What does the highway ETC refer to?

[LeEllie]

Highway ETC (Electronic Toll Collection) translates to electronic toll collection, which is a non-stop toll collection system. On highways, there will be one or more ETC lanes. ETC toll collection method: Through dedicated short-range microwave communication between the vehicle-mounted RFID tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna on the ETC lane at the toll station, the system uses network technology to conduct background settlement processing with the bank, thereby achieving the purpose of vehicles paying tolls without stopping when passing through bridge and road toll stations. Banks install this type of ETC express card with a post-payment system. ETC application conditions are as follows: Provide the original and photocopy of the vehicle owner's valid ID card and vehicle registration certificate. 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 slip to the designated postal outlet to receive and install the ETC onboard device for free, with no additional charges; Must be between 18 and 60 years old; Must own a personal vehicle. Below are precautions for installing ETC: Do not obstruct the view; it is best to install it behind the rearview mirror: Many car models have a large rearward tilt angle of the windshield, which reduces the driver's field of vision. If this is not considered during ETC installation, it will increase the driver's blind spots. Install it on the right side behind the rearview mirror to avoid obstructing the view. Do not interfere with charging: The ETC electronic tag consumes power but generally does not require charging or battery replacement because it has a solar panel on the back that can charge itself. Therefore, during installation, avoid the blackened areas on the windshield and positions that may block the solar panel. Once installed, do not remove it arbitrarily: The button in the middle of the adhesive is an anti-tamper lever connected to a switch. After the electronic tag is installed, the windshield will press the anti-tamper lever in. If it is removed arbitrarily, the lever will pop out and trigger the switch, locking the electronic tag and rendering it unusable. You will then need to visit an ETC service point to unlock it. This is designed to prevent multiple vehicles from sharing one device. Notes for using ETC: 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 ahead; the ETC lane recognition speed is 20 kilometers per hour. Driving too fast may prevent the vehicle device information from being read, leading to failed toll deductions; when using a debit card bound to ETC, insufficient balance will also cause toll deduction failure.

[OEliza]

I frequently drive on highways and am quite familiar with ETC, which stands for Electronic Toll Collection. Simply put, it's a small box installed on your car's windshield containing a card. There are antennas above the toll booths, and as your car passes through, the toll is automatically deducted without needing to stop and pay cash. I've been using it for several years—it's super convenient! During peak hours before, traffic jams used to stress me out, but now with ETC-only lanes, I zoom right through, saving both fuel and time. The card is obtained from a bank and linked to a UnionPay card; installation is simple and can be done yourself. Just make sure the device is securely attached—once mine came loose and couldn’t be detected, forcing me to queue up awkwardly. Overall, ETC makes travel smoother by reducing bottlenecks at toll stations, and the government’s push for it is truly wise. I use it for every long trip, and it’s made my driving life much easier.