Should the ETC Card Be Removed When Not in Use?
3 Answers
The ETC card can be removed when not in use. If the ETC card is frequently left inserted in the OBU device, there may be a risk of unauthorized transactions. Removing it enhances security significantly. Since ETC cards are chip cards, frequent insertion and removal may affect the chip's sensitivity. Therefore, it is recommended to remove the ETC card only when it will not be used for an extended period. ETC, or Electronic Toll Collection, is also known as the Automatic Road Payment System. It is a specialized road tolling method primarily used on toll roads, commonly seen on highways, toll bridges or tunnels, and certain urban road sections to alleviate traffic congestion. ETC Billing Principle: Highways feature one or more ETC lanes. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the vehicle's windshield-mounted electronic tag and the microwave antenna in the toll station's ETC lane, the system uses computer networking technology to settle payments with banks in the background. This allows vehicles to pass through toll stations without stopping to pay road or bridge fees, all based on the principle of 'pass first, deduct later.' Benefits of Installing ETC: Time-saving: Eliminates the hassle of waiting in queues; Green and eco-friendly: Promotes low-carbon travel by reducing noise and exhaust emissions as vehicles pass through toll stations without stopping; Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs by minimizing frequent starts and stops, thereby lowering vehicle wear and fuel consumption; Improved efficiency: Theoretically, ETC lanes can process vehicles 2-3 times faster, making traditional ETC more updated, faster, 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 Integrated Transportation System" that "by 2020, the interoperability of transportation smart cards in key city clusters will be basically achieved, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will significantly increase." The plan also set a target of "achieving a 50% ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles by 2020" in the main indicators for comprehensive transportation development during the 13th Five-Year Plan. 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. There will also be exploration into deeper integration of the ETC system with smart transportation 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 usage.
I drive on highways frequently, and my ETC card has always been left in the car's onboard unit without ever being removed. Nowadays, ETC cards are mostly postpaid accounts, unlike the early prepaid cards that had risks of unauthorized charges, so there's no need to worry about security issues. The device itself is designed for long-term installation, and frequent insertion and removal can actually damage the card slot. My car is equipped with a solar-powered OBU device, and keeping the card inserted helps maintain the battery charge—removing it might lead to power loss. The only thing to note is not to obstruct the device area on the windshield to avoid affecting signal reception. After more than two years of daily highway driving, the card has never been removed and still works smoothly.
After installing the ETC device in my car, the card has been securely placed inside without any movement. I once heard rumors about potential card skimming, so I specifically researched and found that ETC systems across provinces have long been upgraded, making it impossible to use the card in non-ETC scenarios. The feeling of bypassing toll station queues is absolutely fantastic - constantly removing and storing the card elsewhere would just be a hassle. Last week, my friend took out the card and forgot it in his wallet, causing a huge delay at the toll gate before eventually having to use the manual lane. Now I just check the monthly billing statement for any irregularities, otherwise treating it as if it doesn't exist - truly worry-free and convenient.
