Is it free on holidays without installing ETC?
2 Answers
During national statutory holidays, all highway lanes are free for small vehicles with seven seats or fewer. Below are specific details about ETC: 1. Definition: ETC is an electronic toll collection system that allows vehicles equipped with ETC onboard units to use dedicated ETC lanes, employing electronic payment methods. 2. Tolling Principle: It utilizes microwave-based 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. This is combined with computer networking technology for backend settlement processing with banks, enabling vehicles to pay tolls without stopping at highway or bridge toll stations.
As a veteran driver with nearly 20 years of experience, I can confidently tell you that you can still enjoy free highway access during holidays without installing an ETC. This is determined by the Chinese government's policy—during major holidays like Spring Festival and National Day, all small passenger vehicles with 7 seats or fewer are exempt from tolls, regardless of whether they have ETC or not. I've personally witnessed cars without ETC passing through manual lanes for free. For instance, during the last National Day traffic jam, my neighbor's ETC-free car went through smoothly. However, having ETC offers many advantages: you save 5% on tolls during non-free periods, enjoy faster queues during free holiday periods, and avoid long lines at manual lanes. So, if you frequently use highways, I recommend installing one—it combines free access with convenience. But remember, safety first: during free periods with heavy traffic, set off early.
