What documents are needed to apply for ETC for a car?
2 Answers
According to the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Application of Electronic Non-stop Toll Collection Services on Highways" issued by the Ministry of Transport, the following documents are required to apply for ETC: the vehicle owner's valid ID card, driver's license, and vehicle registration certificate. If the application is made by a proxy, the proxy's valid ID card must also be provided; the current year's vehicle insurance policy; for corporate applications, the handler's ID card (or driver's license), the company's organization code certificate (or business license), and the company seal are required. If applying for ETC through major bank branches, a debit or credit card from the corresponding bank must also be prepared. Some banks only support ETC binding with credit cards, while others may require freezing a portion of the amount as a deposit when binding ETC with a debit card. ETC deduction principle: There will be one or more ETC lanes on highways. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the vehicle-mounted electronic tag installed on the windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane of the toll station, computer networking technology is used to settle accounts with the bank in the background, achieving the purpose of paying tolls 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 toll stations 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: Theoretically, ETC lanes can increase vehicle passing efficiency 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 city clusters will be basically achieved, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will be significantly increased." It also set a target in the main indicators of comprehensive transportation development during the "13th Five-Year Plan" 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 increasing the ETC usage rate for passenger vehicles, efforts will be made to promote ETC usage 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 stopped vehicle ahead, to prevent the vehicle's ETC device from malfunctioning or not having an ETC device at all, maintain a distance of more than 10 meters to avoid automatic sensing and paying for the vehicle ahead. The recognized speed for ETC lane passage is 20 km/h. Excessive speed will prevent the reading of vehicle device information and may result in failed fee deductions. Unauthorized disassembly or movement of the OBU device, or detachment or loosening of the ETC electronic tag, will render the electronic tag invalid. It can be sent to the bank where the ETC card was issued or the highway service office for inspection. If the loosening or detachment is not due to human factors, it only needs to be reactivated. When using a debit card bound to ETC, insufficient balance may also cause fee deduction failures. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to use the manual MTC lane and pass by cash or card. Excessive windshield thickness may 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.
I just helped a friend apply for an ETC, and the whole process went smoothly. You need to prepare the original and photocopy of the vehicle owner's ID card, and the vehicle license is mandatory for verifying vehicle information. The bank card is preferably under your own name, either a debit or credit card, for automatic fee deduction. Some places may also require front and side photos of the vehicle or confirmation of the engine number. I did it through the bank's app—after uploading the documents and passing the review, the card was mailed for installation, avoiding on-site queues. ETC has many benefits, like passing through highway tolls without stopping and enjoying discounts. After getting it, it really saves time and hassle. I recommend bringing all original documents to an official service point or applying online to ensure safety and reliability. Don’t forget to check your bank card balance to avoid unexpected fee deduction issues. With thorough preparation, everything will go smoothly.
