How to Activate Electronic ETC?
2 Answers
ETC Activation: Insert and remove the ETC card twice consecutively until the electronic tag screen displays 'Bluetooth On'. If 'Tag Invalid' appears when inserting and removing twice without the electronic tag attached, this is normal and does not affect activation. Alternatively, you can directly press the button on the top of the electronic tag to enable Bluetooth. Turn on your phone's Bluetooth, open the corresponding mobile app (usually with a download QR code on the electronic tag), and enter the device activation interface. Click 'Device Connection' and wait patiently for the 'Connection Successful' prompt. Once connected, upload a photo of the vehicle's front to complete activation. Installation is not mandatory. Benefits of Installing ETC: Time-saving: Eliminates the hassle of waiting in queues; Green and eco-friendly: Promotes low-carbon travel by allowing vehicles to pass through toll stations without stopping, reducing noise and exhaust emissions, and minimizing pollution; Cost-saving: Reduces expenses by minimizing vehicle start-up and braking frequency, lowering wear and fuel consumption. Users also enjoy a 5% discount on toll fees; Improved efficiency: ETC lanes can theoretically increase vehicle passing efficiency by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC systems more updated, faster, and more high-tech. Compared to license plate payment, ETC technology is more mature and advantageous. How ETC Works: Through dedicated short-range communication between the vehicle-mounted electronic tag installed on the windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at toll stations, computer networking technology is used for backend settlement processing with banks. This enables vehicles to pass through highway or bridge toll stations without stopping while paying the required fees.
As a car owner, I just activated the electronic ETC, and the process went smoothly. First, I had to purchase an official ETC device, which is available at banks or online platforms, and then link it to my bank card. Next, I downloaded the official app, such as the ETC function in Alipay, connected the device via Bluetooth, and followed the prompts to fill in my license plate number and card information. I made sure to confirm the placement, sticking it in the middle of the windshield to prevent signal interruptions. After successful activation, I tested it once or twice on the highway to ensure the automatic fee deduction worked smoothly. Remember to check that your card has sufficient balance and update the app to the latest version to avoid compatibility issues. The whole process took less than 20 minutes, and now I don’t have to queue up on the highway—super convenient, plus it saves me some discount fees. From my personal experience, it’s best to choose official channels for activation and avoid cheap knockoff services to save a few bucks.
