Is it mandatory to install ETC in cars?

[DelAbigail]

It is not mandatory to install ETC. According to the regulations of the State Council, starting from 2020, vehicles without ETC will not enjoy toll discounts. In the future, only one manual lane will be retained at highway toll stations, and vehicles without ETC will have to pay tolls 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: There will be one or more ETC lanes on highways. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the onboard electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at the toll station, the system uses computer networking technology to settle payments with banks in the background. This allows vehicles to pay tolls without stopping at highway or bridge 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 do not need to stop at toll stations; Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs by minimizing vehicle starts and brakes, reducing wear and fuel consumption. 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, the interoperability of transportation cards in key city clusters will be basically achieved, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will significantly increase." It also set a target in the "13th Five-Year Plan" for comprehensive transportation development: "By 2020, the ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles should reach 50%." More future possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage and increasing the ETC adoption rate for passenger vehicles, efforts will be made to promote ETC usage for trucks in the future. There will also be exploration of deeper integration between ETC systems and smart transportation directions such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-to-infrastructure coordination, providing car owners with comprehensive travel services. This means more application scenarios will support ETC usage.

[Gabrielle]

I've been driving for decades, and ETC is quite common now, but it's not mandatory. That is to say, there's no legal requirement to install it. However, from my experience, not having it is really inconvenient. During peak hours, manual toll lanes have long queues, while ETC lanes let you zip right through, saving time and hassle. The installation cost is low, with many banks offering the device for free—just link it to your bank card. Using ETC also saves a bit of fuel since you don’t have to stop and start, reducing emissions. The government encourages installation by offering small toll discounts. If you frequently drive on highways, not having ETC is a big loss; if you only drive occasionally, it’s no big deal. In short, it’s not compulsory, but definitely worth considering—it makes life much easier.