Getting an ETC card as a foreigner can be daunting, but don’t worry! With a little bit of paperwork-filling and elbow grease, you can get an ETC card fairly quickly.
Find out how to get an ETC card for your car by reading my guide to ETC in Japan below.
Table of Contents
What is an ETC card?
First of all, what is an ETC card? If you’re reading this blog you might have some idea.
An ETC card is Japan Expressway’s hands-free toll payment method. If you’re from the US, it’s like a FasTrak (CA) or TXTag (TX).
ETC is actually a two-part system.
- There is an ETC reader that you can either have installed, or may come pre-built into your car.
- Then, you have to apply for the card itself separately.
Why we got an ETC card
During our spring break in 2024, my husband, his parents, and I did a roadtrip around the Tohoku (東北), Kanto (関東), and Chubu (中部) regions of Japan.
The car we rented was a nice-sized family van, which fit all of our luggage. However, it didn’t come with an ETC card. Although it had the ETC reader, we also didn’t have our own card to use.
As we drove, it became apparent that the toll roads were the most efficient way to get around. Sometimes they could shave an hour or more off each trip.
So, we used them often. But that meant paying either in cash or credit card at every tollbooth. The most efficient way to pay was clearly ETC card.
Each toll junction was split into ETC and Regular (一般 ippan). Most would be allocated to ETC, with one or two for Regular payment methods.
And unfortunately, in an attempt to popularize ETC, some major on-ramps in Tokyo didn’t even have the Regular option.
So, we were resolved to get an ETC card in our own vehicle.
How to Apply for an ETC card
Although I rent my vehicle through work, we recently bought a used car for my husband. When we were looking at cars, we purposely chose one with an ETC reader installed.
At the dealership, we requested that they prepare the ETC reader for use. But we still didn’t have our own card.
ETC Credit Card
Credit ETC cards and popular and powerful. However, it can be difficult to apply for one as a foreigner.
Since they are based on a credit system, all you have to do is make sure to pay it back on time. Unlike a personal ETC card, you aren’t limited by a deposit amount. Just your credit limit.
Unfortunately, getting a credit card in Japan can be uniquely difficult for foreigners. If you haven’t lived in Japan very long and you don’t make much money, it’s hard to get approved for credit. It’s not impossible, though.
And the good news is that if you already have a credit card with providers like Aeon, Orico, Mitsui, etc. then it’s much easier to apply for an ETC card.
You can often apply for an ETC card while applying for a standard credit card if you want to. Otherwise, you can apply through your credit card provider’s website.
Personal ETC Card
An ETC personal card is basically an ETC card without the credit feature. Rather, it’s like a prepaid toll card. To apply for an ETC personal card, you can first check the information on their website.
The process of applying for and receiving our card took about three weeks altogether. So if you’re planning a road trip, apply as soon as you can.
As far as fees go, there is an annual membership fee, around ¥1250. You also pay a predetermined deposit to “prepay” the tolls. More on that below.
Fill out the Application Form
- Go to the application page here. (I recommend using a browser with translation features). You can fill it out via the website.
- Fill in your personal information.
- Decide how much you want to deposit.
- Note: You can only use up to 25% of your deposit, so choose accordingly. So for example, if you plan to use ¥2500 in tolls per month, you need to deposit at least ¥10,000.
- Download the filled application form. Then print all the pages. You need to print on A4 paper, in black and white. Do not resize the content.
- While you’re printing your document, make a copy of your driver’s license. You need to paste it on your application.
- Put your application documents in an envelope or use the included envelope template. Address it to the following:
〒222-8519 ETCパーソナルカード事務局 宛
Translation: To: 〒222-8519 ETC Personal Card Office
7. Finally, apply a stamp, then drop it off in a PO box.
You can get stamps at the post office. Standard domestic mail is ¥110 at the time of posting.
Prepare for a Phone Call
The ETC Personal Card Office may call you to confirm details such as your address and deposit amount.
If you aren’t confident in Japanese, try to get a friend or translator to help you call them back.
In our case, they called to confirm both, and informed me that the ETC card would be delivered after my deposit. After that, they sent the deposit paperwork.
Make your Deposit and Receive your Personal ETC Card.
You can take your deposit slip to any convenience store counter and pay it there.
Our ETC card was delivered approximately a week later. However, you need to sign for it or pick it up at your local post office with photo ID.
Receive your Card and insert it into your Car’s Card Reader
Once you have your card, go ahead and insert it into your ETC reader. It should be somewhere in the front of your vehicle.
The device should alert you that it’s inserted, and now you can drive to your heart’s content! カードが挿入されました！(kādo ga sōnyū saremashita!)
How to get/register an ETC reader
When it comes to getting your ETC reader set up, there are two things you need to do.
- Get an ETC reader installed in your vehicle.
- Have the ETC reader registered by an official car shop.
Many cars come equipped with an ETC reader nowadays. If you purchase your car at a major dealership, whether used or new, they can set up and register an ETC reader for a minimal cost. For us it cost about ¥3200 (~$21).
Buying a new ETC reader
If you don’t have an ETC reader, you can either buy one from one of the shops that can register them, or you can buy one from online storefronts.
Some have different features, which you can consider when searching them. Typically they can range between ¥5000-¥30,000 depending on the brand and features.
Registering an ETC reader
However, if you’re buying a car from a smaller dealership without a license to register ETC readers, you have to go to a shop specialized in it.
Use the forms on the ETC website for either your car or motorcycle. As of 2024, they also have an online application form.
Then, bring your filled form, driver’s license, and car registration to the shop.
Also be aware that you need to have your ETC reader, and the car’s shaken (車検) insurance paperwork.
Final Thoughts
Bureaucracy in Japan can feel a little complicated and antiquated compared to the many digital services we’re used to in the US.
But there’s something comforting about knowing that someone is actually reviewing your information and checking that everything is set up correctly.
So, I hope this blog helps demystify the ETC card application and installation process.
To learn more about converting your foreign license to a Japanese one, you can also read my blog on How to Convert your License in Japan.
If you need any ideas on where to travel next, check out my 7 Must-Go Places in Ginza and 5 Things to do in Nikko blogs!
Good luck and happy travels!