ETC FAQ | Four-wheel Vehicle

【Outline】 【Operation】 【ETC Card】 【OBE】

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Q1.What is ETC? How does it work? How can I use it? How much does it cost?
The ETC (short for "Electronic Toll Collection") system allows drivers to pay toll automatically using electronic transaction between toll booths and your car. You can pass through the toll gate smoothly and comfortably.
The way ETC works:
At a toll booth in an ETC lane, the payment data is transmitted by radio from your ETC on-board equipment (OBE) with ETC card inserted to the roadside antenna. Thus, the payment is automatically made without man-to-man payment.
To use the ETC system, an ETC card and an OBE are necessary.
ETC cards are issued by credit card companies; OBEs are sold at car dealers and car-accessory shops. You need to buy and install the OBE in your vehicle and register (setup) necessary information about your vehicle. You need to pay the costs for purchase, installation and setup of the OBE and the necessary fees for issuance of the ETC card.
Q2.How about the information security?
Payment is made with an IC card (the ETC card) which has a higher level of security than a magnetic card. In addition, an advanced encryption technology is used in both the OBEs and the roadside equipment to ensure a sufficient level of security.
Q3.Is privacy protection ensured? Why is my automobile inspection certificate required?
The user's information is stored in ETC card as an encrypted data. Likewise, vehicle information is also encrypted and stored in OBE (setup).
In addition, radio communication between OBE and roadside device is also encrypted. Thus, your private information is kept confidential. Your automobile inspection certificate is required to fill out the setup application form.
Q4.Can I use my ETC card while driving a rental car or another person's car?
ETC cards and OBEs work independently from each other, thus, every card can be used in any OBEs, which means your ETC card can be used in any vehicles with OBE.
The toll amount will be deducted from the credit account of ETC card holder.
Q5.What is the background of introduction of ETC?
According to NEXCO (Nihon Expressway Company), 30 percent of traffic congestion on toll roads occurs at toll gates. Prompt measures against this inconvenience had to be taken especially in large cities.
In order to ease and terminate traffic congestion at toll gates more efficient way is to increase allowable traffic capacity of each lane than to increase number of lanes. ETC lane has a traffic capacity 2 to 4 times greater than ordinary manned lane.
The ETC system is also expected to bring about more convenience to drivers, reduce the management cost of road, and decrease air pollution and traffic noise around toll gates.
Q6.Where can I use the ETC system?
Please see"here" for more details.(Japanese only)
Q7.Isn't ETC influenced by radio waves from mobile phones or TV sets?
It does not pose a problem as the ETC system uses exclusively a high frequency band of the 5.8 GHz.
Q8.How about overseas ETC system?
The ETC system has already been in service in more than 30 countries.
However, these countries have difficulties in cross-border use due to difference in standards between countries and road operators. Therefore, standardization and common use of the ETC system is a subject to be solved.
Q9.Can the ETC system be used with two-wheel vehicles?
ETC for two wheelers has been in service on all toll roads throughout Japan since noon of November 1st, 2006.

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Q10.How many toll gates are in service?
As of the end of March 2009, the ETC system is available on expressways and at main toll ways throughout Japan. Out of 1,451 tollbooths, 1,426 use the system.
Q11.Can I find ETC lanes easily?
Lane indicators will guide you to the ETC lanes. Please drive through the lane slowly.
Q12.What is the speed limit on the ETC or ordinary lanes?
You should drive less than 20km/h or at a safer speed. Keep a safe distance from the vehicle ahead as it may stop abruptly.
Q13.Having entered a toll road using the ETC system, how can I exit the toll gate without ETC lanes?
Drive into a lane with an attendant, stop and pass him/her your ETC card to make payment without cash.
Q14.How can I exit from an ETC lane if entered from a general lane at the entrance? (Reverse case of Q13)
You cannot exit using ETC system in that case.
As in the previous answer to Q13, pass the gate attendant your entering ticket and your ETC card to make payment by cashless (Payment in cash is also available.)
Q15.What should I do if I forget my ETC card or my OBE is broken?
If the ETC card is not inserted in your OBE, you cannot use the ETC system. You should use the ordinary lanes in that case.
If your OBE is broken or ETC card is not inserted in correct position, the bar ahead in the ETC lane will not go up and you will see an error message on your OBE or on roadside indicator.
Please follow the directions given by the attendant on the interphone.
Q16.Are there any toll discounts for ETC users?
Yes, there are various discounts. Please see "here" for more details. (Japanese Only)
Q17.Can I receive a receipt?
A receipt cannot be issued instantly, however, see ".here" for more details.(Japanese only)
Q18.Is there any special measures for the physically disabled persons?
A discount for the physically disabled persons is available. In order to use it, an application form for toll discount for physically disabled persons must be submitted to a social welfare office. After reviewing the form, a certificate will be issued from the office.
Mail it to a highway management office and you will be able to drive by ETC at the discount rate from the acceptance date on.
Q19. Should the ETC card be the same at the entrance and the exit?
The ETC card you use should be the same one at the entrance and at the exit.
Q20.What should I do if the ETC system does not work properly at a toll booth?
Follow the directions given on the interphone. Your ETC card may not be inserted properly or there may be other problems with the ETC card itself, the OBE, or the toll booth you are using.
Q21.What should I do if I change my vehicle or transferred my OBE to someone?
In either case, you need to setup the OBE again. Please note that all related costs will once again be incurred.

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Q22.What kind of card is the ETC card?
It is an IC card that enables you to use the ETC system.
There are various types of cards;
ETC credit card issued by credit card companies
ETC corporate cards issued by NEXCO Eastern/Central/Western Japan
ETC personal cards issued by NEXCO Eastern/Central/Western Japan, Metropolitan Expressway Company Limited, Hanshin Expressway Company Limited, and Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Expressway Company Limited ETC cards store the encoded data necessary to allow automatic payment of tolls and a secure and quick exchange of information .
For questions about ETC cards issued by credit card companies, please make any inquiries to the following issuers: # *JCB Co.,Ltd., *Sumitomo Mitsui Card Co., Ltd., *Mitsubishi UFJ NICOS Co., Ltd., *Citi Cards Japan, Inc., *UC Card Co., Ltd, *American Express International. Inc., *AEON Credit Service Co., Ltd, *Credit Saison Co., Ltd., *Toyota Finance Corp., *Orient Corp., *Cedyna Financial Corp.,
Q23.How do I settle the payment? What should I do if I receive an unsubstantiated billing statement?
Likewise you may settle your payment using ordinary credit cards, you will receive a billing statement monthly and the tolls will be deducted from your bank account on a given date.
If you receive an unsubstantiated statement, please contact your credit card company. Regarding ETC corporate cards, please contact the company that claims .
Q24.Can I use my ETC card as a credit card?
It depends on the ETC card you use. Please contact your credit card company.
Q25.How and when can I apply for an ETC card? Are there any restrictions?
Applicants of ETC cards issued by credit card companies will be required to pass a credit check and meet the necessary requirements. Please contact your credit card company for more details.
To make a family card or for any other questions,　please inquire with your credit card company.

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Q26.Where, when, and at what price can I get an OBE? What should I do if it needs to be repaired?
OBEs are available at car-dealers, car-accessory shops, and car maintenance shops, etc. Many of them are ETC setup shops shown in the answer to Q34 , so please refer to the link for ETC shops on this website.
For prices or features, or for OBE repair, please refer to the ETC shops.
Q27.Can I confirm the operation of the OBE before putting it into actual use?
If the OBE has been properly installed, function and operation will be automatically confirmed when the ETC card is inserted.
For more details, please inquire with the ETC shop or manufacturer of OBE.
Q28.What kinds of indicators or messages will be showen up on site?
If communication is achieved, the OBE will notify you of its completion.
If, for some reason, it fails to communicate, the OBE will indicate that an error has occurred. Please refer to the operation manual or contact an ETC for shop for further details.
Q29.How should I install OBE in a car?
An OBE (or the antenna of an antenna-independent-type OBE) must be firmly attached to the dashboard so as to make radio communication.
Please have an ETC shop install the antenna to ensure it is properly attached.
Q30.Can I install an OBE in a 24 V car, or in an imported car?
Several companies sell OBE applicable to 24V cars, however please check with those manufacturers.
Although it is unusual, some vehicles are not OBE installation-friendly. Please ask the installation shop for more details.
Q31.What is a heat reflecting windshield?
A heat reflecting windshield, either attaching or coated with metallic or non-metallic materials, reduces the infrared penetration.
Q32.How can I install an OBE in a vehicle with a heat reflecting windshield?
If your vehicle has a heat reflecting windshield, it may disturb ETC radio communication. For details, please inquire at shops or with manufacturers.
Q33.Can I use OBE abroad?
No, OBE cannot use in foreign country other than Japan.
Q34.What is the setup and what should I do for it?
Setup is a necessary procedure to make use of the OBE, in which your vehicle information is encrypted and registered in your OBE.
Setup is required in the following cases:
(1). When you buy a new OBE,
(2). When you transfer your OBE to another vehicle,
(3). When you change the license plate
(4). When you have your vehicle modified for towing.
To apply for setup, please fill out an application form and submit it to your local ETC shop.
*Your privacy information other than vehicle information will not be registered in your OBE.
Q35.How much does it cost to install an OBE?
As it varies from shop to shop, please inquire at the shop beforehand.
The installation cost includes labor costs, communication costs, terminal-use and management costs, and the encrypted vehicle data processing fee.
Q36.What is ''encrypted vehicle data ''? Is there any kind of support (grant) program for the setup?
For maintaining the setup system necessary for OBE setup for the data storage and encryption of vehicle data of the user, ORSE charges the agency of ETC shops 525 yen for online-setup and 1,050 yen for offline-setup (tax included) per one setup task.
In 2009, ORSE and our partners have been on a promotion campaign for the ETC system. If you use a shop participating in this campaign, the cost of online set-up is free and offline set-up is 525 yen including tax. To find shops participating in this campaign, please refer to the link for ETC shops on this website.
Q37.Is there a plan to sell a multi-purpose OBE in the future?
In 2009, some OBE for multi-purpose use will be sold in the market, however, please note that current OBEs can be used continuously for the purpose of ETC.
With some legislation procedures, such as the Radio Act Ordiance for Enforcement partially amended in April 2001, DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communications) has been applicable and usable for other purposes in addition to the ETC system.
Due to this amendment, it is expected that the businesses for various services using DSRC will be encouraged to the realization.

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