
One person can apply for multiple ETCs. According to the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Application Service of Electronic Non-stop Toll Collection on Expressways" issued by the Ministry of Transport, the application for ETC is related to the vehicle's driving license. If you own multiple vehicles, you can apply for ETCs using different driving licenses. Documents required for ETC application: The original valid ID card of the vehicle owner, the original and a copy of the vehicle's driving license (the page with the latest annual inspection stamp must be provided). If applying on behalf of someone else, the original valid ID card of the agent is also required. If applying for ETC through major bank branches, a corresponding bank debit or credit card must be prepared. Some banks only support ETC binding with credit cards, while others may require freezing a certain amount as a deposit when binding ETC with a debit card. Additionally, the current year's vehicle insurance policy is needed. For corporate applications, the agent's ID card (or driver's license), the company's organization code certificate (or business license), and the company seal are required. ETC billing principle: There will be one or more ETC lanes on the expressway. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the vehicle's electronic tag installed on the windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at the toll station, and using computer networking technology for backend settlement with the bank, the vehicle can pay tolls without stopping at the toll station. All 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, as vehicles pass through toll stations without stopping, reducing noise and exhaust emissions and minimizing pollution. Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs by reducing the frequency of vehicle starts and brakes, lowering wear and fuel consumption. Improved efficiency: The theoretical efficiency of ETC lanes can be increased 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. 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 significantly increase." It also set a target in the "13th Five-Year" comprehensive transportation development indicators: "By 2020, the ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles should 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 development 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 usage. ETC usage precautions: The ETC transaction sensing range is 8 meters. If the vehicle in front stops, maintain a distance of more than 10 meters to prevent automatic fee deduction for the vehicle in front, in case its ETC device is faulty or nonexistent. The recognition speed for ETC lane passage is 20 km/h. Driving too fast may prevent the system from reading the vehicle's device information, leading to billing failure. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or detachment or loosening of the ETC electronic tag, will render the tag ineffective. It can be taken to the bank where the ETC card was issued or the expressway service office for inspection. If the loosening or detachment is not due to human error, reactivation is sufficient. When using a debit card bound to ETC, insufficient balance may cause billing failure. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to use the manual MTC lane and pay with cash or card. Thick windshield glass may 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 been using ETC for several years, and I was also curious about how many devices one can install at first. In reality, there's no strict limit on the number of ETC devices one person can install—it entirely depends on how many vehicles you own. Each ETC is bound to only one license plate number, so if you have two or three cars, each needs its own device to ensure smooth highway passage without issues. When changing to a new car, remember to update the device at the bank or ETC service station; otherwise, the old one will become invalid. I recommend setting up a single ETC account to manage all payments, avoiding confusion in billing. ETC is truly hassle-free and time-saving, but don’t forget to check the battery—replace it every 3-5 years on average to avoid getting stuck mid-trip. In short, you can install as many as you need; the key is matching them to your travel requirements.

From a technical installation perspective, the ETC device is bound to a license plate on a one-vehicle-one-device basis. Theoretically, one person can have an unlimited number of devices as long as they correspond to different vehicles. During installation, pay attention to device activation: apply through a bank or authorized agent, verify vehicle documents and bank account details, and ensure normal signal operation to avoid malfunctions. Common issues such as battery aging or loose connectors can cause failures, so each device must be dedicated to a specific vehicle for reliability. For maintenance, regularly test functionality on highways; replacing a new device takes approximately 20 minutes. Although there is no upper limit, having too many devices increases management complexity. It is recommended to set up automatic payment deduction separately for each ETC.

I own three cars, all equipped with ETC, making driving easy and efficient. The number of ETC devices you install depends on how many cars you have—there's no limit per person. Each ETC device is independently linked to a specific license plate, automatically deducting tolls on highways. Never share or misuse devices across cars. The benefits include skipping long queues and enjoying a 5% discount on tolls. Remember, if you switch cars, you must also switch the ETC device. Installation can be arranged directly through your bank. A friendly reminder: avoid removing the device yourself, as it may lose signal and require reinstallation.


