How many ETCs can one person apply for?
3 Answers
Each vehicle can only have one ETC. According to the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Application of Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) on Highways" issued by the Ministry of Transport, ETC registration is tied to the vehicle's license. If you own multiple vehicles, you can use different vehicle licenses to apply for ETCs. Documents required for ETC application: The original valid ID card of the vehicle owner, the original and a copy of the vehicle license (the page with the most recent annual inspection stamp). If applying on behalf of someone else, the original valid ID card of the proxy is also required. If applying through major bank branches, you will need a debit or credit card from the respective bank. Some banks only support ETC binding with credit cards, while others may require freezing a certain amount as a deposit when binding with a debit card. The current year's vehicle insurance policy is also needed. For corporate applications, the agent's ID (or driver's license), the company's organization code certificate (or business license), and the official seal are required. ETC deduction principles: Highways have one or more ETC lanes. Using dedicated short-range microwave communication between the vehicle's on-board electronic tag (installed on the windshield) and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane, the system settles payments with the bank via computer networking technology, allowing vehicles to pass toll stations without stopping. This operates on a "pass first, deduct later" principle. Benefits of installing ETC: Time-saving: Eliminates the hassle of waiting in queues. Green and eco-friendly: Reduces noise and exhaust emissions by eliminating stops at toll stations. Cost-saving: Reduces vehicle wear and fuel consumption by minimizing frequent starts and stops. Efficiency: ETC lanes can theoretically process vehicles 2-3 times faster, making traditional ETC more advanced and high-tech. Compared to license plate payment, ETC technology is more mature and advantageous. More policy support: The State Council's "13th Five-Year Plan for the Development of a Modern Comprehensive Transportation System" explicitly aims for "interoperability of transportation cards in key city clusters by 2020 and a significant increase in ETC installation rates," with a target of "50% ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles by 2020." Future possibilities: Beyond improving ETC installation convenience and passenger vehicle usage rates, future plans include promoting ETC for trucks and exploring deeper integration with smart transportation initiatives like vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-road coordination, offering comprehensive travel services. This means more scenarios will support ETC applications. ETC usage precautions: The ETC transaction sensing range is 8 meters. If the vehicle ahead is stationary, maintain a distance of over 10 meters to avoid accidental payment for the other vehicle due to faulty or absent ETC devices. The ETC lane recognition speed is 20 km/h. Driving too fast may result in failed readings and deductions. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or a loose/detached ETC tag, will deactivate the tag. It can be tested at the bank where the ETC card was issued or at highway service centers. Non-deliberate loosening or detachment only requires reactivation. Insufficient balance on a debit card linked to ETC may cause deduction failure. Follow on-site staff guidance to use manual MTC lanes with cash or card payments. Thick windshields may cause poor signal reception, especially for vehicles with replaced or modified windshields after accidents.
I've been driving for over a decade and frequently travel on highways, so ETC is a must-have for me. There's absolutely no problem with one person applying for multiple ETC devices! For example, I have two cars at home, each with its own ETC card, which prevents traffic jams at toll booths. Specifically, ETC devices are bound to vehicles, not individuals. As long as the vehicles are under your name, you can apply for multiple devices. When applying at a bank, just provide your ID card and license plate number. The bank accounts can be different—for instance, you can bind one car to a debit card and manage the fees for each device separately with a credit card. Theoretically, there are no policy restrictions on the number of applications as long as the vehicles are legal. My personal advice: if you own multiple cars, it's convenient and time-saving to have an ETC for each; if one car serves multiple purposes, one ETC is enough to avoid hassle. Remember to check the device batteries regularly to prevent malfunctions when you're out. In short, safety and convenience are key—feel free to ask if you have any questions!
I know many people are concerned about how many ETC accounts one can have, and I'm quite knowledgeable about this. It is permissible for an individual to hold multiple ETC accounts, as there is no strict upper limit. Each ETC device is tied to a specific vehicle, and the application process is straightforward—just bring your license plate and identification documents to a bank or handle it online. For instance, the banking system allows a person to open multiple bank cards, each of which can be linked to an ETC. In practice, I've seen friends with five or six vehicles, each equipped with an independent ETC card, and the rewards points are accumulated separately. However, it's important to manage them carefully: avoid conflicts or damage to the devices, as this could cause errors when passing through toll booths. Additionally, the ETC platform app allows for one-click management of multiple devices, which is quite smart. Overall, convenience comes first, and the policy doesn't impose restrictions—just don't abuse it. I usually use one primary account linked to several devices, saving both money and effort.
