Does the ETC application require the vehicle owner to be present?
3 Answers
Non-owners can also apply for ETC. According to the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Application of Electronic Non-Stop Toll Collection Services on Expressways" issued by the Ministry of Transport, the original valid ID card of the vehicle owner, the original and a copy of the vehicle registration certificate, and the page of the registration certificate with the most recent annual inspection stamp are required. If applying on behalf of someone else, the original valid ID card of the agent is also needed. If applying for ETC through major bank branches, a debit or credit card from the corresponding bank must be prepared. Some banks only support ETC binding with credit cards, while others may require freezing a portion of the amount as a deposit when binding ETC with a debit card. The principle of ETC fee deduction: There will be one or more ETC lanes on expressways. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the onboard electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at the toll station, computer networking technology is used to conduct back-end settlement with the bank, achieving the goal of vehicles not needing to stop at toll stations to pay bridge and road fees. All of this is 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 eco-friendly: 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, and lowers wear and fuel consumption; Improved efficiency: The theoretical efficiency of ETC lanes can be increased by 2-3 times or more, making traditional ETC updates 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 urban clusters will be basically achieved, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will be significantly increased." It also explicitly set the target of "achieving a 50% ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles by 2020" in the main indicators of comprehensive transportation development during the "13th Five-Year Plan." More future possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage and increasing the ETC usage rate for passenger vehicles, efforts will also be made to promote ETC usage for trucks in the future. The deep integration of the ETC system with smart transportation development directions such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-to-road coordination will be explored to provide comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners, meaning more application scenarios will support ETC applications. ETC usage precautions: The ETC transaction sensing area is 8 meters. When encountering a stationary vehicle ahead, to prevent the ETC device of the vehicle ahead from malfunctioning or not having an ETC device at all, maintain a distance of more than 10 meters to avoid automatic sensing and paying for the vehicle ahead. The recognition speed for ETC lane passage is 20 km/h. If the speed is too fast, the vehicle device information cannot be read, leading to fee deduction failure. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or detachment or loosening of the ETC electronic tag, will cause the electronic tag to fail. It can be sent to the bank where the ETC card was issued or the expressway service office for testing. If the loosening or detachment is not due to human factors, reactivation is sufficient. When using a debit card bound to ETC, insufficient balance will also cause fee deduction failure. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to use the manual MTC lane and pass using cash or card payment. Excessive thickness of the car windshield can cause poor sensing. This is especially important for vehicles that have had their windshields replaced after accidents or for those who have modified their front windshields.
I've handled quite a few ETC application cases, and in reality, it's not strictly necessary for the vehicle owner to go in person. If it's inconvenient for you, you can definitely delegate someone else, like a family member or friend, as long as they bring your valid documents, such as the original ID card of the vehicle owner, the vehicle's registration certificate, and a simple letter of authorization. I've seen many vehicle owners who were too busy with work or on business trips have relatives handle it for them, and everything went smoothly. However, I recommend choosing a formal bank or highway service point to apply to prevent information leakage or mishaps. By the way, once the ETC is installed, it's indeed convenient—it saves time by avoiding queues at highway tolls and offers some discounts. In short, this isn't a big issue; as long as the documents are complete, delegating the task carries no risk, but remember to keep all receipts for future reference.
I have experience with applying for ETC, and it really doesn't have to be done by the car owner themselves. Last time, I helped my dad with it by taking his ID card and the vehicle's registration certificate to a nearby bank counter. After filling out a power of attorney, it was all set. The staff didn't give me any trouble, and the whole process took just over ten minutes. Of course, going in person is quick too, but if you're not the owner, it's best to call ahead and confirm the requirements of the institution to avoid a wasted trip. After the ETC is activated, it really adds convenience to life, such as automatic toll deductions reducing traffic congestion worries, and there are often some point reward activities. Actually, these kinds of services are designed with convenience in mind, making it easy for more people to enjoy the benefits of travel.
