How to Get a Card on the Highway with a Temporary License Plate?

[LaHarley]

Driving a car with a temporary license plate on the highway to get a card is the same as a normal car, which is divided into manual card collection and self-service card collection. The following is more information about the two ways to get a card: 1. Manual card collection: Slow down the vehicle, then slowly pass through the lane of the highway toll station, stop at the window, shift the gear to the parking gear, and pull up the handbrake. At this time, the staff will give you a magnetic card. After receiving the magnetic card, release the handbrake, shift the gear to the forward gear, and you can drive normally. 2. Self-service card collection: Slow down the vehicle, then slowly pass through the lane of the highway toll station, and stop next to the self-service card machine. After shifting the gear to the parking gear and pulling up the handbrake, press the card collection button according to the text prompts on the self-service card machine, and the self-service card machine will automatically spit out the magnetic card. After getting the magnetic card, you can release the handbrake and then shift the gear to the forward gear to drive normally.

[VanJuliette]

As a new car owner who just picked up the vehicle, I took it on the highway last week with temporary plates. To be honest, the toll card collection process is no different from regular cars—the key is to use the manual lane. When approaching the toll station, I automatically avoided the ETC sign with the red cross and obediently stopped at the far-right manual lane. I rolled down the window halfway and got ready, but when the attendant handed me the card, I had to reach out—my SUV’s high chassis almost made it hard to reach. If you can’t reach it, don’t force it; remember to shift to P, engage the handbrake, and then open the door to take the card. Oh, and temporary plates must be affixed to the lower-left corner of the front windshield and the lower-right corner of the rear windshield—otherwise, the toll station might pull you over to check your documents, wasting extra time. The whole process takes at most two minutes.

[LeRyan]

When driving a friend's new car on the highway with temporary plates, taking the toll card is actually quite simple. First, absolutely avoid the ETC lane—temporary plates don’t have an electronic tag, and the barrier will block you. Stop your car precisely in front of the manual toll booth window, and you can reach out to receive the toll card from the staff. If you can’t reach it, it’s safest to open the door and step out to get it, but make sure to pull the handbrake first. It’s advisable to roll down the window in advance to avoid fumbling with the seatbelt at the last moment. Once, I saw a guy accidentally step on the gas while leaning out to grab the card, nearly hitting the toll booth—way too risky. Ensure the temporary license plate is intact and properly affixed to the glass; if it’s curled or folded and blocks the numbers, it could affect recognition. You’ll need this card to pay when exiting the highway!

[OHailey]

There's a method to taking toll cards with temporary plates. I usually change lanes to the right 300 meters in advance and drive straight to the manual toll booth window. After stopping the car, keep the engine running and simply reach out to take the card. At stations where the card dispenser is positioned high, it's safest to unfasten your seatbelt and step out to get it. Never risk leaning out of the window to grab the card—there was a driver who got rear-ended doing just that, which is extremely dangerous. Temporary plates must be affixed neatly in the corners of the front and rear windshields; wrinkled or crooked placement can cause issues. The whole card-taking process takes about ten seconds. Place the card within easy reach on the driver's seat—you'll need it to pay when exiting the highway.

[VonBlakely]

Temporary license plates require using manual toll lanes on highways. Last week when I passed through a toll station with my new car on temp plates, I avoided the ETC lane from afar. After stopping at the manual lane, the card dispenser was at least two meters away. Just as I was about to open the door to get it, the attendant handed me the card using a long hooked pole. Later I learned some toll stations specifically provide telescopic poles for high-clearance vehicles. It's recommended to fully lower your window when approaching the booth and put away your phone to avoid distractions. Make sure temporary plates are securely attached - once I saw a car ahead whose temp plate blew open in the wind, causing a 5-6 minute verification delay. Don't rush out after taking the card; wait until the barrier fully rises before proceeding.

[LawsonLynn]

I have experience taking highway toll cards with temporary license plates. Always choose the manual lane first—don’t foolishly queue in the ETC lane. After stopping the car, try reaching for the button on the card dispenser; if you can press it, wait for the card to pop out. For someone like me driving a sedan, it’s barely manageable, but if you’re in an SUV, it’s best to just get out and take the card. Remember to check the rearview mirror before exiting—traffic around toll islands is chaotic and prone to scratches. If the staff is too busy to hand you the card, honk to remind them. Make sure the temporary plate is firmly attached and doesn’t shift, and keep the windshield area clearly visible when taking the card. The whole process is no different from regular card collection—just remember to slow down and keep a firm grip on the steering wheel.