Do I need to cancel my ETC if I don't use it?
2 Answers
You can cancel your ETC if you no longer use it, but it is not mandatory. ETC is an electronic toll collection system, also known as an automatic road toll system, specifically designed for toll roads. It is commonly used on highways, toll bridges or tunnels, and certain sections of urban roads to alleviate traffic congestion. The impact of not canceling: According to the regulations of various banks and ETC management departments, a vehicle can only be bound to one ETC. Therefore, if you do not cancel the original ETC, you cannot apply for a new one. If you sell the vehicle to someone else without canceling the ETC and the device remains in the car, the toll station will recognize the ETC device. As long as the original owner's bank card has a balance, the toll fees will continue to be deducted from the original owner's account. ETC billing principle: Highways have one or more ETC lanes. The system uses microwave short-range communication between the vehicle's electronic tag (installed on the windshield) and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at the toll station. It then settles the toll with the bank via computer networking technology, allowing vehicles to pass through toll stations without stopping. This is based on the principle of "pass first, pay later." Benefits of installing ETC: Time-saving: Eliminates the hassle of waiting in queues; Green and eco-friendly: Reduces noise and exhaust emissions by eliminating stops at toll stations; Reduces wear and tear: Saves costs by minimizing frequent starts and stops, lowering vehicle wear and fuel consumption; Improves efficiency: ETC lanes can theoretically increase traffic efficiency by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC faster and more advanced. Compared to license plate payment, ETC technology is more mature and advantageous. More policy support: The State Council's "13th Five-Year Plan for the Development of a Modern Comprehensive Transportation System" explicitly states the goal of "achieving interoperability of transportation cards in key city clusters by 2020 and significantly increasing the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC." It also sets a target of "50% ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles by 2020." Future possibilities: In addition to improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage rates for passenger vehicles, efforts will be made to promote ETC usage for trucks. There will also be exploration of deeper integration between ETC systems and smart transportation developments, such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-to-road coordination, providing comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners. This means more application scenarios will support ETC usage.
Having driven for many years, I've encountered several instances of ETC inactivity. If it remains unused for a long time, it's best to proactively cancel it to avoid small service fees being quietly deducted from your linked bank account. A neighbor of mine forgot about this and discovered an extra 20 yuan charged when checking their year-end statement. The cancellation process is quite simple—just call the ETC service hotline or apply on the official website, and it's done in minutes, preventing unexpected expenses or data errors. Additionally, if the device is left unused in the car for an extended period, it may deteriorate or the battery could drain, making repairs costly. I recommend regularly checking your vehicle account settings to ensure financial clarity. If you don't plan to use it again, canceling is worry-free and secure, while also reducing space waste—considering environmental benefits is a plus.
