What does installing ETC in a car mean?
3 Answers
The device installed in the car for ETC is called an OBU device. Once installed, activated, and with the card inserted, it can be used normally. ETC is an Electronic Toll Collection system, also known as an automatic road toll system. It is a specialized method for toll roads, commonly seen on highways, toll bridges or tunnels, and certain sections of city centers, aimed at alleviating urban traffic congestion. According to regulations from the State Council, starting from 2020, vehicles without ETC will not enjoy toll discounts. In the future, highway toll stations will retain only one manual lane, requiring vehicles without ETC to pay tolls manually. Additionally, newly installed ETC devices cannot be used on highways immediately; they must be activated first. During holiday free-toll periods, ETC users can still use highways, and passing through ETC lanes will not incur charges. ETC Charging Principle: Highways have one or more ETC lanes. Using dedicated short-range microwave communication between the vehicle's electronic tag (installed on the windshield) and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane, the system performs backend settlement with banks via computer networking technology. This allows vehicles to pay tolls without stopping at toll stations, 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 avoiding stops at toll stations. Cost-saving: Decreases vehicle wear and fuel consumption by reducing frequent starts and stops. Users also enjoy a 5% discount on toll fees. Improved efficiency: ETC lanes can theoretically process vehicles 2-3 times faster, making traditional ETC more advanced, faster, and 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 Integrated Transportation System" explicitly states the goal of "achieving interoperability of transportation cards in key city clusters by 2020 and significantly increasing the proportion of vehicles equipped with ETC." It also sets a target of "50% ETC usage rate for road passenger vehicles by 2020." Future possibilities: Beyond improving ETC installation convenience and usage rates for passenger vehicles, future efforts will promote ETC use for trucks and explore deeper integration of ETC systems with smart transportation developments like vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-road coordination, providing comprehensive travel services for car owners. This means more application scenarios will support ETC. ETC Usage Notes: The ETC transaction sensing range is 8 meters. If the vehicle ahead is stationary, maintain a distance of over 10 meters to avoid mistakenly paying for the vehicle ahead due to ETC device failure or absence. The ETC lane recognition speed is 20 km/h. Driving too fast may result in failed readings and toll deductions. Unauthorized removal or movement of the OBU device, or if the ETC electronic tag falls off or becomes loose, will render the tag invalid. It can be checked at the bank where the ETC card was issued or at highway service centers. Non-human-induced loosening or detachment only requires reactivation. Insufficient balance in a debit card linked to ETC may cause toll deduction failure. Follow on-site staff guidance to use manual MTC lanes for cash or card payments. Thick car windshields may cause poor signal reception, especially for vehicles with replaced or modified windshields after accidents.
Installing an ETC in your car means adding a small device that allows automatic passage through highway toll booths without stopping to pay. ETC stands for Electronic Toll Collection, essentially a contactless payment method. I work in the city and commute daily by car. After installing it, I save a ton of time. Before, I always had to queue at toll stations, dealing with cash change, which was troublesome and time-consuming. Now, the toll is deducted directly as I pass, taking less than a second. Installation is a breeze—just buy a small device, stick it on the windshield, and link it to your bank card. Many places even offer discounts for using ETC, like 5%-10% off highway tolls. I recommend new car owners install it early to avoid hassle if policies later make it mandatory. Bonus point: this gadget also reduces congestion and emissions since idling at tolls wastes fuel. It’s eco-friendly and economical—a must-have for daily drivers.
As a frequent long-distance traveler, having ETC installed in my car is a hassle-free tool for toll payment. It stands for Electronic Toll Collection, which automatically deducts highway fees through a built-in sensor. The working principle is simple: a small box is installed on the front of the car, and the toll station has an antenna that senses it. When passing through, the transaction is completed instantly without any manual operation. After using it for a long time, I've found many benefits—saving time allows me to take more trips, and there's no need to carry cash or worry about losing it. The installation process is DIY—just buy the device and activate it at the bank. Maintenance is also easy—just avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight. I heard that in the future, ETC will be fully promoted nationwide, and non-users may face surcharges. Early adopters enjoy the benefits sooner, which is a boon for long-distance drivers.
