Is it necessary to go on the highway after ETC activation?
2 Answers
It is not necessary to go on the highway after ETC activation. Methods to activate ETC: Insert and remove the ETC card twice in succession until the electronic tag screen displays "Bluetooth is on". If it shows "Tag invalid" when inserting and removing twice without the electronic tag attached, this is normal and does not affect activation. Alternatively, you can directly press the button on top of the electronic tag to enable Bluetooth. Turn on your phone's Bluetooth, open the corresponding mobile APP (usually there is a download QR code on the electronic tag), and enter the device activation interface. Click on device connection and wait patiently for the "Connection successful" prompt. After successful connection, upload a photo of the vehicle's front to complete activation. ETC installation positions: For small vehicles such as cars and vans, the ETC card and OBU device should be installed on the upper middle part of the front windshield. For large vehicles like trucks and buses, the installation position is on the lower middle part.
After activating ETC, you don't need to immediately use the highway at all. You can arrange it according to your own needs. For example, I didn't use the highway at all after activation and only used it during holiday trips, which was completely fine. ETC activation simply enables the electronic toll collection function—it stays ready in your car anytime, and you can use the highway whenever you want. If you don't frequently use highways, the ETC device will remain activated and won't expire, unless you leave it unused for an extended period, in which case you might need to recheck it. Driving in the city normally doesn't affect it either, as ETC only automatically deducts fees when passing through toll stations. After activation, it's recommended to check whether the linked payment account is functioning properly to avoid insufficient balance during the first use. Also, regularly clean dust off the ETC device to ensure smooth signal reception, which is especially important if it's unused for a long time. But there's absolutely no rule saying you must use the highway.
