What to Do If ETC Fails to Deduct Fees on the Highway?
2 Answers
If you have already passed the exit but the ETC did not deduct the fee, the fee from the previous trip can be deducted together the next time you exit a toll station. If the toll station cannot resolve this issue, you need to bring your ID card, vehicle registration certificate, and OBU device to the local ETC service center for fault inspection. How ETC Works: Through dedicated short-range communication between the onboard electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield and the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at the toll station, the system uses computer networking technology to perform backend settlement processing with the bank. This allows vehicles to pass through highway or bridge toll stations without stopping while still paying the required fees. Where ETC Can Be Installed: For small vehicles such as cars and minivans, the OBU device is installed in the upper middle part of the front windshield. For large vehicles like trucks and buses, the installation position is in the lower middle part. ETC Installation Requirements: The height should be no less than 1.2 meters and no more than 2.5 meters; the installation angle N should be between 30º and 90º (the angle between the surface of the electronic tag and the horizontal plane).
Last time I encountered an unpaid ETC charge on the highway, I panicked for a while. As someone who's been driving for over a decade, I think the best approach in such situations is not to panic—never stop on the highway to check, safety comes first. Pull over at a service area or wait until you get home, then immediately inspect your ETC device—check if the small box is firmly attached to the windshield and whether the green light is on. If it's not lit, the battery might be dead or the tag might have come loose. Next, use the ETC app or official account to check your transaction records. Sometimes the system delays charging by a few hours—I once had a payment automatically processed the next day. If it's truly a missed charge, quickly contact customer service, provide your license plate number, and let them help you resolve it to avoid fines or being blacklisted. Make it a habit to check your device every quarter—ensure the card is properly inserted and there's sufficient balance—to prevent small issues from becoming big problems. Road safety is more important than anything, and the longer you delay, the more troublesome it becomes.
