Must the ETC applicant be the vehicle owner?

[Athena]

It is not mandatory for the vehicle owner to apply for ETC. According to the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Application Service of Electronic Non-stop Toll Collection on Expressways" issued by the Ministry of Transport, the original valid ID card of the vehicle owner, the original and photocopy of the vehicle license, and the page of the vehicle license with the latest annual inspection stamp are required. If applying on behalf of others, the original valid ID card of the agent is also required. If applying for ETC through major bank branches, a debit card or credit card from the corresponding bank must be prepared. Some banks only support ETC binding with credit cards, while others may require freezing a certain amount as a deposit when binding ETC with a debit card. ETC charging principle: There will be one or more ETC lanes on the expressway. Through the dedicated short-range microwave communication between the on-board electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane of the toll station, and using computer networking technology for backend settlement with the bank, the vehicle can pay the toll without stopping at the toll station. 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: Low-carbon, as vehicles pass through the toll station without stopping, reducing noise and exhaust emissions and minimizing pollution; Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs by reducing the frequency of vehicle starts and brakes, lowering wear and fuel consumption; Improved efficiency: The theoretical efficiency of ETC lanes can be increased by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC updates 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 interoperability of transportation cards in key urban agglomerations will be basically achieved, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will be significantly increased." It also set the target in the main indicators of the "13th Five-Year" comprehensive transportation development to "achieve a 50% ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles by 2020." More future possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage and the usage rate of ETC passenger vehicles, the future will also promote the use of ETC for trucks and explore the deep integration of the ETC system with 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. ETC usage precautions: The ETC transaction sensing area is 8 meters. When encountering a stationary vehicle ahead, to prevent the ETC device failure of the vehicle ahead or the absence of an ETC device, maintain a distance of more than 10 meters to avoid automatic sensing and paying for the vehicle ahead. The recognition speed for ETC lane passage is 20 km/h. If the speed is too fast, the vehicle device information cannot be read, leading to charging failure. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, detachment or loosening of the ETC electronic tag, etc., will cause the electronic tag to fail. It can be sent to the bank where the ETC card was issued or the highway service office for testing. For non-human-caused loosening or detachment, reactivation is sufficient. When using a debit card bound to ETC, insufficient balance will also cause charging failure. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to use the manual MTC lane and pass by cash or card. Excessive thickness of the car windshield can cause poor sensing. This is especially important for vehicles that have had their windshields replaced after accidents or for those who have modified their front windshields.

[FelicityFitz]

I've been driving for decades and have gone through the ETC application process several times. Each time I went to the bank or an ETC service point, the staff required me to bring my ID card and the original vehicle registration certificate, as these documents are directly linked to vehicle ownership to prevent misuse or fraud. If the vehicle owner handles it personally, everything goes smoothly and can be done in just a few minutes, with the ETC device immediately installed and ready for use. However, if you're not the owner—say, a family member or friend is helping out—that's also fine, but you'll need an authorization letter from the owner, along with a copy of their ID card and the vehicle registration certificate, to submit to the staff. Once, my son handled it for me, and the process wasn't complicated, as long as you have all the required documents ready. An extra reminder: some apps now allow online applications, but the verification process still checks the owner's information, so if someone else is handling it for you, make sure to communicate clearly to avoid multiple trips. ETC is incredibly convenient—it allows for instant highway access, making travel both safe and time-efficient. In short, the owner doesn't necessarily need to be present in person; as long as all the documents are complete, having someone else handle it can also get the job done.