Can the ETC card still be used after being unplugged?
4 Answers
etc card can still be used after being unplugged. For ETC cards without financial functions, they can be inserted into the ETC electronic tag. ETC cards with financial functions do not need to be placed in the ETC device when not in use to avoid unnecessary losses. ETC is an electronic toll collection system for automatic toll collection on highways or bridges. Pulling out and reinserting the ETC card twice activates the Bluetooth function of the ETC electronic tag, which is only used during top-up. Generally, the Bluetooth function remains active for 2 minutes, so please complete the corresponding top-up as soon as possible. If the device cannot activate the Bluetooth function, you can press the button on the top of the ETC device to turn on the Bluetooth function.
Last time on the highway, I foolishly pulled out my ETC card to test it, and ended up getting stopped at the toll gate. The staff said the device couldn’t detect the card info, so it refused to lift the barrier. I had to reverse and switch to the manual lane—so embarrassing! Turns out, the anti-tamper mechanism in the ETC device locks the function to protect account security once it senses the card being removed. Now, my OBU device needs reactivation at a service point before it can be used again. A word of advice: don’t follow my example and mess around with it. If you really need to change cars or cancel the service, contact the bank first. Forcing the card out risks damaging the device—definitely not worth it.
I often help friends troubleshoot ETC malfunctions. Whether it works after removing the card depends on the situation. A standard stored-value card will definitely fail when removed, but for postpaid account users with credit card binding and devices supporting cache function, they might get one or two passes when the device is powered off. However, most toll station systems verify card information in real-time – the device's indicator turning red immediately after card removal is the clearest warning. Focus on checking three areas: scratches on the card slot contacts, loose adhesive on the device base, and whether the metal film on the windshield is blocking the signal. If unsure, visit an ETC service center for inspection rather than relying on luck.
When my relatives from the countryside drove to the city, they removed their ETC card to prevent fraudulent swiping, only to be dumbfounded at the toll booth on their return trip. The ETC system actually relies on the coordination of three core components: the vehicle-mounted OBU card reader, the microwave antenna on the highway gantry, and the linked bank account. Removing the card is like cutting off the source—just like a computer with its graphics card removed will definitely go black. It's recommended to perform a self-check using the ETC Assistant APP before a long-distance trip. If it shows a card reading anomaly, quickly reinsert the card. If you really don't plan to use it for a long time, turning off the device's power is more secure, as this won't trigger the anti-tamper lock.
