What to Do When Changing License Plates with ETC?
3 Answers
Bring the vehicle registration certificate with the new license plate, driver's license, the bank card bound to the ETC, and the ETC pass card to the corresponding bank or ETC management department to apply for registration modification. Benefits of ETC: 1. Save time by eliminating the hassle of waiting in line. 2. Green and low-carbon, vehicles pass through toll stations without stopping, reducing noise and exhaust emissions, and minimizing pollution. 3. Cost savings, as vehicles reduce the frequency of starting and braking, lowering wear and fuel consumption. 4. More technological innovations. As the fastest and most convenient high-speed toll payment method currently available, ETC has never stopped exploring innovations.
I have practical experience with handling ETC after changing license plates. Last time when my license plate was updated, I immediately took my ID card, new vehicle registration certificate, and old ETC device to the bank's ETC service point. The staff verified the information, first canceled the binding of the old license plate, then re-entered the new license plate number, and reactivated the ETC device. The whole process took just over twenty minutes. They specifically reminded me to check if the bank card was deducting fees normally. After completing the procedure, I tested it at the highway entrance, and the recognition went smoothly. If you don’t update the ETC, you will be stopped when passing through the highway because the license plate and ETC records don’t match, and you might even be added to an exception list, which could affect your credit. It’s recommended to complete the change within a week, otherwise the ETC will become invalid directly after the old plate is deregistered.
From my experience, changing license plates requires simultaneous ETC updates. I just went through this process last week, which mainly involves two steps: First, bring the new vehicle registration certificate and ID to the original ETC service point to unbind the old license plate; then reactivate the ETC device installed on the new vehicle and bind it to the new plate. Note that after the old plate is deregistered, the ETC will enter a frozen state, and even manual lanes won't work. I recommend contacting your bank to update the payment account info simultaneously—last time I forgot to update my card, resulting in a payment failure during the first pass. The whole process takes about half an hour, but avoid month-end peak hours to skip queues. Also, never remove the ETC device yourself as it may trigger anti-theft lock.
