How many ETCs can one person apply for?
3 Answers
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 principle is one ETC per vehicle. Therefore, ETC is related to the vehicle's driving license. If you own multiple vehicles, you can use different driving licenses to apply for ETCs. Documents required for ETC application: You will need the original valid ID card of the vehicle owner, the original and a copy of the vehicle's driving license (the page with the most recent annual inspection stamp). If applying on behalf of someone else, you will also need the original valid ID card of the agent. If applying through major bank branches, you will need to prepare a debit or credit card from the corresponding bank. 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. ETC charging principle: There will be one or more ETC lanes on the expressway. 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 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 "pass first, deduct 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; Cost-saving: Reduces vehicle wear and fuel consumption by minimizing frequent starts and brakes. Users can also enjoy a 5% discount on toll fees, with some banks offering even greater discounts; Improved efficiency: Theoretically, ETC lanes can 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. 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 adoption rate among passenger vehicles, efforts will be made to promote ETC usage for trucks and explore deeper integration of ETC systems with smart transportation directions such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-to-road coordination. This will provide comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners, meaning more application scenarios will support ETC. 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 sensing from charging for the vehicle in front, especially if its ETC device is faulty or nonexistent. The recognition speed for ETC lanes is 20 km/h. Driving too fast may prevent the system from reading the vehicle's device information, leading to failed deductions. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or if the ETC electronic tag falls off or becomes loose, may cause the tag to fail. In such cases, you can take it to the bank where the ETC card was issued or the highway service office for inspection. If the issue is not due to human interference, reactivation may suffice. When using a debit card bound to ETC, insufficient balance may cause deduction failures. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to use manual MTC lanes and pay with cash or cards. Thick windshields may cause poor sensing, especially for vehicles that have had their windshields replaced after accidents or those with modified front windshields.
Regarding how many ETCs one person can apply for, I have to say I personally have applied for two. Last year, I also got an ETC device for my wife’s SUV because we both drive to work and commute on the highway frequently. Actually, the policy allows individuals to apply for multiple ETCs, as long as each vehicle corresponds to one set of equipment, and multiple bank accounts can be bound. When applying, you need to bring your ID card and the original vehicle registration certificate, and you can do it at a bank or through an online app—it takes just half an hour and is super simple. The benefit is the highway discounts and avoiding the hassle of queuing to save time. Just remember to check your balance regularly to avoid being restricted due to unpaid fees—I once missed a reminder. Overall, applying for multiple ETCs is quite cost-effective, especially for multi-car households like mine—it’s convenient and hassle-free.
As a tech-savvy young car enthusiast, I believe there's no problem with one person handling multiple ETC accounts. I've linked two vehicles on Alipay and even helped friends apply for devices. The key steps involve filling in vehicle information and bank card details via mobile apps, with each ETC corresponding to a real license plate - setup takes just minutes. Multiple ETCs offer great benefits: automatic expressway entry for faster transit, fuel and time savings, plus environmental friendliness. Technically, the system relies on license plate recognition without personal account limits, but avoid violations by not lending cards to others. My personal experience shows high flexibility in switching vehicles freely - just remember to recharge cards periodically. These services are becoming smarter, making multiple ETCs hassle-free.
