What to Do If ETC Fails to Deduct Fees on the Highway?
2 Answers
If you have already passed the exit but the ETC has not deducted the fee, the fee from the last time can be deducted together the next time you exit the toll station. If the toll station cannot resolve such issues, you need to bring your ID card, vehicle license, 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 of the toll station, the computer network technology is used to perform backend settlement processing with the bank. This allows vehicles to pass through highway or bridge toll stations without stopping while still being able to pay the highway or bridge 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 middle-lower part. ETC Installation Position Requirements: The height should not be less than 1.2 meters or 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).
When the ETC didn't deduct the fee on the highway, I panicked for a moment, but later realized it's quite common. Don't worry, the top priority is safety first—don't stop or check the device on the highway; continue driving to the exit or service area. After exiting, first check your ETC account balance and transaction records, as sometimes the deduction isn't displayed due to system delays. Then, use the ETC official app or website to check the real-time status. If it shows a failed deduction, make a self-service payment to avoid accumulating unpaid fees. Also, inspect the device itself: check if the ETC tag is loose, the battery is drained, or the signal is unstable—try restarting the device. If the account is fine, it might be a toll station system glitch. It's best to call the customer service hotline to report your trip so they can track it and prevent late fees or blacklisting. Regularly check the device's battery and add waterproofing to prevent aging—this usually resolves highway toll deduction issues.
