What to Pay Attention to with ETC?

[LeCharles]

ETC is the abbreviation for Electronic-Toll-Collection, meaning electronic toll collection system. ETC can be applied for at bank branches, highway service areas, and other institutions. The following documents are required: the original and photocopy of the vehicle owner's valid ID card and vehicle license. If the application is made by a proxy, the proxy's valid ID card is also needed. The photocopy of the vehicle license should include the page with the most recent annual inspection stamp. Additionally, a bank card for deducting highway toll fees is required. The applicant must be between 18 and 60 years old, and the vehicle must be registered under the individual's name. Regarding ETC installation precautions: Do not obstruct the driver's view; it is best to install it behind the rearview mirror: Many car models have a steeply angled windshield, which can reduce the driver's field of vision. If this is not considered during ETC installation, it may increase blind spots. Installing it behind the rearview mirror on the right side can help avoid obstructing the view. Avoid affecting charging: The ETC electronic tag consumes power but generally does not require charging or battery replacement, as it has a solar panel on the back for self-charging. Therefore, during installation, avoid the blackened areas on the windshield and positions that may block the solar panel. Once installed, do not remove it arbitrarily: The button in the middle of the adhesive is an anti-tamper lever connected to a switch. After installation, the windshield will press the lever in. If removed arbitrarily, the lever will pop out and trigger the switch, locking the electronic tag and rendering it unusable. In such cases, you will need to visit an ETC service point to unlock it. This mechanism is designed to prevent multiple vehicles from sharing one device. When using ETC, note the following: The ETC transaction sensing range is 8 meters. To avoid issues caused by the vehicle ahead's ETC device malfunctioning, maintain a distance of at least 10 meters to prevent automatic toll deduction for the vehicle ahead. The ETC lane recognition speed is 20 km/h; exceeding this speed may result in failed fee deduction due to unreadable vehicle information. If using a debit card linked to ETC, insufficient balance may also cause deduction failure. Precautions for using the ETC card: Before passing through an ETC toll gate, ensure the ETC card is correctly inserted into the OBU (On-Board Unit). During driving, bumps may loosen the card, so check it promptly and reinsert it if necessary. The ETC card is vehicle-specific and cannot be swapped arbitrarily after being bound to a vehicle. Before using ETC, check the fee information displayed on the dedicated lane sign. If the card balance is insufficient, recharge it promptly. If the barrier does not lift when passing through an ETC lane, follow the instructions of toll station staff or switch to a manual toll lane. If the ETC lane is temporarily closed, use the manual toll lane for payment. The speed limit for ETC lanes is 20 km/h, and a minimum distance of 5 meters should be maintained from the vehicle ahead. If an ETC vehicle receives a toll card in a manual toll lane, it cannot use the ETC lane upon exiting the highway and must use the manual toll lane instead.

[DeEliana]

When installing ETC, choose a reliable platform like WeChat, Alipay, or banks—don’t cut corners with shady workshops. Stick it on the windshield away from the black dotted areas, or the solar panel won’t charge properly. I made this mistake, and my device kept powering off. At toll stations, keep speed under 20 km/h and leave at least 10 meters from the car ahead; otherwise, recognition may fail, and the barrier could hit your car. Insert the card fully until you hear a click—I once didn’t push it in properly, and the gate kept showing “tag invalid.” Also, install the corresponding app to dispute overcharges immediately. A colleague got overcharged ¥50 and only noticed half a month later.

[LaLondon]

Never remove the ETC device casually. Once the anti-removal button at the back pops up, reactivation is required, which is particularly troublesome. Check the OBU small screen weekly to ensure normal display - a green light indicates operation, while a flashing yellow light may signal low battery or poor card contact. Prepaid card users are advised to set up SMS alerts and recharge when the balance falls below 50 yuan; otherwise, insufficient balance at the toll gate will force you to use cash instead of the ETC lane. After exiting the highway, always verify the deducted amount. With segmented charging now in place, small delayed deductions of a few yuan can easily be overlooked.

[GageLynn]

Remind everyone to pay special attention to the risk of fraudulent transactions, especially for car owners using credit card co-branded ETC. I make it a habit to remove the card and place it in the glove compartment after exiting the highway, and only reinsert it when needed. Be sure to disable the small-amount contactless payment function when applying. Some people's metal window films may affect the signal, so it's recommended to have the installer test the pass-through on the spot. Before long-distance trips, check the device's indicator light—only a steady green light indicates normal operation. It's normal for the sensor to be less responsive in rain or snow, so carrying some cash as a backup is more reliable.

[MacAmara]

For newly installed ETC, remember to conduct three tests: stop before the toll gate entrance to observe the response of the barrier; insert and remove the card five times to check stability; cover the device's solar panel with your hand to observe changes in the indicator light. Pay special attention during free highway periods - if the ETC lane barrier doesn't lift, don't force through; backing out to switch to manual lanes isn't considered a violation. For devices over two years old, consider replacing the battery, which professional shops can complete in half an hour. When crossing provincial boundaries, check the deducted amount carefully as occasional delays in inter-provincial settlements are normal now.