Is it necessary to cancel ETC if not in use?
3 Answers
It is not mandatory to cancel, but it is recommended that car owners cancel it if they no longer use it. ETC is an electronic toll collection system, also known as an automatic road toll system, specifically designed for toll roads. It is commonly seen on highways, toll bridges or tunnels, and certain sections of city centers to alleviate urban traffic congestion. The impact of not canceling: According to the regulations of various banks and ETC management departments, a vehicle can only be bound to one ETC account. Therefore, if the original ETC is not canceled, a new ETC cannot be applied for. If the vehicle is sold to someone else without canceling the ETC and the device remains in the vehicle, the toll station will recognize the ETC device. As long as the original owner's bank card still has a balance, toll fees will continue to be deducted from the original owner's account. The principle of ETC toll deduction: There will be one or more ETC lanes on highways. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the vehicle's on-board 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 settle accounts with the bank in the background. This achieves the goal of vehicles not needing to stop at toll stations to pay road and bridge fees, all based on the principle of passing first and deducting fees later. Benefits of installing ETC: Saves time: Eliminates the hassle of waiting in line; Green and eco-friendly: Low-carbon, as vehicles pass through toll stations without stopping, reducing noise and exhaust emissions and minimizing pollution; Reduces wear and tear: Saves costs by decreasing the frequency of vehicle starts and brakes, reducing wear and fuel consumption; Improves efficiency: The efficiency of ETC lanes can theoretically increase 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 urban 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 rates for passenger vehicles, efforts will also be made to promote the use of ETC for trucks and explore the deep integration of the ETC system with smart transportation directions such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-road coordination. This will provide car owners with comprehensive travel services, meaning more application scenarios will support ETC usage.
I think it's safer to cancel the ETC if it's no longer in use. The account is linked to a bank card, and if left unmanaged for a long time, there might be risks, such as small fees being deducted unexpectedly or the account being frozen. I've experienced it once—before canceling, I occasionally received notifications about small management fees, which were annoying even though the amounts were small. For safety, it's advisable to contact the ETC service provider or the bank to unbind the account. Nowadays, many can handle it online, just submit the information via an APP, and it’s quick. Don’t be lazy and keep it. If the account has issues later, you’ll have to reactivate it from scratch, which is a hassle. Canceling gives peace of mind and avoids privacy leaks—killing two birds with one stone.
From a financial perspective, it's definitely advisable to cancel your ETC account if you're no longer using it. Otherwise, the bank card linked to the account might incur idle fees or annual fees. Although the amount may be small, it's still a waste of money. I once neglected this and found that I was charged a small fee of over ten yuan, which made me regret not handling it earlier. Cancellation is very simple—just make a customer service call or apply on the official website without needing to go anywhere. Don't let the account linger and occupy your credit limit; financial health comes first. Handling it promptly can save you worry and trouble, keeping your accounts clean and tidy.
