Do I need to apply for ETC if I don't take the highway?
3 Answers
You don't need ETC if you don't drive on highways. Here is relevant information: 1. ETC: ETC stands for Electronic Toll Collection system, which allows vehicles to pass through toll stations without stopping. It uses onboard equipment to identify vehicles, record information, and automatically deduct corresponding funds from pre-bound IC cards or bank cards. ETC is a road toll method specifically designed for toll roads, commonly seen on highways, bridges or tunnels implementing toll policies, and some urban road sections to alleviate traffic congestion. 2. How to unbind a vehicle from an ETC card: Bring the vehicle owner's ID card, vehicle license, ETC card, and OBU device to an ETC service center to process the removal. Then, use the removal document issued by the ETC service center to terminate the contract at the designated bank.
I didn’t take the highway often, so I initially thought there was no need to get an ETC. Later, I saw my neighbor had one and asked about it. Turns out, ETC isn’t just for highways—it’s now widely used in many large urban parking lots, like those at airports and shopping malls. The car automatically deducts the fee as soon as it enters the gate, which is much faster than pulling out a phone to scan a QR code. Plus, banks offer ETC for free and even throw in car wash vouchers, so I got one as a casual addition. Normally, I don’t need it, but last week I had to drop a friend off in the suburbs and took a short stretch of highway—the ETC gave me a 5% discount, saving me over ten yuan. I’d suggest checking if the places you frequent have ETC-enabled parking. If they do, getting one isn’t a loss—the device doesn’t need charging or maintenance, just leave it in the corner of your windshield as a backup.
My car is mainly used for city driving, with only two or three highway trips a year. I initially hesitated about getting an ETC, but later realized it's like keeping an umbrella in the car—you rarely need it, but it's a lifesaver when you do. Once during a heavy rainstorm, I was stuck at a highway toll gate with long queues at the cash payment lanes, but the ETC lane let me zip right through. Nowadays, ETC devices are being installed on urban expressways too. Even if you don't usually take highways, you might need to use an expressway in a hurry someday. Plus, getting an ETC is now free, and linking it to a credit card earns you points redeemable for fuel cards. The little device in my car hadn't been used for two years, but last month, it was unexpectedly recognized and automatically deducted the fee at a newly opened mall parking lot—quite a surprise.
