What does it mean when ETC expires?
2 Answers
ETC expiring means that the ETC electronic tag becomes invalid and cannot be used, which also includes situations where the ETC card expires and becomes unusable. Simply put, the reasons for ETC showing as expired may include self-disassembly or movement of the OBU device, ETC running out of power, or the ETC electronic tag falling off or becoming loose, all of which can cause ETC to expire and become invalid. More details are as follows: 1. ETC refers to the most advanced toll collection system currently used on highways, which processes deductions from the highway payment card inserted into the electronic tag and controls the automatic lifting of lane barriers. 2. In most cases, if ETC expires or becomes invalid, users are advised to take the ETC device and ETC card to a bank's ETC service outlet for inspection and replacement of the device. 3. ETC has been well-developed in China, and wherever ETC is installed, vehicles can pass through highway toll stations without stopping for automatic payment.
I remember last year when I was driving on the highway, I suddenly found that my ETC device wasn’t working. It turned out that the card had expired and couldn’t automatically deduct the fee. That time, I got stuck at the toll gate and had to pay in cash, which took a lot of time. Later, I went to the ETC service center and asked about it. They said the chip on the card has a fixed expiration date, similar to a credit card, to ensure security updates and prevent fraud or system failures. If you don’t replace it in time, you might run into problems every time you take the highway. Now, I regularly check the card’s expiration date or use a mobile app to monitor it, so I don’t have to learn the hard way again. Actually, the highway payment system upgrades every year, and old devices often can’t keep up. Getting a new one early is quite hassle-free.
