How to Check if ETC Has Been Applied For?
3 Answers
Car owners need to bring relevant documents such as their ID card and vehicle license to a bank branch to inquire whether ETC has been applied for their vehicle. How ETC Works: Through dedicated short-range communication between the onboard electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at the toll station, computer networking technology is used to process backend settlements with the bank. This allows vehicles to pass through highway or bridge toll stations without stopping while still paying the required fees. ETC Usage Notes: 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 preceding vehicle in case its ETC device malfunctions or is absent. 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 fee deductions. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or if the ETC electronic tag falls off or becomes loose, may render the electronic tag invalid. In such cases, it can be taken to the bank where the ETC card was issued or to a highway service office for inspection. If the loosening or detachment was not due to human intervention, reactivation may suffice. When using a debit card linked to ETC, insufficient balance may cause fee deduction failures. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to use the manual MTC lane, where cash or card payments can be made. Excessively thick windshields may cause poor signal reception. This is particularly relevant for vehicles that have had their windshields replaced after accidents or for those with modified front windshields.
Once before driving on the highway, I suddenly couldn't remember if I had applied for an ETC. I directly rummaged through the glove compartment in the car for the card—the blue ETC card with a chip is generally about the same size as a bank card. I also felt around the upper right corner of the windshield; if there's a square device stuck there, that's a good indication. If I still couldn't find it, I checked my WeChat payment history—passing through an ETC lane automatically deducts the fee, and the record would show up there. Another method is to open Alipay and search for ETC services, then enter the license plate number to check the application status, which is super convenient. In the end, I found the card tucked inside an old driver's license booklet, having been nervous for nothing for half an hour.
Once I borrowed a friend's car for a long trip and wasn't sure if it had an ETC installed. I started the engine directly and noticed a small green icon flashing briefly on the dashboard when I turned on the hazard lights. My friend told me it was the power indicator for the ETC device. After getting out of the car, I checked near the rearview mirror on the windshield and indeed found a small black box attached there, with an electronic tag card stuck on the inside of the windshield. Later, when returning the car, he told me that many cars now come with factory-installed ETC devices, so there's no need to apply for a separate card.
