Can you get on the highway without ETC?
3 Answers
It is possible to get on the highway without ETC. According to the regulations of the State Council, starting from 2020, vehicles without ETC will not enjoy toll discounts. In the future, only one manual lane will be retained at highway toll stations, and tolls can only be paid through the manual channel. Additionally, newly installed ETC devices cannot be used immediately on the highway; they need to be activated first. During free holiday periods, vehicles can still use the highway. For vehicles already equipped with ETC, passing through ETC lanes will not incur charges. ETC charging principle: There will be one or more ETC lanes on the highway. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the vehicle's electronic tag installed on the 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 vehicles not needing to stop at toll stations to pay road and bridge fees, 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 environmentally friendly: Green and low-carbon, vehicles pass through toll stations without stopping, reducing noise and exhaust emissions and minimizing pollution; Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs, reduces the frequency of vehicle starts and brakes, lowers wear and fuel consumption, and users can also enjoy a 5% discount on tolls; Improved efficiency: The theoretical efficiency of ETC lanes can be increased by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC more updated, 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 city clusters will be basically achieved, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will be significantly increased." It also explicitly set the goal in the "13th Five-Year" comprehensive transportation development indicators that "by 2020, the ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles will 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, efforts will be made in the future to promote the use of ETC for trucks and explore the deep integration of the ETC system with vehicle-to-vehicle communication, vehicle-road coordination, and other smart transportation development directions, providing comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners. This means more application scenarios will support ETC applications.
I remember when I first started driving without an ETC, going on the highway was no problem at all—just taking the manual lane. At the entrance, staff would hand you a card, and at the exit, you'd pay the toll in cash or by scanning a code. But honestly, queuing for a few minutes each time was quite annoying, especially during holiday peak hours when the line of cars ahead was incredibly long. Now that I have an ETC, not only do I get a discount on tolls, but I also don’t have to stop at all—it’s much smoother. I’d recommend frequent highway users to get an ETC early—it saves both time and money. For those who don’t have one, always have cash or mobile payment ready, and don’t forget your ID for verification at some toll booths. Overall, not having an ETC is manageable, just don’t let it delay your trip.
I've been driving trucks for over a decade, often on long-distance routes. You can still access highways without ETC by taking a paper card at the entrance and paying at the exit. But honestly, it's terribly inefficient—manual lanes often get congested, wasting a good half hour. For business runners, time is money. ETC can save you at least 90% of queuing time and even earn you points for discounts. I recommend everyone get one, especially frequent highway users. Also, most toll stations now support WeChat Pay and Alipay, so just keep your phone ready and you'll be fine.
