Can You Drive on the Highway Without an ETC?

[NoraDella]

Yes, you can drive on the highway without an ETC. According to regulations from the State Council, starting from 2020, vehicles without an ETC will not enjoy toll discounts. In the future, only one manual lane will remain at highway toll stations, and tolls must be paid manually. Additionally, a newly installed ETC cannot be used immediately on the highway; the ETC device must be activated first. During free holiday periods, you can still use the highway. For vehicles already equipped with ETC, passing through ETC lanes will not incur charges. ETC Billing Principle: Highways have one or more ETC lanes. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the vehicle's on-board electronic tag (installed on the windshield) and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at the toll station, the system uses computer networking technology to settle payments with banks in the background. This allows vehicles to pass through toll stations without stopping to pay tolls, 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: Promotes low-carbon travel by reducing noise and exhaust emissions since vehicles do not need to stop at toll stations. Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs by minimizing frequent starts and stops, reducing vehicle wear and fuel consumption. Users also enjoy a 5% discount on toll fees. Improved efficiency: ETC lanes can theoretically increase traffic efficiency by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC faster, more advanced, and more high-tech. Compared to license plate payment, ETC technology is more mature and advantageous. More policy support: The State Council explicitly stated in the "13th Five-Year Plan for the Development of a Modern Comprehensive Transportation System" that "by 2020, key city clusters should achieve interoperability of transportation cards, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC should significantly increase." It also set a target in the "13th Five-Year Plan" for comprehensive transportation development: "By 2020, the ETC usage rate for passenger vehicles on roads should reach 50%." More future possibilities: Beyond improving the convenience of ETC installation and increasing its usage rate among passenger vehicles, efforts will also be made to promote ETC adoption for trucks. Future developments may explore deeper integration of ETC systems with vehicle-to-vehicle communication, vehicle-to-infrastructure coordination, and other smart transportation initiatives, providing comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners. This means more application scenarios will support ETC usage.

[VanRose]

I've been driving for over a decade and can still use highways without ETC. There are regular lanes at the entrance where you can simply take a toll card; at the exit, you can pay with cash or scan a QR code—mobile payments are widespread now, making it very convenient. I frequently drive on highways, and while ETC lanes are faster, manual lanes don’t cause much delay. However, during peak holiday periods, waiting times can increase, averaging about 10 minutes longer. Another point is cost: ETC users get a 5%-15% discount, while manual payments may be slightly more expensive. So, if you rarely use highways, it doesn’t matter much; but if you drive frequently, installing ETC is recommended to save money. The most crucial thing is not to enter the wrong lane at the entrance to avoid getting stuck and causing trouble. Not having ETC doesn’t prevent you from driving—safe driving is the most important rule.

[RuthMarie]

As someone who frequently drives long distances, I confirm that you can enter the highway without an ETC device. At the entrance, choose the manual lane to take a toll card, and pay at the exit—both cash and bank cards are accepted. However, from a cost perspective, ETC offers discounted rates, while manual payment is significantly more expensive, making it uneconomical in the long run. I've experienced peak hours where manual lanes had long queues, wasting time and increasing fuel consumption. Additionally, in some remote sections, manual lanes are less reliable, whereas ETC's automatic tolling is more dependable. My advice is to decide based on frequency: if you rarely use the highway, skip the hassle of installation; but for regular travelers, ETC is both faster and more economical. Just remember to carry cash for emergencies and pay attention to signs at the entrance to avoid mistakenly entering ETC-only lanes.

[StWyatt]

As a new driver, I also worried about this issue. You can definitely take the highway without an ETC. Just take a ticket at the regular lane at the entrance and pay in cash at the exit. Nowadays, most toll stations support QR code payments, so you don’t need to carry a wallet. The rule is simple: ETC lanes are faster, but manual lanes are an alternative, though the cost is slightly higher without discounts. I’ve seen queues at the entrance—it takes a bit more time, but safety comes first. If you don’t drive on highways often, skipping ETC is hassle-free; otherwise, installing one improves efficiency. Just remember not to take the wrong lane at the entrance, and drive normally otherwise.