How to Handle ETC After Selling a Car?
3 Answers
If the original license plate number will continue to be used after selling the car, you need to remove the ETC device, install it in the new car, and reactivate it once. If the license plate number will no longer be used, you need to cancel the original ETC registration. How many ETCs can one person have: If a person owns only one car, they can only apply for one ETC. If a person owns multiple cars, they can apply for multiple ETCs. ETC Usage Precautions: The ETC transaction sensing range is 8 meters. When encountering a stationary vehicle ahead, to prevent the vehicle in front from having a faulty ETC device or no ETC device at all, maintain a distance of more than 10 meters to avoid automatic payment for the vehicle ahead. The speed limit for ETC lane recognition is 20 km/h. If the speed is too fast, the vehicle device information cannot be read, which may also result in failed payment. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or detachment or loosening of the ETC electronic tag, will cause the electronic tag to become invalid. It can be sent to the bank where the ETC card was issued or the highway service office for inspection. If the loosening or detachment is not caused by human factors, it only needs to be reactivated. When using a debit card to bind ETC, insufficient balance may also result in failed payment. You can follow the guidance of on-site staff to use the manual MTC lane and pass by using cash or card payment. Excessive thickness of the car's windshield may cause poor sensing. This is especially important for vehicles that have had their windshields replaced after an accident or for those who have modified their front windshields.
Last time I sold my car, I almost forgot about the ETC, luckily my friend reminded me. The top priority after selling the car was to deal with the ETC promptly, otherwise the next owner could use your account at toll stations, which would be quite a mess. I rushed to the bank that same day to cancel it. The teller asked me to remove the ETC device and return it, and I filled out a vehicle transfer certificate. Later, I heard someone delayed handling it for half a month and got charged over 300 yuan in highway fees for no reason. When canceling, remember to check if there’s any deposit to refund—I got my 300 yuan deposit back the same way I paid it. If your ETC was activated online, it’s even more convenient; you can just upload a screenshot of the vehicle license transfer in the app to apply for deactivation, but you still have to mail that little box back to a designated service point.
My cousin who works at a toll booth keeps saying this: selling a car without canceling the ETC is like lending your credit card to a stranger. The key is to plug two loopholes—device unbinding and account clearing. The safest way is for both the buyer and seller to go to an ETC service point together, bringing the new vehicle registration certificate to remove and cancel the device on the spot. If that’s too much hassle, remember three things when handling it alone: peel off the ETC device from the windshield and don’t leave it for the buyer; call the customer service hotline to freeze the account; and within 7 days, bring the transfer documents to officially close the account. Once, I met a tough guy who melted the ETC chip with a lighter before selling his car—though extreme, it’s still better than having your account hacked.
