What documents are required for ETC application?
2 Answers
According to the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Application Service of Electronic Non-stop Toll Collection on Highways" issued by the Ministry of Transport, the following documents are required: the original valid ID card of the vehicle owner, the original and a copy of the vehicle registration certificate (the page with the most recent annual inspection stamp must be provided). If applying on behalf of someone else, the original valid ID card of the agent is also required. For ETC applications processed 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 portion of the amount as a deposit when binding with debit cards. Additionally, the current year's vehicle insurance policy is needed. For corporate applications, the handler's ID card (or driver's license), the organization's code certificate (or business license), and the company seal are required. ETC Deduction Principle: There will be one or more ETC lanes on highways. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the vehicle's electronic tag installed on the windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at the toll station, the system uses computer networking technology to settle transactions with the bank in the background. This allows vehicles to pay tolls without stopping at the toll booth, 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: Reduces noise and exhaust emissions by allowing vehicles to pass through toll stations without stopping, thus lowering pollution. Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs by decreasing the frequency of vehicle starts and brakes, thereby reducing wear and fuel consumption. Improved efficiency: Theoretically, ETC lanes can increase vehicle passing efficiency by 2-3 times, making traditional ETC systems faster, more advanced, and more high-tech. Compared to license plate payment, ETC technology is more mature and advantageous. More policy support: The State Council's "13th Five-Year Plan for the Development of a Modern Comprehensive Transportation System" explicitly states the goal of "achieving interoperability of transportation smart cards in key city clusters by 2020 and significantly increasing the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC." It also sets a target of "achieving a 50% ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles by 2020" in the main indicators of comprehensive transportation development during the 13th Five-Year Plan period. More future possibilities: In addition to continuously improving the convenience of ETC installation and usage rates for passenger vehicles, future efforts will include promoting ETC use for trucks and exploring deeper integration of ETC systems with smart transportation directions such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-road coordination. This will provide comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners, meaning more application scenarios will support ETC. ETC Usage Notes: The ETC transaction sensing range is 8 meters. If the vehicle in front stops, maintain a distance of more than 10 meters to prevent automatic sensing and payment for the vehicle in front, especially if it has a faulty ETC device or none at all. The recognition speed for ETC lanes is 20 km/h. Driving too fast may prevent the system from reading the vehicle's device information, leading to failed deductions. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or if the ETC electronic tag falls off or becomes loose, will render the tag ineffective. It can be taken to the bank where the ETC card was issued or a highway service center for inspection. If the loosening or detachment is not due to human interference, reactivation may suffice. When using a debit card bound to ETC, insufficient balance may cause deduction failures. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to use manual MTC lanes and pay with cash or card. Thick windshields may cause poor sensing, especially for vehicles that have had their windshields replaced after accidents or modified front windshields.
Last year, I handled the ETC application myself and would like to share my personal experience. You need to bring three things when applying: the original and a copy of your ID card to verify your identity; the original and a copy of the vehicle registration certificate to confirm the car is yours; and a bank card for automatic fee deduction—I used an ICBC card, which worked well. Don’t forget the copies; I spent some time making them at the service point. The process is straightforward—the bank staff will fill out forms for you and install the device on your windshield. Now with ETC, passing through toll stations is much faster—no need to queue, and there’s a discount on highway fees. A quick reminder: you can apply at a bank or a highway service point, and it’s best to go on weekdays when it’s less crowded. With all the materials ready, it can be done in one go and completed within half an hour—very convenient.
