Quick Answer
For a short rental car trip with little or no expressway driving, you can skip the ETC card.
For a longer Japan road trip that uses expressways often, I would usually get an ETC card if the rental company offers one.
You can drive in Japan without ETC by using general toll lanes, and we did that on our Tochigi, Fukushima, and Miyagi route. It was fine. But after doing a longer expressway-heavy trip, I would consider renting an ETC card next time.
The rental fee is usually small compared with the total cost of a road trip, and ETC can make toll gates smoother, reduce cash handling, unlock some discounts, and help avoid problems with ETC-only entrances or Smart ICs. It can also reduce language stress if you are not comfortable speaking Japanese at a toll booth or using a toll machine with many options.
What Is ETC?
ETC stands for Electronic Toll Collection.
It is Japan’s automatic toll payment system. When a car has an ETC device and a valid ETC card inserted, you can pass through ETC toll lanes without stopping to take a ticket or pay at a booth. The toll is recorded automatically.
For rental cars, the tolls recorded on the rental ETC card are usually settled when you return the car.
The important detail is this:
The ETC device and the ETC card are not the same thing.
Many rental cars have the ETC device installed, but you still need a valid ETC card to use it.
Can You Drive in Japan Without ETC?
Yes, in many cases.
Without ETC, you use the general lane (usually under a green sign as opposed to a purple sign), marked:
一般
At the entrance, you may take a ticket. At the exit, you hand over the ticket and pay by cash or credit card, depending on the tollgate.
This is what we did on our route. We did not use an ETC card, and the trip still worked.
But driving without ETC is less convenient if your route uses expressways often.
How Much Does ETC Card Rental Cost?
ETC card rental fees vary by company, but the card rental fee is usually not very high.
As of May 2026, examples from major rental companies include:
| Rental company | Example ETC card rental fee |
|---|---|
| Nippon Rent-A-Car | ¥330 up to 7 days; ¥1,100 for 8 days or more |
| Toyota Rent a Car | ¥550 per rental |
| ORIX Rent a Car | ¥550 per rental |
| Times Car Rental | ¥300 + tax per rental |
These fees do not include the actual expressway tolls. They are just the fee for renting the ETC card.
The tolls themselves are still charged based on your driving.
One thing to check carefully is how the rental company charges the ETC card fee. Many major rental companies charge a flat fee per rental, but some smaller companies may charge by the day. A per-day fee can make ETC less attractive for a longer rental if you only plan to use expressways once or twice.
Because the ETC card rental fee is usually small for many rentals, the decision is often less about the card fee and more about:
- How often you will use expressways
- Whether your rental office has cards available
- Whether you want tollgate convenience
- Whether you can use discounts or passes
- Whether your route may include ETC-only entrances or exits
Does ETC Save Money?
Sometimes, but not always.
ETC may save money if your route qualifies for ETC-based discounts or regional expressway passes. But ETC does not automatically make every toll cheaper.
Examples can include:
- Late-night ETC discounts on eligible expressways
- Weekend/holiday discounts on eligible rural expressway sections
- Regional expressway passes for foreign visitors
- Flat-rate expressway passes that require a rental car and designated ETC card
If you only use the expressway once or twice, the financial savings may be small or zero. In that case, ETC is mainly about convenience.
ETC Discounts: How to Check If It Is Cheaper
ETC discounts are useful, but the rules are not always beginner-friendly.
Instead of trying to check every discount category one by one, use NEXCO East’s Drive Plaza expressway fare / route search. The search lets you enter your departure and arrival interchanges, vehicle category, and date and time. The result can show the standard toll and ETC toll for that route.
The date and time are important. Some ETC discounts depend on when you drive, such as weekends, national holidays, or late-night hours. If you want a realistic estimate, enter the actual date and approximate departure or arrival time for your route.
Do not assume ETC will always be cheaper. Sometimes the ETC toll and normal toll may be the same. But for a long expressway-heavy route, checking the actual route in Drive Plaza is much easier than trying to calculate discounts yourself.
For tourists, a regional expressway pass can sometimes be easier to understand than individual toll discounts. For example, Tohoku has the Tohoku Expressway Pass (TEP), which is still offered. It gives foreign visitors unlimited use of most NEXCO East expressways in Aomori, Akita, Iwate, Yamagata, Miyagi, and Fukushima for 4 to 8 days. Since October 2024 it has been priced per day (for example, around ¥8,500 for 4 days in a standard car). You need a non-Japanese passport, a rental car from a participating company in Tohoku, and an ETC card. Note that Tochigi is not covered: the pass area ends around Shirakawa in Fukushima. Prices and conditions can change, so confirm with your rental company when booking.
ETC-Only Entrances and Smart ICs
This is one of the strongest reasons to consider ETC.
Some expressway entrances and exits are ETC-only. Smart ICs are also ETC-only interchanges. If you do not have a valid ETC card inserted in a properly equipped vehicle, you generally cannot use them normally.
This matters because navigation apps may route you through an ETC-only entrance or exit if it is convenient.
If you do not have ETC, you need to avoid those routes and use an interchange with a general lane instead.
If You Do Not Have ETC, Is There Usually Another Entrance or Exit Nearby?
Often there may be another interchange nearby, but I would not rely on that as a rule.
It depends on the road, region, city, and exact interchange. In some cases, using a different entrance or exit may only add a few minutes. In other cases, it can create a frustrating detour, especially around urban expressways or bridges.
The safer answer is:
If you do not have ETC, check your route carefully and avoid ETC-only gates or Smart ICs.
If your trip is expressway-heavy and unfamiliar, renting ETC reduces the risk of having to reroute.
ETC vs Cash or Credit Card
ETC Is Better For
- Long expressway routes
- Multiple toll gates
- Regional expressway passes
- Avoiding cash handling
- Avoiding ticket/payment stops
- Reducing tollgate stress
- Avoiding Japanese-language stress at toll booths or toll machines
- ETC-only entrances or Smart ICs
Cash or Credit Card Is Fine For
- Short rentals
- One or two toll-road trips
- Routes with normal general lanes
- Travellers who prefer simple pay-as-you-go
- Cases where ETC card rental is unavailable
Even if you use ETC, I would still carry cash. Not every road or situation is perfectly predictable.
When I Would Get ETC
I would get an ETC card if:
- I am renting for several days
- I expect to use expressways often
- I am driving across multiple prefectures
- I am travelling in Tohoku, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku, or other driving-heavy regions
- I want to use a regional expressway pass
- I am nervous about toll gates
- I do not want to speak with toll booth staff or use toll machines in Japanese
- I want one settlement at car return
- I do not want to worry about ETC-only entrances
For our Tochigi, Fukushima, and Miyagi route, we managed without ETC, but because we used expressways often, I would consider getting it next time.
When I Might Skip ETC
I might skip ETC if:
- I am renting for only one day
- I will not use expressways
- I am staying in a city
- I only have one simple toll-road trip
- The rental office cannot guarantee an ETC card
- I am not eligible for any useful pass or discount
- I am comfortable using general toll lanes
For example, I would not rent a car just to move around central Sendai. And if I were not using expressways, ETC would not matter much.
How to Rent an ETC Card
When booking, look for ETC card rental as an option.
If you cannot select it online, contact the rental company or ask at the counter. Availability can vary by company, branch, and reservation method.
At pickup, confirm:
- The car has an ETC device
- The rental ETC card is included if requested
- Whether the ETC card fee is charged as a flat fee or per day
- The card is inserted correctly
- How tolls will be charged
- Whether any expressway pass is attached to the card
- What to do if the gate does not open
- Whether the card must be removed when leaving the car
Do not insert a normal credit card into the ETC device. It will not work as an ETC card.
How ETC Tolls Are Paid on a Rental Car
With a rental ETC card, the card records toll usage.
When you return the car, the rental company checks the card record and charges the tolls, usually together with the final settlement.
This can be more convenient than paying at every tollgate, especially on a long route.
If using a regional expressway pass, ask the rental company exactly how covered and non-covered tolls will be handled.
Our Experience: We Did Not Use ETC
On our Tohoku and Tochigi route, we did not use an ETC card.
It was okay, and I would not say ETC is mandatory for every rental car trip. But our route covered around 900 km by rental car and used expressways often. The tolls were a bit expensive, but they saved a lot of time.
Looking back, this is exactly the kind of route where ETC would have made sense.
Not because we could not drive without it, but because it would have made the expressway part smoother. It also would have reduced the small stress of choosing the right toll lane, speaking with booth staff, or dealing with payment machines while trying to keep traffic moving.
Final Recommendation
You can drive in Japan without ETC.
But if your rental-car trip uses expressways often, I would usually get the ETC card.
For a rural road trip, the rental fee is usually small, the convenience is real, and the ability to use ETC-only gates, discounts, or regional passes can matter.
For a short city rental, skip it.
For a longer rural Japan route, get it if available.
FAQ
Do I need ETC to drive in Japan?
No. You can often use general toll lanes and pay by cash or credit card. But ETC is more convenient and may be required for some entrances, exits, Smart ICs, discounts, or passes.
Is an ETC card the same as a credit card?
No. Do not insert a normal credit card into the ETC device. ETC requires an ETC card.
Do rental cars come with ETC?
Many rental cars have an ETC device, but the ETC card is often a separate rental option. Confirm both before pickup.
Does ETC always save money?
No. ETC may qualify for discounts or passes, but it does not automatically make every trip cheaper.
What if I accidentally enter an ETC-only gate without ETC?
Follow the posted instructions and staff guidance. Do not reverse or make sudden movements in the toll lane.