How much is the ETC discount?
2 Answers
Discounts vary by bank. Starting from 2020, vehicles without ETC installation or usage are not eligible for toll discounts. In the future, only one manual lane will remain at highway toll stations, requiring cash payment through manual channels, with lower efficiency compared to ETC lanes. ETC Deduction Principle: Highways feature one or more ETC lanes. Using microwave short-range communication between the onboard electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane, coupled with computer networking technology for backend bank settlement, vehicles can pass toll stations without stopping to pay bridge or road fees—all based on the principle of "pass first, deduct later." Benefits of Installing ETC: Time-saving: Eliminates the hassle of queuing. Green and eco-friendly: Reduces noise and exhaust emissions by enabling vehicles to pass toll stations without stopping. Cost and wear reduction: Minimizes vehicle start-up and braking frequency, lowering wear and fuel consumption. Efficiency boost: ETC lanes can theoretically improve traffic flow by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC systems faster and more 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 Modern Comprehensive Transportation System Development" explicitly states goals such as "achieving interoperability of transportation cards in key city clusters by 2020" and "increasing the ETC adoption rate for passenger vehicles to 50% by 2020." Future possibilities: Beyond enhancing ETC convenience and adoption rates, future plans include promoting ETC for trucks and integrating ETC systems with smart transportation initiatives like vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-road coordination, offering comprehensive travel services and expanding ETC application scenarios. ETC Usage Notes: The ETC transaction sensing range is 8 meters. To avoid mistakenly paying for the vehicle ahead due to its ETC device failure or absence, maintain a distance of over 10 meters. ETC lanes recognize vehicles at speeds up to 20km/h. Excessive speed may lead to failed readings and deductions. Unauthorized OBU device movement, detachment, or loosening may deactivate the electronic tag. Visit the issuing bank or highway service center for inspection; non-deliberate issues only require reactivation. Insufficient balance in debit cards linked to ETC may cause deduction failures. Follow staff guidance to use manual MTC lanes with cash or card payments. Thick or modified windshields, especially post-accident replacements, may impair ETC signal reception.
I remember getting a 5% discount on highway tolls after installing ETC, which is quite cost-effective. As a frequent highway driver, I saved hundreds of dollars a year. The device was provided for free by the bank and installed on the windshield in just a few minutes. Linking the card to a bank account for automatic payment saves time by avoiding queues, especially during peak hours when waiting can take over half an hour, indirectly saving fuel costs and making long-distance trips more enjoyable. Regularly checking the device to ensure it functions properly is important. Overall, it's very convenient, more environmentally friendly by reducing idle emissions, and improves safety by lowering the risk of rear-end collisions. I recommend new drivers install it as soon as possible to enjoy these benefits without delay.
