Is it necessary to apply for a highway ETC card?

[Maximus]

ETC is not mandatory and is based on voluntary principles. Those who do not want to queue for toll payments when entering or exiting the highway can apply for it. The Electronic Toll Collection System (ETC) is a fully automatic toll collection system that enables vehicles to pay highway tolls without stopping by communicating between the "on-board electronic tag + IC card" and the microwave equipment in the ETC lane. After applying for ETC, when a car enters the highway, it does not need to manually pay the toll at the toll station. Instead, it can directly pass through the ETC lane for automatic deduction. The principle of ETC deduction: There will be one or more ETC lanes on the highway. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the on-board electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane of the toll station, the system uses computer networking technology to settle accounts with the bank, achieving the goal of vehicles not needing to stop at toll stations to pay tolls. All of this is based on the principle of passing first and deducting fees later. Benefits of installing ETC: Time-saving: Eliminates the hassle of waiting in line; Green and environmentally friendly: Green and low-carbon, vehicles pass through toll stations without stopping, reducing noise and exhaust emissions and minimizing pollution; Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs, reduces the frequency of vehicle starts and brakes, and lowers wear and fuel consumption; Improved efficiency: The efficiency of passing through ETC lanes can theoretically increase by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC updates faster and more high-tech. Compared to license plate payment, ETC technology is more mature and advantageous. More policy support: The State Council clearly 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 urban clusters will be basically achieved, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will significantly increase." It also explicitly set the goal in the main indicators of comprehensive transportation development during the "13th Five-Year Plan" that "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 the ETC usage rate for passenger vehicles, efforts will also be made to promote the use of ETC for trucks in the future. The integration of the ETC system with vehicle-to-vehicle communication, vehicle-to-road coordination, and other smart transportation development directions will be explored to provide car owners with comprehensive travel services. This means that more application scenarios will support ETC applications.

[DelKate]

I drive on the highway every day for my commute, and having an ETC card has made things much more convenient. In the past, I wasted a lot of time queuing at toll stations, waiting up to ten minutes during peak hours. Now, I just take the dedicated lane and pass through in seconds—easy and hassle-free. The installation process was super simple: the bank provided the card and onboard device for free, and I just had to link it to my bank card. Plus, I get a 5% discount. It’s even better during holidays—family trips are much smoother without getting stuck in manual lanes. I highly recommend frequent highway drivers to get one early—it saves time and effort in the long run, and it’s definitely worth it for those who travel on highways often.