Small mistake but lost millions when traveling by car this summer

Summer is the peak season for long car trips, especially when many families take their children on vacation after a stressful school year. With the ability to comfortably carry and flexible routes, personal cars become the ideal means of transportation for trips from a few hundred to a thousand kilometers. However, a seemingly simple mistake that can lead to significant financial consequences is checking the operating status of the ETC card.

According to Clause 4, Article 6 of Decree 168/2021/ND-CP, the act of driving a car that is not eligible for non-stop toll collection (ie not yet equipped with an ETC tag) but still enters the ETC lane will be subject to an administrative fine of 2-3 million VND. In addition, the driver will also have 2 points deducted from the driver's license - an additional penalty applied according to the new regulations on managing points on driver's licenses that will take effect from the beginning of 2024.

A seemingly simple mistake that can lead to significant financial consequences is checking the operating status of the ETC card.

In fact, many drivers, due to being subjective or forgetting to check before the trip, have fallen into a ridiculous situation when approaching the toll booth, unable to turn around or change lanes. On many important highways such as Hanoi - Hai Phong, Phap Van - Cau Gie or Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay, the lack of an ETC card not only causes delays in the journey but can also result in being recorded and fined, leading to trouble after returning from vacation.

To avoid losing money and time due to unnecessary errors, experienced drivers say that drivers need to carefully check before each trip. First of all, check whether the vehicle has an ETC tag or not. Currently, there are two units providing non-stop toll collection services in Vietnam: VETC (VETC application) and VDTC (ePass application). Both allow users to check card status and account balance via mobile applications, websites or customer service centers. If you have registered for the notification service, users will receive a message about account changes every time there is a transaction through the ETC lane.

In case you do not have an ETC card, you can register online and schedule an appointment to have the card applied at home through the official website or the supplier's application. Some car manufacturers now also support customers to have the ETC card applied at the dealership when purchasing a car, or through after-sales events.

According to statistics from the Vietnam Road Administration, non-stop toll stations have recently helped reduce waiting time at BOT points by 60-70% compared to manual toll lanes.

In addition to legal factors, the use of ETC toll lanes also helps make the journey smoother. According to statistics from the Vietnam Road Administration, non-stop toll stations have recently helped reduce waiting time at BOT points by 60-70% compared to manual toll lanes.

Traveling by car brings many conveniences and comfortable experiences for the family, but careful preparation is indispensable. Checking the ETC card only takes a few minutes, but can help users save millions of dong and avoid unwanted troubles on the journey. In the context of non-stop toll collection infrastructure becoming more popular on highways, the driver's initiative is the key factor to make each summer trip more complete and smooth.

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/loi-nho-nhung-mat-tien-trieu-khi-di-du-lich-oto-mua-he-nay-post1549913.html