Is it necessary to apply for ETC if I don't frequently use highways?
2 Answers
It is necessary to install ETC. According to the regulations of the State Council, vehicles without ETC installed by 2020 will not enjoy toll discounts. In the future, only one manual lane will remain at highway toll stations, and toll fees 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, vehicles with ETC can still use highways, and ETC users passing through ETC lanes will not be charged. ETC Billing 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 at the toll station, the system uses computer networking technology to perform backend settlements with banks. This allows vehicles to pay tolls without stopping at the toll station, all based on the principle of "pass first, deduct later." Benefits of Installing ETC: Time-saving: Eliminates the hassle of waiting in line; Green and eco-friendly: Promotes low-carbon travel by reducing noise and exhaust emissions since vehicles don’t need to stop at toll stations; Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs by minimizing frequent starts and brakes, thereby lowering vehicle wear and fuel consumption; Improved efficiency: ETC lanes can theoretically increase traffic 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, intercity transportation cards will be widely interoperable in key city clusters, 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 should reach 50%." More future possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage rates for passenger vehicles, efforts will be made to promote ETC adoption for trucks in the future. There will also be exploration of deeper integration between ETC systems and smart transportation developments 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.
I think if you rarely drive on highways, there's really no need to rush into getting an ETC. Purchasing and installing the ETC equipment costs several hundred yuan, which isn't worth it if you only use the highway once or twice a year—paying in cash is more economical. Time-wise, it's not much of a waste either; toll stations usually aren't too crowded, and waiting a few minutes isn't a big deal. Plus, the ETC card needs to be linked to a bank card, which is a hassle to manage, and if the device breaks, you'll have to get it fixed. But if the toll stations near your home are always congested, or you occasionally travel to farther destinations, then considering ETC might be beneficial. Ultimately, it depends on your habits—skipping ETC can save you some money and spare you the headache of dealing with another electronic device. There's really no downside.
