Where to Place the ETC in a Car?

[MacSilas]

The ETC is generally installed on the upper middle part of the front windshield for regular vehicles, while for large vehicles like trucks and buses, it is installed on the lower middle part. The suitable installation position should be no lower than 1.2 meters and no higher than 2.5 meters, with an installation angle between 30 to 90 degrees. For vehicles with anti-explosion film or those that have it installed later, which may affect the signal transmission of the microwave communication link, the ETC should be installed on the microwave sunroof strip. ETC stands for Electronic-Toll-Collection, meaning electronic toll collection system. To apply for it, the vehicle owner needs to provide original and photocopies of their valid ID card and vehicle license. If the application is made by someone other than the owner, the agent's valid ID card is also required. The photocopy of the vehicle license should include the page with the most recent annual inspection stamp. A bank card for deducting highway tolls is also needed, and the vehicle must be registered under the name of an individual aged between 18 and 60. For company vehicles, the required documents include: An introduction letter from the vehicle owner (with official seal); photocopy of the organization code certificate or business license (with official seal); original ID card of the agent; original vehicle license; and the vehicle that needs the ETC. Here are some precautions for installing ETC: Do not obstruct the view; it's best to install it behind the rearview mirror: Many car models have windshields with a large rear tilt angle, which can reduce the driver's field of vision. Installing the ETC without considering this can increase the driver's blind spots. Install it on the right side behind the rearview mirror to avoid obstructing the view. Do not interfere with 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, avoid installing it on the black areas of the windshield or positions that may block the solar panel. Once installed, do not remove it casually: 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, the lever will pop out and trigger the switch, locking the electronic tag and rendering it unusable, requiring a visit to an ETC service point for unlocking. This is designed to prevent multiple vehicles from sharing one device. When using ETC, note that: The ETC transaction sensing range is 8 meters. To prevent the ETC device of the vehicle in front from malfunctioning, maintain a distance of more than 10 meters from the vehicle ahead to avoid automatic toll payment for the front vehicle. The ETC lane recognition speed is 20 kilometers per hour; driving too fast may result in failure to read the vehicle's device information, leading to toll deduction failure. When using a debit card linked to ETC, insufficient balance may also cause toll deduction failure.

[Polly]

Last time when I installed the ETC, the staff directly stuck the small box right at the top center of the windshield, just behind the rearview mirror inside the car. This position is particularly reasonable—it doesn’t block the view at all while driving, and it’s easy to reach over to insert or remove the card. The key point is that it gets sunlight here; I haven’t had to recharge it in three years. Once, I saw my neighbor stick their ETC in the corner on the passenger side, but the solar panel was blocked by the A-pillar, and it ran out of power and stopped working within two months. If it’s placed too low, the signal can also be delayed when entering the toll station. Remember to clean the glass with alcohol before sticking it, otherwise, it might fall off during hot weather—my friend’s car ETC fell into the center console gap this way. If you choose the right position, passing through the highway will be super fast.

[McMelanie]

I struggled for a long time about where to install the ETC when I first got it for my car. Eventually, I followed the advice from the 4S dealership and placed it on the blank area to the right of the rearview mirror from the driver's perspective. This spot conveniently avoids the black ceramic dots on the windshield, as the tinting technician mentioned that the metal layer could interfere with signal transmission. It's about 30 centimeters away from the steering wheel, making it easy to insert and remove the card when passing through highway toll gates. I deliberately chose an angle where it gets sunlight all day, and after more than two years of use, it has never run out of power. Once, I noticed a friend had his ETC installed on the rear windshield, and it kept failing to recognize at toll booths. Actually, the front windshield material is the most suitable, and the blank area around the rearview mirror is the golden spot—ensuring both stable signal reception and maintaining the device's self-charging capability.

[LaElliot]

The optimal placement is at the center top of the windshield, near the rearview mirror base. This area has no metal coating to block ETC signals, ensuring ultra-fast response at toll stations. I've installed it on three relatives' cars – clean the glass with alcohol swabs and stick it firmly behind the rearview mirror with the solar panel facing outward. Avoid airbag zones and rain sensors at all costs, as they may cause injuries during collisions or false sensor triggers in rain. Northern users should steer clear of defogger heating wires – my colleague's ETC overheated and crashed when placed too low during winter defogging. Press firmly for 30 seconds after installation, and it won't budge even during sharp highway turns.