Does the vehicle owner need to be present to apply for ETC?

[StAustin]

Non-owners can also apply for ETC. According to the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Application of Electronic Non-stop Toll Collection Service 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 (the page with the most recent annual inspection stamp) are required. If applying on behalf of others, 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 is required. Some banks only support ETC binding with credit cards, while others may require freezing a certain amount as a deposit when binding with debit cards. ETC Deduction Principles: There will be one or more ETC lanes on expressways. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the on-board electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at toll stations, and using computer networking technology for backend settlement with banks, the system achieves the purpose of vehicles paying tolls without stopping at toll booths. 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 queues; Green and eco-friendly: Low-carbon, as vehicles 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 brakes, reducing wear and fuel consumption. Users also enjoy a 5% discount on toll fees; Improved efficiency: The theoretical efficiency of ETC lanes can be increased by 2-3 times, 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 explicitly 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 city clusters will be basically achieved, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will be significantly increased." It also set a target in the main indicators of the "13th Five-Year" comprehensive transportation development: "By 2020, the ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles will reach 50%." 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 be made to promote ETC usage for trucks and explore the deep integration of ETC systems with smart transportation directions such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-road coordination, providing comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners. This means more application scenarios will support ETC. ETC Usage Notes: The ETC transaction sensing range is 8 meters. When encountering a stationary vehicle ahead, to prevent the vehicle's ETC device from malfunctioning or not having an ETC device at all, maintain a distance of more than 10 meters to avoid automatic fee deduction for the vehicle ahead. The recognition speed for ETC lanes is 20 km/h. If the speed is too fast, the vehicle's device information cannot be read, leading to failed fee deductions. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or detachment or loosening of the ETC electronic tag, will render the electronic tag invalid. It can be sent to the bank where the ETC card was issued or the expressway service office for inspection. Non-deliberate loosening or detachment only requires reactivation. When using a debit card bound to ETC, insufficient balance can also cause fee deduction failures. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to use manual MTC lanes and pass by cash or card. Thick windshields may cause poor sensing, especially for vehicles that have had windshield replacements after accidents or those with modified front windshields.