Is ETC Mandatory?
2 Answers
ETC is not mandatory. According to Article 19 of the "Notice on Vigorously Promoting the Development and Application of ETC on Expressways" issued by the State Council, starting from 2020, vehicles without ETC will not enjoy toll discounts. In the future, expressway toll stations will retain only one manual lane, and vehicles without ETC will have to pay tolls through the manual lane. Additionally, newly installed ETC devices cannot be used on expressways immediately; they must be activated first. During free holiday periods, vehicles with ETC can still use expressways, and no fees will be deducted for ETC users passing through ETC lanes. The Deduction Principle of ETC: Expressways will have one or more ETC lanes. Through microwave 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, and by using computer networking technology for backend settlement with banks, the system achieves the goal of vehicles not needing to stop at toll stations to pay fees. All of this operates on the principle of "pass first, deduct later." Benefits of Installing ETC: Save Time: Eliminates the hassle of waiting in line; Green and Eco-friendly: Promotes green and low-carbon travel by reducing noise and exhaust emissions from vehicles stopping at toll stations, thereby minimizing pollution; Reduce Wear and Tear: Saves costs by decreasing the frequency of vehicle starts and stops, reducing wear and fuel consumption; Improve Efficiency: Theoretically, ETC lanes can improve vehicle passing efficiency by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC faster, more advanced, and more high-tech. Compared to license plate payment, ETC technology is more mature and advantageous. More Policy Support: The State Council explicitly stated in the "13th Five-Year Plan for the Development of a Modern Comprehensive Transportation System" that "by 2020, intercity transportation smart cards will be basically interoperable in key city clusters, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will significantly increase." It also set a target in the "13th Five-Year" comprehensive transportation development indicators: "by 2020, the ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles will reach 50%." More Future Possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage and increasing the ETC usage rate for passenger vehicles, efforts will be made to promote ETC usage for trucks in the future. There will also be exploration into the deep integration of ETC systems with vehicle-to-vehicle communication, vehicle-to-infrastructure coordination, and other smart transportation development directions, providing comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners. This means more application scenarios will support ETC applications.
ETC is not mandatory for everyone, but it is indeed recommended or required in certain areas. I remember when I was driving on a trip, the manual toll lanes on the highway were always extremely long, while the ETC lanes were much faster. Especially during peak hours, it saved a lot of time. In terms of policy, some provinces like Beijing and Guangdong have requirements for certain highway sections, and not having ETC might restrict access or incur additional fees. The benefits of getting ETC, aside from convenience, include discounts—usually around 5% off. Installation is simple, with banks or service providers offering the device for free. For car owners who only drive within the city occasionally, they can assess their usage frequency before deciding whether to get it. A downside is that the device might malfunction and require maintenance. For friends who frequently drive on highways, it’s worth considering—it enhances the driving experience while saving money and being eco-friendly. If you choose not to get it, avoiding mandatory sections isn’t a big issue, but missing out on the convenience is a bit of a shame.
