Is ETC Mandatory?

[George]

ETC is not mandatory. According to the State Council's regulations, vehicles without ETC in 2020 cannot enjoy toll discounts. In the future, only one manual lane will be retained at highway toll stations, and tolls can only be paid through manual lanes. Additionally, newly installed ETC devices cannot be used on highways immediately; they need to be activated first. During free holiday periods, vehicles with ETC can still use highways, and no fees will be deducted for ETC users passing through ETC lanes. ETC Billing Principle: Highways will have one or more ETC lanes. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the vehicle's electronic tag (installed on the windshield) and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane, the system uses computer networking technology to settle payments with banks in the background. This allows vehicles to pay tolls without stopping at toll stations, all based on the principle of "pass first, deduct later." Benefits of Installing ETC: Time-saving: Eliminates the hassle of waiting in queues. Green and eco-friendly: Promotes low-carbon travel by reducing noise and exhaust emissions since vehicles don't need to stop at toll stations. Cost-saving: Reduces vehicle wear and fuel consumption by minimizing frequent starts and stops. Users also enjoy a 5% discount on toll fees. Improved efficiency: ETC lanes can theoretically increase traffic flow 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 cards should be widely interoperable in key urban clusters, and the adoption rate of ETC in vehicles should significantly increase." It also set a goal of "achieving a 50% ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles by 2020" in the main indicators for comprehensive transportation development during the "13th Five-Year Plan." Future possibilities: Beyond improving the convenience of ETC installation and increasing ETC adoption rates for passenger vehicles, efforts will be made to promote ETC usage for trucks. There will also be exploration into deeper integration between ETC systems and smart transportation developments like vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-to-infrastructure coordination, providing comprehensive travel services for car owners. This means more application scenarios will support ETC usage in the future.

[GrantRose]

Wait, ETC is not mandatory, but it depends on how you drive. I frequently drive on highways, and having ETC makes passing through toll booths incredibly smooth—no need to queue for ages, saving a ton of time for other things. Imagine those long lines at toll stations—annoying, right? With ETC, just a quick scan and you're through, super convenient. ETC isn’t enforced by the state; you can still pay with cash if you don’t have it, but it means stopping, rolling down the window, and handing over money every time—tedious and time-consuming. As for installation, banks now offer free devices—just link a bank card, and you're set. Having ETC also comes with discounts, like off-peak or specific route deals, which can save you some fuel costs in the long run. If you rarely use highways—say, once or twice a month—you can skip it for now, but I’d recommend getting it when you have time. It’s a lifesaver for emergencies, hassle-free and totally worth it.

[LeAdelyn]

From a cost perspective, ETC is indeed not mandatory, as cash payment still allows passage. But let's think rationally: most banks offer free installation of the device, and using it typically provides a 5% discount on toll fees, which can save a small amount of money for frequent highway users. For example, if you spend 100 yuan on tolls per month, with ETC you only pay 95 yuan, and without it, you might waste time in queues and burn extra fuel. ETC's automatic deduction is fast, reducing vehicle idle time, lowering fuel consumption, and being more environmentally friendly. However, if you mainly drive in the city and rarely use highways, not having ETC won't make much difference, as cash will suffice. The key is to decide based on your habits. Whether you get it or not is up to you, but having one is low-cost, convenient, and time-saving in the long run, making it quite cost-effective.

[ClaireDella]

ETC is not mandatory! I've been using ETC for several years and know very well that the government does not require everyone to install ETC devices. Cash lanes are still available at highway toll stations, and paying tolls in cash is completely legal. However, the ETC promotion policy encourages installation, and some places only open ETC lanes during peak hours. Installation is voluntary, requiring only a simple application to bind the device to an account. ETC works by automatically deducting fees through the vehicle-mounted tag and toll station recognition system, significantly improving efficiency and reducing waiting time. You can still drive without ETC, but it will take a bit more time to pass through toll stations.

[Penelope]

I think ETC is quite convenient, but that doesn't mean everyone must get it. For someone like me who's retired and drives less, only occasionally going on highways for trips, cash payment is perfectly sufficient. ETC, on the other hand, feels like a hassle with device installation and card binding. The advantage of ETC is saving time and reducing queues—it takes just seconds to pass through toll stations. The downside is that if there's an issue with the account, it can be troublesome to resolve. If you're like me, not traveling long distances often and only hitting the highway a few times a year, you can manage without ETC. Cash payment just means a few extra minutes getting out of the car to pay. But ETC does make travel smoother, especially during holidays when traffic is heavy—its advantages are obvious. Whether to get it or not is up to you, but having it installed in your car certainly doesn't hurt.