What to do if the license plate is changed but the ETC remains the same?
2 Answers
After changing the license plate without changing the car, the ETC cannot be used. You can take it to an ETC service point or an ETC processing point to cancel the ETC. After successful cancellation, reactivate the ETC device and input new information. At the same time, bind the ETC card to the new license plate to make it usable. ETC installation method: Sensor installation. The ETC device is uniformly installed on the front windshield inside the car, next to the rearview mirror. It comes with a plastic suction cup to attach to the windshield. Choose an installation location that does not affect the front view of driving. Sensor wiring installation. Plug the wiring connector of the sensor into the sensor's connection port. The wiring is connected through the car's internal network, branching out from the car's intelligent information system. Wrap the wiring along the car's headliner without removing the interior trim—just press it with your hand to hide the wiring neatly. Insert the card into the ETC sensor. Gently insert the side of the card with the chip into the ETC sensor's card slot. The sensor detects the chip and reads the express card. If the card is inserted correctly, after the sensor detects the ETC express card, the sensor's display will light up and show "Start accounting," indicating that the sensor and the express card are properly connected. ETC working principle: Through the on-board electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield, dedicated short-range communication is established with the microwave antenna on the ETC lane at the toll station. Computer networking technology is used for backend settlement processing with the bank, allowing vehicles to pass through highway or bridge toll stations without stopping while still paying the tolls.
After changing license plates, you must immediately update your ETC to bind the new plate. As someone who loves researching car-related matters, I directly operated through the official ETC app when changing plates—just input the new license plate number and upload photos of the new vehicle registration certificate. Once approved, it takes effect immediately. If you don’t update it, highway access might fail, forcing you to manually take a card, which is more troublesome. Nowadays, the app makes it very convenient—I used my phone right after changing plates. Remember to frequently check if vehicle information is synchronized to avoid unexpected charges. Don’t delay this; handle it early to ensure smooth travel, especially for long-distance trips where you don’t want to get stuck at toll booths. Pro tip: Keep an electronic copy of your vehicle change certificate, and after submitting it in the app, refresh to confirm. Always prioritize official channels to avoid extra fees.
