Is it necessary to apply for a highway ETC card?
3 Answers
It is necessary to apply for an ETC card. 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 tolls can only be paid through manual lanes. Additionally, newly installed ETC devices cannot be used on highways immediately; they need to be activated before normal use. During free holiday periods, vehicles with ETC can still use highways, and ETC users passing through ETC lanes will not be charged. ETC charging principle: There will be one or more ETC lanes on highways. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the vehicle's electronic tag installed on the windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at the toll station, and using computer networking technology for backend settlement with banks, the purpose of paying tolls without stopping at road and bridge toll stations is achieved. 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 eco-friendly: Green and low-carbon, vehicles passing through toll stations without stopping can reduce noise and exhaust emissions, 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 ETC lanes can theoretically increase by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC more updated, 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 interconnection 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 clear 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 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 of deep integration between ETC systems and smart transportation development directions such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-road coordination, providing comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners. This means more application scenarios will support ETC applications.
I think getting an ETC card for highways is quite necessary, especially if you frequently drive on expressways like I do. Before I had it, I had to queue at toll stations every time, spending 10-20 minutes waiting for cash payments, which was incredibly frustrating. Now with ETC, as soon as I slow down, it scans and lets me pass, saving me a lot of time that I can use for other things, like getting home earlier to rest or making it to meetings on time. The card is installed for free, and there's even a discount on toll fees—a 5% discount means saving dozens on a single long trip. Although there are occasional system glitches that require manual handling, overall it saves time and hassle. Friends who don’t often use highways might think it’s unnecessary, but trying it once will show how convenient it is. Traffic jams during peak hours on highways have reduced significantly, and the government is promoting this system. Managing fees is also easy with a mobile app. I recommend frequent travelers get one as soon as possible.
From an economic perspective, getting an ETC card is absolutely cost-effective. I've done the math – the year-round discount on expressway tolls (5% off) can easily save you hundreds annually. Plus, eliminating stops at toll booths reduces idling fuel consumption, allowing a full tank to last dozens of kilometers longer. Cash payments involve cumbersome change handling and potential errors, while ETC's automatic deduction eliminates hassle. Although occasional malfunctions may cause queueing in ETC lanes, such instances are rare. For those who seldom use expressways, it might seem unnecessary, but even one long-distance trip makes it worthwhile. The application process is free, and post-installation bank card binding ensures fund security. During expressway congestion, ETC lanes maintain smoother traffic flow, significantly improving overall efficiency.
