 meters. When encountering a vehicle in front that has stopped, to prevent the ETC device of the front vehicle from malfunctioning or not having an ETC device at all, maintain a distance of more than 10 meters to avoid automatically sensing and paying for the front vehicle. The ETC lane recognition speed is 20 km/h. If the speed is too fast, the vehicle device information cannot be read, leading to deduction failure. Unauthorized removal 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 issued or the highway service office for testing. If the loosening or detachment is not due to human factors, reactivation is sufficient. 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. If the car windshield is too thick, it may cause poor sensing. This is especially important for vehicles that have had their windshields replaced after accidents or for those who have modified their front windshields.
I've encountered the issue of whether I can apply for an ETC for a car not under my name while driving. Based on my personal experience, it's possible to apply for an ETC card even if the car isn't yours—for example, I successfully applied for one for my wife's car. The key requirement is the participation of the car owner, who needs to provide a copy of their ID and a written authorization letter. You can then apply at a bank or via a mobile app by filling in the vehicle information and linking a bank card. There are many benefits to having an ETC, such as skipping toll booth queues and enjoying a 5% discount. However, it's important to note that if the car is borrowed or company-owned, the owner must personally sign the authorization to avoid future disputes. Having used it several times myself, I find it saves both time and money, especially during peak hours on highways, and it also helps reduce exhaust emissions.
As someone who frequently uses shared services, I believe that even if the car is not under my name, I can still apply for an ETC. The process is very simple. I directly applied through a mobile app, uploaded the car owner's ID photo and vehicle license, and filled out an authorization form. The whole process took just a few minutes, saving me a trip to the counter. The advantage of ETC is its high traffic efficiency—without it, traffic jams were common, and now there's even a discount on toll fees. I recommend linking it to a reputable bank card to avoid the risk of fraud. For multiple vehicles, it can also be managed uniformly, saving a lot of time during trips. In short, the authorization process is not complicated; as long as the car owner cooperates, it's easy to handle.
I have a clear understanding that you can apply for an ETC even if the car is not yours. The vehicle owner needs to provide the original or a copy of their ID, along with a power of attorney proving your authorization. Then, the fastest way is to go to a bank to apply, or you can also use an APP. Once successfully applied, it saves the hassle of paying at toll stations and reduces travel costs. Don't forget to check if the card is activated properly.
