Should the ETC card chip face up or down?
2 Answers
ETC card chip should face up. ETC is the Electronic Toll Collection system, which uses dedicated short-range communication between the on-board electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna on the ETC lane at the toll station. It employs computer networking technology to conduct background settlement processing with banks, achieving the purpose of vehicles passing through highway or bridge toll stations without stopping to pay fees. Precautions for using ETC include: 1. The ETC transaction sensing area is 8 meters. To prevent the ETC device failure of the vehicle in front, maintain a distance of more than 10 meters from the vehicle ahead; 2. The recognition speed for ETC lane passage is 20 kilometers per hour. Excessive speed may result in failure to read vehicle device information, leading to unsuccessful fee deduction; 3. When using a debit card to bind with ETC, insufficient balance may also cause fee deduction failure.
When I first installed the ETC, I was confused about whether the chip should face up or down. As an experienced driver who has been on the road for many years, I learned that the standard installation is to fix the OBU on the windshield with the chip facing downward toward the car interior. Why? Because the signal needs to pass through the windshield to communicate with the toll station antenna. If the chip faces upward, the signal weakens, making it harder to recognize. I remember one time when I accidentally installed it upside down with the chip facing up, and the toll gate just wouldn’t recognize it—wasted half a day in line. Later, I went to an ETC service point, and the technician fixed it in no time. He said the chip should always face downward for optimal performance. It’s also important to check if the card is inserted securely, avoiding looseness or dirt that could block transmission. Keeping the glass area clean is crucial to prevent dust interference. Neglecting this small detail not only wastes time but also increases safety risks during travel.
