Does the vehicle have to be under my name to apply for an ETC?
3 Answers
It is possible to apply for an ETC even if you are not the vehicle owner. According to the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Application of Electronic Non-stop Toll Collection on Highways" issued by the Ministry of Transport, the following documents are required: the original valid ID card of the vehicle owner, the original and a copy of the vehicle registration certificate (showing the most recent annual inspection stamp). If applying on behalf of someone else, the original valid ID card of the agent is also required. If applying through bank branches, a debit or credit card from the respective bank is needed. Some banks only support ETC binding with credit cards, while others may require freezing a portion of the amount as a deposit when binding with a debit card. ETC Charging Principle: Highways have one or more ETC lanes. Communication between the vehicle's on-board electronic tag (installed on the windshield) and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane enables automatic toll deduction via backend banking systems, eliminating the need to stop at toll booths. This operates on a "pass first, charge later" principle. Benefits of Installing ETC: Time-saving: Eliminates waiting in queues. Eco-friendly: Reduces noise and emissions by avoiding idling at toll booths. Cost-saving: Minimizes wear and fuel consumption by reducing frequent stops and starts. Efficiency: ETC lanes can process vehicles 2-3 times faster than traditional methods, making them more advanced and efficient. Compared to license plate payment, ETC technology is more mature and advantageous. Policy Support: The State Council's "13th Five-Year Plan for Modern Integrated Transportation System Development" aims for widespread ETC adoption by 2020, targeting a 50% usage rate for passenger vehicles. Future Possibilities: Beyond improving ETC convenience and adoption rates, future plans include expanding ETC use for trucks and integrating it with vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication for smarter transportation solutions. ETC Usage Notes: Maintain a 10-meter distance from the vehicle ahead in ETC lanes to avoid unintended toll charges due to faulty or absent ETC devices. Keep speed below 20km/h in ETC lanes; excessive speed may cause reading failures. Tampering with or dislodging the OBU device may deactivate it. Non-deliberate issues can be resolved by reactivation at the issuing bank or highway service center. Insufficient funds in a linked debit card may cause charging failures. Follow staff guidance to use cash or cards in manual lanes. Thick or modified windshields may interfere with ETC signal reception, especially after repairs or replacements.
I recently helped a family member apply for an ETC, and the whole process was quite simple. The car doesn't necessarily have to be your own. For example, if you're driving a family member's car or a friend asks you to help, you can still apply. The key is to bring copies of the car owner's ID card, the vehicle registration certificate, and a signed authorization letter from the owner. Once you have all these documents ready, just go to a bank or highway service point, and it can be done in minutes. I did this for my elderly father last time, saving him the trouble of making the trip himself. Remember to check in advance what additional materials the local ETC service point might require to avoid making extra trips. This approach is quite common, and as long as the documents are genuine, there won't be any issues. In short, you can apply for ETC even if the car isn't yours, but the authorization letter must be complete.
Based on my experience, there are certain requirements for vehicle ownership when applying for ETC, but they are not absolute restrictions. The car can belong to someone else, such as a company vehicle or a relative's car. As a proxy applicant, you will need an original power of attorney from the owner. Required materials include a copy of the owner's ID card, a copy of the vehicle registration certificate, the original power of attorney, and your own identification documents. I recommend prioritizing banks for the application process, as their procedures are more standardized and issues are easier to resolve. For example, last time my neighbor borrowed my car to apply for ETC, we only spent fifteen minutes filling out forms to complete the process. Don't worry about complexity—as long as all documents are complete, the system defaults to accepting proxy applications. However, note that the vehicle must be in normal operating condition; otherwise, it may affect the binding process. Overall, the process is flexible but requires attention to details.
