How to Pass Through a Highway Toll Station for Beginners: What Are the Steps?

[DelAubrey]

Beginners passing through a highway toll station should pay close attention to the light signals above the lanes, choose the entrance with a green light, reduce speed, and proceed in an orderly queue. The steps for beginners to pass through a highway toll station are as follows: 1. Drive the vehicle according to the road signs to enter the highway entrance toll station; 2. Confirm whether the vehicle is equipped with an ETC system; 3. If equipped with ETC, drive into the ETC dedicated lane. After the barrier opens, drive away from the highway entrance toll station; 4. If not equipped with ETC, enter other waiting lanes; 5. Stop at the toll booth in order and accept the magnetic card handed by the staff; 6. After the barrier opens, drive the vehicle onto the highway; 7. Exit the highway according to the trip, follow the signs to enter the exit ramp, and enter the exit toll station; 8. If equipped with ETC, drive through the ETC dedicated channel to exit; 9. If not equipped with ETC, drive into other lanes to wait. Stop the vehicle at the toll booth; 10. Hand the card given by the entrance staff to the exit staff; 11. Pay the amount displayed by the staff or the front display screen; 12. Receive the change and invoice from the staff; 13. Drive away.

[JuniperLynn]

The first time I drove on the highway and passed through a toll station, I was super nervous. Later, I summarized a simple process: First, pay attention to the road signs two kilometers in advance, clearly identifying the ETC-only lanes and the arrow signs for manual/mixed lanes. Once you've chosen a lane, don't change randomly. Slow down to below 10 km/h when queuing. At manual toll booths, remember to fully stop before lowering the window, and place cash in the change box on the right side for easy access—most now support mobile payments. After receiving the CPC pass card, insert it into the card slot by the air vent to prevent losing it, and take a quick glance at the entry station name on the ticket. Before exiting, prepare your card and payment method in advance to avoid fumbling at the window and delaying the cars behind. After exiting the ramp, don’t rush to accelerate—first turn on your signal, check the rearview mirror, and then merge into the main lane. This process has worked well for several newbie friends I’ve taught.

[DeStephanie]

Going through the toll station is even easier than using a vending machine! When you spot the overhead canopy from afar, start slowing down. The signs above will indicate blue-green light lanes (ETC) and red light lanes (manual). In the manual lane, just stop, roll down your window to show your face, and the toll collector will hand you a small blue card—don’t forget to ask for a receipt. In the ETC lane, glide through at 20 km/h, hear a 'beep,' and the barrier will lift—just don’t tailgate the car in front. Key reminder: Don’t mix up the entry and exit cards. The one on your windshield is the annual pass, while the one from the toll collector is your trip card. When exiting, remember to swap the temporary card for mobile payment—last time I pocketed the card and it got ruined in the wash, which was a hassle.

[JocelynFitz]

As someone who frequently drives on highways, here's my advice for novices when passing through toll stations: Shift to the far-right lane in advance and slow down to 5 km/h, avoiding the ETC-only lanes. At manual toll booths, shift to neutral (N), engage the handbrake after stopping, and slightly lean your body to make it easier to receive or hand over the card. It's advisable to prepare small change between 10-50 yuan in cash, as getting change for large bills can waste time. After receiving the card, confirm the information and don't close the window immediately—I've seen cards ejected by machines fall into the window gap. Novices often overlook two things: checking if the windshield wiper obstructs license plate recognition, and switching from high beams to low beams when entering the station at night. The exit process is similar, but pay special attention to verifying the amount displayed on the screen. Once, I encountered an overcharge of 20 yuan and had it corrected on the spot by checking the surveillance footage.