What to Do with the Old ETC When Changing to a New Car?
2 Answers
After changing to a new car, the old ETC can be handled as follows: If you change both the car and the license plate, you need to cancel the original ETC. Bring the relevant documents and drive to a bank branch to reapply for an ETC device, then rebind the ETC card to the new device. If you change the car but keep the same license plate, go to the ETC service point to re-enter the vehicle and owner information to reactivate the ETC. ETC Installation Method: Sensor Installation. The ETC device is uniformly installed on the inside of the car's front windshield, near the rearview mirror. It comes with a plastic suction cup to attach to the windshield. Choose a suitable location that does not obstruct the driver's front view. Sensor Wiring Installation. Plug the sensor's wiring harness connector into the sensor's port. The wiring harness is connected through the car's internal network and branched from the vehicle's intelligent information system. The harness can be tucked under the headliner without removing interior panels—simply press it into place to neatly hide the wiring. Insert the Card into the ETC Sensor. Gently insert the card with the chip facing up into the ETC sensor's slot. The sensor detects the chip and reads the express card. If inserted correctly, the sensor's display will light up and show "Start Billing," indicating a successful connection between the sensor and the express card. ETC Working Principle: Through the onboard electronic tag installed on the vehicle's windshield, the ETC system communicates with the microwave antenna in the ETC lane at toll stations using dedicated short-range communication. This, combined with computer network technology, enables background settlement processing with banks. As a result, vehicles can pass through highway or bridge toll stations without stopping to pay fees.
I just got a new car recently, so I need to deal with the old ETC quickly. Generally, you can go directly to the bank or an ETC service point to cancel it, because the device is linked to the old car's license plate. If you don’t cancel it, it might continue to charge fees or cause other issues. Last time I changed cars, I applied for an online cancellation through the app—super convenient, just fill in some details and it’s done in minutes. Then, installing a new device for the new car doesn’t cost anything. Don’t try to reuse the old device on the new car, as it can lead to recognition errors and cause problems at highway toll stations. Remember to check your account balance after handling it to avoid any leftover issues. For safety, it’s best to bring the new car’s registration certificate when you go to handle it, so you don’t have to make extra trips later. Don’t delay this—handle it as soon as you change cars to save yourself a lot of hassle.
