What does ETC highway toll mean?
2 Answers
Highway ETC (Electronic Toll Collection) translates to electronic toll collection, which is a non-stop toll collection system. There will be one or more ETC lanes on the highway. ETC toll collection method: Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the on-board RFID tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna on the ETC lane at the toll station, using network technology to conduct background settlement processing with the bank, thereby achieving the purpose of vehicles passing through road and bridge toll stations without stopping to pay tolls. Banks install this type of ETC express card with a pay-after-use system. ETC application conditions are as follows: Provide the original and photocopy of the vehicle owner's valid ID card and vehicle license, and the photocopy of the driver's license should include the page with the most recent annual inspection seal; Postal credit card application form, which is used to bind the ETC card. After obtaining the credit card, swipe it twice and present the POS receipt to the designated postal outlet to receive and install the ETC on-board device for free, with no charges during the process; Be between 18 and 60 years old; Own a vehicle under personal name. Below are precautions for installing ETC: Do not block the view; it is best to install it behind the rearview mirror: Many car models have a large inclination angle of the windshield, resulting in a smaller driver's field of vision. If this is not considered during ETC installation, it will increase the driver's blind spot. Install it behind the rearview mirror on the right side to avoid blocking the view. Do not interfere with charging: The ETC electronic tag consumes power, but generally does not need to be charged or have its battery replaced because it has a solar panel on the back that can charge itself. Therefore, during installation, avoid the black areas on the windshield and do not place it where the solar panel can be easily blocked. Once installed, do not remove it arbitrarily: The button in the middle of the adhesive is an anti-removal lever connected to a switch below. After the electronic tag is installed, the windshield will press the anti-removal lever in. If it is removed arbitrarily, the lever will pop out and trigger the switch, locking the electronic tag and rendering it unusable, requiring a visit to the ETC service point to unlock it. This is designed to prevent multiple vehicles from sharing one device. When using ETC, note: The ETC transaction sensing range is 8 meters. To prevent the ETC device of the vehicle in front from malfunctioning, maintain a distance of more than 10 meters from the vehicle in front to avoid automatic sensing and paying for the vehicle in front; The ETC lane recognition speed is 20 kilometers per hour. If the speed is too fast, the vehicle device information cannot be read, leading to failed deductions; When using a debit card bound to ETC, insufficient balance will also cause deduction failure.
I've been driving on highways for ten years, and ETC toll collection has become my daily electronic payment method. It means installing a small device in the vehicle that can be automatically scanned and recognized by toll station antennas, deducting fees directly from the linked account without stopping to queue. It's especially convenient during peak hours to avoid traffic jams, saving me a lot of time. In the past, using cash required change, which was prone to errors and wasted time, but now the contactless payment feels incredibly smart. It's also highly secure, reducing the risk of rear-end collisions caused by sudden braking at toll booths. There are also ETC-exclusive discounts in various regions, such as 5% off, and as someone who frequently travels long distances, I save hundreds of yuan a year. Installation is simple—just get a card from the bank, and once you get used to it, you really can't go back to manual toll collection. I highly recommend it to friends who frequently drive on highways.
