What is required to apply for ETC for a vehicle?
3 Answers
According to the "Implementation Plan for Accelerating the Application Service of Electronic Non-stop Toll Collection on Highways" issued by the Ministry of Transport, the original valid ID card of the vehicle owner, the original and a copy of the vehicle registration certificate, and the page of the registration certificate with the most recent annual inspection stamp are required. If applying on behalf of someone else, the original valid ID card of the agent is also needed. If applying for ETC through the business halls of major banks, a debit card or credit card from the corresponding bank must also be prepared. Some banks only support ETC binding with credit cards, while others may require freezing a certain amount as a deposit when binding ETC with a debit card. ETC deduction principle: There will be one or more ETC lanes on highways. Through microwave dedicated short-range communication between the onboard electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane of the toll station, computer networking technology is used to settle accounts with the bank in the background, achieving the purpose of paying tolls without stopping at the toll station. All of this is based on the principle of passing first and deducting fees later. Benefits of installing ETC: Save time: eliminates the hassle of waiting in line; Green and environmentally friendly: green and low-carbon, vehicles pass through toll stations without stopping, reducing noise and exhaust emissions and minimizing pollution; Save on wear and tear: reduces costs, decreases the frequency of vehicle starts and brakes, and lowers wear and fuel consumption; Improve efficiency: the theoretical efficiency of ETC lanes can be increased by 2-3 times or more, 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 comprehensive transportation development during the "13th Five-Year Plan" period: "by 2020, the ETC usage rate of 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, efforts will also be made to promote the use of ETC by trucks in the future. The deep integration of the ETC system with smart transportation development directions such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-road coordination will be explored to provide comprehensive travel services for vehicle owners, meaning more application scenarios will support ETC applications. Precautions for using ETC: The ETC transaction sensing area is 8 meters. When encountering a vehicle in front that has stopped, to prevent the vehicle in front from having a faulty ETC device or no ETC device at all, 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 recognition speed for ETC lane passage is 20 km/h. If the speed is too fast, the vehicle device information cannot be read, and the fee deduction will fail. Unauthorized disassembly 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 caused by human factors, it only needs to be reactivated. When using a debit card bound to ETC, insufficient balance will also cause the fee deduction to fail. Follow the guidance of on-site staff to use the manual MTC lane and pass by cash or card. An overly thick car windshield may cause poor sensing. This is especially important for vehicles that have had their windshields replaced after an accident or for those who have modified their front windshields.
I remember the first time I went to apply for an ETC, I had to bring several things. The original and photocopy of the vehicle registration certificate were essential, and the owner's ID card was also required to verify identity—both the bank and ETC service points asked for this. I also needed to prepare a bank card to link the payment account, and I chose a regular debit card for binding. The whole process was quite simple. I filled out a form at the bank counter, and they installed a small device on my car's windshield. After that, I could directly use the ETC lane on highways without queuing to pay, which was super convenient. The only thing to note was to double-check all the information to avoid errors, otherwise, the device might malfunction at toll stations. After completing the process, don’t forget to regularly check the device’s battery—I once forgot and encountered a minor issue.
I promptly got an ETC after buying my new car for toll-free highway travel. You need to bring the original vehicle license and your ID card to designated locations. I used my Alipay-linked bank card to pay the deposit. It took less than half an hour at the bank, and the device installation was straightforward. The best part is not having to stop at toll booths, saving time and enhancing safety. My friend also mentioned ETC helps save fuel and reduce emissions. Just remember to check your account balance regularly to avoid service suspension due to insufficient funds. Overall, the process is quick and hassle-free—highly recommended as a priority service.
