Can you still drive on the highway without ETC?

[Boromir]

It is possible to drive on the highway without ETC. According to regulations from the State Council, vehicles without ETC cannot enjoy toll discounts. In the future, only one manual lane will be retained at highway toll stations, meaning drivers without ETC will have to pay tolls manually. Additionally, newly installed ETC devices cannot be used immediately on highways—they must be activated first. During free-toll holidays, highways can still be used. For users who have already installed ETC, passing through ETC lanes will not incur charges. ETC Billing Principle: Highways will have one or more ETC lanes. Communication between the vehicle's electronic tag (installed on the windshield) and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane enables short-range microwave communication. This, combined with computer networking technology and backend bank settlements, allows vehicles to pass through toll stations without stopping to pay tolls. All of this operates on the principle of "pass first, deduct later." Benefits of Installing ETC: Time-saving: Eliminates the hassle of waiting in queues. 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 acceleration and braking, thereby lowering vehicle wear and fuel consumption. 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." The plan also set a target of "achieving a 50% ETC usage rate for passenger vehicles on roads by 2020." Future possibilities: Beyond improving the convenience of ETC installation and increasing passenger vehicle ETC usage, 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.

[Karl]

Hi, I've been driving for over a decade and encountered this issue several times. Of course you can enter highways without ETC, as toll stations always have regular lanes for cash or card payments. I often use national highway entrances where manual service windows are available. However, ETC is indeed convenient - it allows passing without stopping, saving time and offering discounts. Long-term use can significantly reduce fuel costs and congestion fees. Remember, while the government promotes ETC to reduce queues, it's not mandatory. Highway entrances generally maintain at least one manual lane. If you frequently take long trips, I recommend installing an ETC device for simplicity and efficiency, avoiding long queues that drain mental energy, especially during peak hours when it makes driving much easier. During routine vehicle checks, also pay attention to whether your ETC device is functioning properly to prevent unexpected malfunctions that could disrupt your trip.