Does the ETC card have a front and back side?
2 Answers
ETC cards have a front and back side. When you receive the card, the side with the chip is the front, which should face the car window and be inserted into the OBU device's card slot. The ETC installation process is as follows: Upon receiving the device, first check if the ETC card and electronic tag (OBU) are damaged. Press the anti-tamper button on the back of the OBU; a red light will briefly turn on, and the OLED screen will display "Invalid, please insert card," indicating the device is functioning properly. Clean the front windshield to ensure the surface is smooth, clean, and dry. Then peel off the adhesive backing of the OBU and stick it to the installation position, pressing firmly for 2-3 minutes to remove any air bubbles. Insert the ETC card with the front side facing the driver and the back side facing the windshield, ensuring the chip is inserted into the OBU device. Benefits of installing ETC: Time-saving: Eliminates the hassle of waiting in queues; Green and eco-friendly: Promotes low-carbon travel by allowing vehicles to pass through toll stations without stopping, reducing noise and exhaust emissions and minimizing pollution; Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs by decreasing the frequency of vehicle starts and stops, lowering wear and fuel consumption. Users also enjoy a 5% discount on toll fees; Improved efficiency: ETC lanes theoretically increase vehicle throughput 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.
I remember when installing the ETC card before, I noticed it indeed has a front and back side. The front is usually smoother, printed with the bank name or ETC logo for easy identification of the service provider. The back side has a raised chip part, which is crucial for communicating and transmitting data with the onboard device. Once, I helped a neighbor install it upside down, and the toll gate didn't lift when we got on the highway, forcing us to reverse and handle it manually. Later, we reinstalled it with the front side facing up, and it worked normally. The card's design emphasizes directional matching—if installed incorrectly, the device won't respond. So, it's best to check the manual during the first installation, as many car-mounted card slots have arrow indicators. Regularly cleaning both sides is also important, as dust or moisture can affect the chip contacts. In short, knowing the correct orientation can avoid a lot of trouble, especially on long trips—don’t let small issues waste time.
