How many ETCs can one person open?

[SanSimon]

One person can apply for multiple ETCs. According to the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Application of Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) on Highways" issued by the Ministry of Transport, applying for an ETC is related to the vehicle's registration certificate. If a person owns multiple vehicles, they can use different registration certificates to apply for ETCs. Documents required for applying for an ETC: 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 must be provided). If applying on behalf of someone else, the original valid ID card of the agent is also required. If applying for an ETC through major bank branches, a debit or credit card from the corresponding bank 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 with a debit card. The current year's vehicle insurance policy is also 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 charging principle: There will be one or more ETC lanes on highways. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the onboard 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 booth. All of this operates on the principle of passing first and deducting fees later. Benefits of installing an 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: Theoretically, ETC lanes can increase traffic efficiency by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC systems more updated, faster, and higher-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, intercity transportation cards will be basically interoperable in key city clusters, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETCs will significantly increase." The plan also set a target of "achieving a 50% ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles by 2020" in the main indicators of comprehensive transportation development during the 13th Five-Year Plan. More future possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage rates for 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-road coordination. This will provide comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners, meaning 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, especially if its ETC device is faulty or nonexistent. 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 tag invalid. It can be taken to the bank where the ETC card was issued or the highway service office for inspection. If the detachment or loosening is not due to human factors, reactivation is sufficient. When using a debit card bound to an ETC, insufficient balance can also cause fee deduction failure. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to use the manual MTC lane and pay with cash or card. If the vehicle's windshield is too thick, it 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.

[DiEmmett]

I drive for ride-hailing services and usually use ETC on highways. According to traffic regulations, one ID card can be linked to a maximum of 5 vehicles. Recently, when my family bought a new car and wanted to apply for another ETC, I found that three cars were already registered under my name (my own car and my parents'), so I couldn't link any more. However, it's important to note that one vehicle can only be registered under one owner's identity. If you want to transfer it to someone else, you must first unbind it at the bank. Nowadays, many bank branches can directly handle ETC transfers—just bring your ID card and vehicle registration certificate for a quick visit.

[DiLyla]

Having worked in bank credit card services for eight years, I often encounter car owners asking about this. The current regulations are clear: a natural person can apply for a maximum of five sets of ETC devices, with the key being the vehicle correspondence. Last week, a customer brought four vehicle licenses to the counter, only for the system to indicate that the car under his name had already been linked to his wife's card. It's advisable to check the vehicle status via the WeChat mini-program 'China ETC Service' before binding to avoid a wasted trip. By the way, here's a lesser-known fact: using ETC charging piles for new energy vehicles also counts towards the five-device limit.