Is it necessary to apply for ETC?
3 Answers
It is necessary to install ETC. According to the regulations of the State Council, vehicles without ETC in 2020 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 first. During free holiday periods, ETC users can still use highways, and no fees will be deducted when passing through ETC lanes. ETC Deduction Principle: There will be one or more ETC lanes on highways. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the vehicle-mounted 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, achieving the goal of vehicles passing toll stations without stopping. All 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 queues; Green and eco-friendly: Low-carbon, vehicles pass toll stations without stopping, reducing noise and exhaust emissions and minimizing pollution; Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs, decreases the frequency of vehicle starts and brakes, and lowers wear and fuel consumption; Improved efficiency: Theoretically, ETC lanes can increase vehicle passing efficiency by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC more updated, faster, and higher-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 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" 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 adoption 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 car owners. This means more application scenarios will support ETC usage.
As a commuting office worker who drives frequently, I think getting an ETC is absolutely necessary. Every time I pass through a toll station, I don't have to stop and queue—just zoom right through, saving at least a few minutes of waiting time. During peak hours when traffic jams are severe, ETC is like a lifesaver, reducing my chances of road rage. Before I got it, I used to wait an average of two minutes each time on the highway, adding up to half an hour wasted every day, not to mention the fuel costs. Now with ETC, I also enjoy a 5% discount, saving me hundreds of yuan a year. Even if the device occasionally malfunctions, repairs are simple. In short, if you commute daily or travel long distances like me, it's a small investment with big returns—you should really get it as soon as possible. Many banks or car companies now offer free installation anyway, so there's no extra cost.
From a cost-saving perspective, I highly recommend getting an ETC. The installation fee is usually free or very low, with substantial government subsidies, allowing you to recoup the cost quickly. For example, at highway toll stations, regular lanes offer no discounts, while ETC users enjoy a 5% or greater discount. Over time, the accumulated savings are significant. I've seen people avoid getting one due to perceived hassle, only to spend dozens more each month on fuel wasted idling in queues—not to mention the time cost, where every minute spent waiting on the highway is like wasting a small part of your journey. For occasional highway users, it may not be urgent, but if frequent travel becomes a habit, ETC helps avoid unexpected expenses. In the long run, ETC costs are negligible—it’s more of a practical tool. Personally, I see it as a big helper for small budgets, well worth trying.
