What documents are required to apply for ETC?

[SanAlana]

According to the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Application Service of Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) 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. If applying for ETC through bank branches, a debit card or credit card from the respective 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 ETC with a debit card. ETC Deduction Principles: There will be one or more ETC lanes on highways. Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the onboard electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at the toll station, and by using computer networking technology for backend settlement with the bank, the purpose of paying tolls without stopping at the bridge or toll station is achieved. 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: Green and low-carbon, vehicles pass through toll stations without stopping, reducing noise and exhaust emissions and minimizing pollution; Reduced wear and tear: Saves costs, reduces the frequency of vehicle starts and brakes, lowers wear and fuel consumption, and users can also enjoy a 5% discount on toll fees; 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 clusters will be basically achieved, and the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC will be significantly increased." It also set a clear target in the main indicators of the "13th Five-Year" comprehensive transportation development plan: "By 2020, the ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles will reach 50%." 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 vehicle-to-vehicle communication, vehicle-road coordination, and other smart transportation development directions, providing comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners. This means more application scenarios will support ETC applications. ETC Usage Notes: The ETC transaction sensing area is 8 meters. When encountering a stationary vehicle ahead, to prevent the ETC device of the vehicle ahead from malfunctioning or not having an ETC device at all, maintain a distance of more than 10 meters from the vehicle ahead 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 a deduction failure. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or detachment or loosening of the ETC electronic tag, 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. 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 will also cause a deduction 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.

[SanFelix]

I previously applied for an ETC for my car, and the whole process went quite smoothly. The main documents required are the original ID card of the vehicle owner, the original vehicle registration certificate, and a bank card. I used an Agricultural Bank card, which allows automatic fee deduction after binding. If you don’t apply it in the car, you’ll also need to take a photo of the license plate and upload it to the system. Remember to make an online appointment in advance or go directly to a bank branch—they’ll help with all the setup. The benefit is that you won’t have to queue on the highway, saving both fuel and time. Last time, I forgot to bring a photocopy of my ID card and almost made a wasted trip. Since then, I’ve learned my lesson and always keep a copy handy. After installation, remember to regularly check if the ETC device is working properly to avoid issues like dead batteries or loosening affecting its use. If the bank has promotions, you might even get annual fees waived, which is a great deal. The whole process is quick—just about ten minutes—and I highly recommend all car owners get one. It makes life much easier.