What you need to know about AutoSweep and Easytrip RFIDs

The Department of Transportation issued a department order that required all expressways and tollways to transition into a cashless payment system. The initial deadline for this to happen was set for November 2, 2020, however, this has been extended to December 1, 2020. This will be the final extension of the deadline for the full transition into a cashless tolling system. To help with your RFID woes, we have created a quick guide to help you understand a little bit more about the new system along with a couple of answers to a few frequently asked questions. The guide will tackle only class 1 and 2 vehicles as the procedure for class 3 vehicles have not been released yet.

So first things first what is an RFID? A Radio Frequency Identification or otherwise known as RFID is a device that uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags or stickers that are attached to objects. The device itself consists of a tiny radio transponder as well as a radio receiver and transmitter. When triggered by an RFID reader the sticker or tag then transmits digital data back to the reader. This is what is currently being used for the RFID lanes that utilize Autosweep and Easytrip on major expressways.

AutoSweep is the cashless payment service that the San Miguel Corporation (SMC) utilizes for its expressways. SMC operates SLEX, SKYWAY, NAIAX, STARTOLL, TPLEX, and MCX. If you pass here frequently you will need to acquire an Autosweep RFID in order to utilize its lanes. SMC has announced that on Januray 15, 2022 they will now allow enrollment of AutoSweep accounts onto Easytrip RFID's, but more on that later.

Easytrip is the chosen cashless payment system by the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC). MPTC uses this service for the following expressways that it operates: CAVITEX, C5 Link, CALAX, NLEX, SCTEX. 

When it comes to using an RFID-specific lane it is always important to remember to not tailgate the vehicle in front of you. We cannot stress this enough as tailgating may result in reading errors and may cause traffic for you and the vehicles behind you. Giving the sensors proper time to scan the RFID will make for a much smoother traveling experience.

When it comes to passing through the RFID lane, the process itself is straightforward as all you have to do is drive up to the toll booth and then proceed when the barrier goes up. We highly recommend, however, that you stop at the designated locations first and wait for the vehicle in front of you to clear the barrier before slowly proceeding forward. Once the vehicle in front is clear, then you can proceed slowly to the tollgate boom and wait for your RFID to be read by the sensors. This may take a few seconds or it could work immediately. Once your toll has been displayed along with your balance you are then free to proceed on your way.

In order to get an RFID for AutoSweep or Easytrip, you will need to head over to a designated installation site. There you will be required to fill up a form and pay for your new RFID. Once these are completed you will then have to wait in line for the staff to install the device onto your vehicle. This may take some time as the lines might be long. In order to get a favorable position in the queue, we highly recommend going to the installation location before 6 am. Be prepared to wait for a couple of hours as the process takes time.

In order to get an RFID for AutoSweep, however, you will first be required to set up an appointment online via their official website portal. However, expect the link to their site to be unreachable at times as many have already begun to set up their appointment dates online. If the link does load you will need to choose your desired location and then input your email address, name or name of the company, and the vehicle’s plate number along with its class. 

Make sure to keep track of the tracking number as you will need it later on at the installation site.

It is important to note that some installation sites have a quota of 100 per day. If you do not meet the quota you can always try again on the next day as a new batch will be processed.

Here is a quick guide as to where and what time RFID installation sites are open to help you find the best location. Listed above are the official installation sites that were published by the San Miguel Corporation and by the Easytrip Services Corporation based on their post on Facebook and through their official press releases. The SMC locations list is based on their latest update dated December 30, 2020, while the Easytrip locations are based on their latest update as of January 5, 2021.

Provided below is a quick list of where you can reload your RFID account, have an RFID sticker installed, and have your account activated. The list is based on the official installation sites listed on both AutoSweep and Easytrip websites. This may change at a moment's notice as more sites could be added or taken away by either cashless service provider. 

The following locations are the designated reloading and installation sites for AUTOSWEEP RFID users. All of these locations have business hours of 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

SKYWAY Office (SOMC)

AYALA GREENFIELD (Southbound) 

STA. ROSA Southbound Toll Plaza

STA Rosa Northbound Toll Plaza

SOUTHWOODS Northbound Toll Plaza

SOUTHWOOD Southbound Toll Plaza

PETRON SLEX

SHELL PUTATAN Southbound 

SHELL MAMPLASAN Northbound

SHELL MAGALLANES

TPLEX Main office

PETRON Pura Northbound

PETRON Pura Southbound

PETRON Dasmarinas

Carmona Toll Plaza

Petron Malvar KM75 Southbound

Petron Lipa KM79 Southbound

Petron Evia

Cabuyao South Bound Toll Plaza

STAR Tollway Lipa (Tambo exit)

Petron C5 RFID Staton (Northbound)

Susana Heights Toll Plaza

Petron NAIA

Petron Valle Verde

Petron Commerce Avenue

The following are where you can reload or have your EASYTRIP RFID installed:

BALINTAWAK Toll Plaza

North Luzon Expressway Km. 12, Balintawak, Caloocan City (before Balintawak entry)

Operating HoursMonday to Saturday - 6:30am to 8:00pm

Sunday and Holidays - 8:00 am to 12:00nn

Services offered: Subscription and Reloading, Account Balance/Statement of Account Generation

Accepts Cash and Credit Card Payments

VALENZUELA

KM. 15, Balintawak, Northbound Entry Valenzuela City (in front of Puregold, Paso de Blas)

Operating Hours:

Monday to Saturday 6:30 am to 8:00 pm

Services Offered:

Subscription and Reloading

Account Balance/Statement of Account GenerationAccepts Cash and Credit Card Payments

BOCAUE

KM. 27 Southbound Entry Brgy. Turo, Bocaue

Operating Hours:

Monday to Saturday 6:30 am to 8:00 pm

Sundays and Holiday 8:00 am to 12:00nn

Services Offered:

Subscription and Reloading

Account Balance/Statement of Account Generation

Accepts Cash and Credit Card Payments

TABANG

KM. 36 Southbound Entry Brgy. Sta. Cruz, Tabang Malolos, Bulacan

Operating Hours:

Monday to Saturday 6:30 am to 8:00 pm

Services Offered:

Subscription and Reloading

Account Balance/Statement of Account Generation

Accepts Cash and Credit Card Payments

SAN FERNANDO

KM. 65 Northbound Entry Brgy. San Jose, San Fernando

Operating Hours:

Monday to Saturday 6:30 am to 8:00 pm

Services Offered:

Subscription and Reloading

Account Balance/Statement of Account Generation

Accepts Cash and Credit Card Payments

PETRON MARILAO

Operating hours:

Monday to Sunday, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm

Landmark: Northbound along NLEX

Services Offered:

Subscription: Yes

Reloading: Cash & Credit Card

PETRON BALAGTAS

Operating hours:

Monday to Sunday, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm

Landmark: Southbound along NLEX

Services Offered:

Subscription: Yes

Reloading: Cash & Credit Card

SHELL BALAGTAS (NLEX Northbound)

Operating Hours:

Monday to Sunday, 24/7 hrs

Landmark: Northbound along NLEX

Services Offered: 

Subscription: Yes

Reloading: Cash & Credit Card

The following are the Installation and reloading sites for CAVITEX

PAMPLONA

Caltex Pamplona 3, Alabang Zapote Road Pamplona 3, Las Piñas City

Operating hours:

Monday-Sunday, 7:00am-7:00pm

CAVITEX INFRASTRUCTURE CORPORATION CUSTOMER SERVICE Northbound

Cavitex Parañaque Toll Plaza Coastal Road, Parañaque

Operating Hours:

Monday-Saturday, 5:00am-4:00pm

Services Offered:

Reloading: Cash & Credit Card

CAVITEX INFRASTRUCTURE CORPORATION CUSTOMER SERVICE Southbound

Cavitex Parañaque Toll Plaza Coastal Road, Parañaque

Operating Hours:

Monday-Saturday, 5:00am-4:00pm

Services Offered:

Subscription: Yes

Reloading: Cash & Credit Card

When it comes to the placement of RFID stickers there are three possible locations. The first and one of the two most common ones are on your windshield and on your headlight. Sticking the RFID on the windshield presents itself as an ideal location as the senors for the RFID lanes are located above the toll booth and on the sides. Having it placed there puts the sticker in the direct line of fire of the sensors. However, it is important to remember that if you have a tinted windshield the effectiveness of the device may be reduced. For those with medium tint, we do not recommend this location.

The second option is on your headlight. For this location, we highly recommend it for those who have clear RFIDs. Easytrip, due to the strain of demand has released several different kinds of RFIDs, some are clear, some are sliver, and some are white. In order to maximize the brightness of your headlights we only recommend this location for those who have clear RFID stickers. 

The last option is on your license plate. Both AutoSweep and Easytrip sell an attachment for your RFID sticker that can be placed on top of your front license plate. While these are functional there have been mixed reviews about their effectiveness. While it's still a viable option for those who want it placed there, we highly recommend waiting for the new or recalibrated senors to be put into place for the expressways.  

According to a recent announcement by SMC, you can register your Easytrip and Autosweep account to a single RFID this coming January 15, 2022. In order to do this, you must first register for an Easytrip account and RFID sticker then have it installed and activated at any of their installation centers. Once that is accomplished you must then apply for an AutoSweep account to enroll your Easytrip RFID into their system, first, fill out their application form available on the AutoSweep website, print this form along with one (1) government issued I.D, bring these along with the registered vehicle as well as cash to a customer service center near you to complete the registration process.

It is important to note that AutoSweep will only allow Easytrip RFID's with their new "neology" brand, otherwise it will not be recognized by their system. This will not pose any problem for new applicants to both systems, but for older Easytrip users, it is better to confirm with Easytrip's customer service if the RFID fitted to your car is eligible for enrollment. Once both your accounts are active and your RFID is eligible and enrolled, you now have two accounts sharing a single RFID. Be aware that although your accounts share one RFID, they have separate wallets and will be billed individually.

Do not worry as only one account will be charged the toll depending on which expressway you are using. It will NOT charge both accounts for the toll fee, only the one that is associated with the expressway you are currently traveling on. 

In the event that your RFID sticker cannot be read, simply bring out your account card and have the attendant scan it. Your toll fee will automatically be deducted from your account and you will then be free to proceed on your travels. We highly recommend that you always keep your RFID account cards on you, or at least in your vehicle whenever you have to travel on a tollway. This will greatly help you in the event that the RFID readers do not pick up your device. You can also opt to change lanes if the attendants and the guards allow you to.

The December 1, 2020 deadline is only for the expressway owners and operators. Motorists will still be able to have RFIDs installed onto their vehicles even after the deadline has been reached. Make sure to stop at the installation sites before every major expressway entrance to avoid being fined. The penalties will only be applied once you reach the toll booth without an RFID sticker on your vehicle. Do not worry after the installation is completed your account and RFID will be activated immediately and you will be able to enter the RFID lanes without a problem. 

The deduction will depend on which expressway you are traveling on. If you are traveling on an expressway owned and operated by the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation then your Easytrip account will receive the deduction. If you are traveling on a San Miguel Corporation owned and operated expressway then your AutoSweep account will receive the deduction. The same applies to those who have unified RFID. The cashless system will only deduct from the account that is tied to the tollway your vehicle is traveling on.

If you are putting up your vehicle for sale, you will need to file an account deactivation form for your RFID. Each service provider will give you a form to fill up with varying requirements. Once completed they will then deactivate the RFID from your old vehicle that is tied to your account. After that, you are free to remove the RFID from your old vehicle. You can then install a new RFID on your new vehicle and link it to your existing account.

You can reload your AutoSweep account through the following means. The first is through online banking with Bank of Commerce, Union Bank, Maybank, Chinabank, BPI, and EON by Union Bank supporting this functionality. The next method is through e-wallets like G-cash, PayMaya, Coins.ph, or through JustPay.to and the final option is through over-the-counter reloading. 

Over-the-counter reloading can be done at the following locationsPetron Treats, Savemore, SM Bills Pay, SM Business Services, SM Hypermart, WalterMart, 7 Eleven, Robinsons Department Store, Robinsons Supermarket, Family Mart, Rustans, Shopwise, Western Union, LBC, Expresspay, Truemoney, Tambunting pawnshops, RD pawnshops, and self-service kiosks such as TouchPay, ECPay, and ETap. 

For Easytrip on the other hand, you can reload your account via bank deposits through the following banks, BDO, BancNet, Metrobank, UCPB. You can also link your account to your credit card as the cashless system supports the functionality. Other methods of reloading your Easytrip account include Robinsons malls, SM malls, Bayad Center, G-cash, WalterMart, LBC, 7 Eleven, Smart Money, TouchPay, ECPay, EON, PayMaya, Coins.ph. Possible, and Justpay.to.

You may check your RFID account balance through any of the following options. Easytrip has an online application named MPT DriveHub available on both the GooglePlay Store and the Apple App Store that facilitates management of all Easytrip related transactions on your account, this app also features all of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation's mobility services along with advisories and updates.

If you cannot access their app, Easytrip has an alternative SMS function, just text BAL (card number) to 0919-160-1553, depending on the strength of your cellular signal, this whole process will take about 5 minutes. 

Much like Easytrip, you can check your account balance on AutoSweep through their online app, also available on the  GooglePlay store and the Apple App Store. In the app you can check for your account balance, traffic updates and toll rate updates. If you can't be bothered to do any of that, you can send an inquiry through SMS as well, just type AUTOSWEEP BALINQ ( Vehicle Plate Number) and send to (0917) 860-8655

If this is the case for your vehicle, we highly recommend contacting the previous owner and getting the details of the accounts. If the previous owner doesn’t want to give out the details then ask them to deactivate the accounts. If the previous owner is completely unreachable remove the old RFIDs and have a new set installed on your vehicle. This will serve as a precaution as to not rack up any penalties for the previous user.

If this is the case they will still let you onto the expressway, however, expect your RFID account to enter debt mode or you will be required to pay the missing balance with an attendant. This will automatically subtract the toll that you owe once you reload your account again. We highly recommend, topping up your account prior to your journey or by visiting designated reloading sites on the highway as soon as possible. This will ensure that your accounts will maintain the minimum required balances. This applies to both AutoSweep and Easytrip. 

If you can’t make it to an installation site on the expressway itself then, we highly recommend waiting for an RFID caravan to enter your area or for a mall tour. Easytrip frequently updates its website with regards to when and where it will hold a caravan or have an installation site located in a mall. Make sure to check their Facebook page for the latest information and where their next popup installation site will be. In the case of AutoSweep they also have a list of satellite installation sites. 

The option is available, however, it is only for Easytrip. The Easytrip Services Corporation (ESC) did launch a stick it yourself kit within the last quarter of 2020. However, this kit was phased out due to people having problems installing the RFID on their vehicles. The cashless service system provider did announce recently, however, that with the extension of the deadline to December 1, 2020, that it would be bringing back the stick it yourself kit.

The new kit will now come with more precise instructions that will cater to a wider array of vehicles. It is important to note that there are other online sellers selling the RFID, however, we highly recommend that you only buy from the official store of the Easytrip Services Corporation. The new kits will initially be available on Shopee with a Lazada option coming soon. ESC has to officially announce a release date for the new Stick It Yourself RFID kits.

You can make an appointment online for RFIDs. AutoSweep now requires that you make an appointment before any installation can happen. The cashless service provider has stated that this was done due to the long lines at installation centers and so that it can adhere to the health and safety protocols of the Inter-Agency Task Force for COVID-19. 

The Easytrip Services Corporation has also initiated something similar to further streamline its process for acquiring an RFID. This will help motorists plan out their installation dates as well as times. it will work in a similar manner to that of the Autosweep online appointment system. It is important to note that an online RFID kit will also soon be available for the Easytrip RFID. 

Easytrip is currently only accepting online reservations for select installation stations, while AutoSweep has applied it to most of its installation stations. There are still some select sites especially the 24hr sites that are open to walk-ins. 

To make an appointment or either service provider we highly recommend visiting their sites for the corresponding links. It is important to note that due to the increased traffic and due to motorists rushing to get their RFIDs these websites may not initially load. Also, be aware that time and date slots are quickly filling up and as such your ideal date may already be booked. 

If your RFID goes below its minimum maintaining balance then there is a chance that it will become deactivated after a month of not being used. However, if your RFID does have a balance that is above the maintaining balance then it will be fine. The account will remain active until you use it again. In order to keep this from happening make sure to always keep your RFID account topped up before your next journey. 

AutoSweep is already in talks with its lawyers with regards to removing its requirement for a maintaining balance and a reactivation fee. The cashless provider will soon update its terms and services soon. However, it is important to note that AutoSweep has no provided an exact date as to when this will happen. We assume it will be sometime soon as the deadline for the cashless tollway system approaches.

Easytrip has yet to release any information with regards to it removing its maintaining balance option. 

This will depend on what kind of RFID you have applied for. If you apply for the subscription basis RFID account then yes there will be an annual fee. However, if you have chosen the regular or to go type of account then there will not be an annual fee. There will only be a maintaining balance that you will need to keep in order for it to not be deactivated. Currently, Easytrip and AutoSweep are in talks with their corresponding camps in order to remove the annual fee as well as maintaining balance in order to make it easier for the customers. Both companies are steadily upgrading their systems as well as terms and conditions in time for the December 1, 2020 deadline. 

For both cashless service providers, there are two kinds. The first is a regular account which is tied to just one vehicle, while the other is a premium account in which you can enroll multiple vehicles under just one account number. This option is great for those who have a large fleet of vehicles that will regularly traverse through the expressways. The premium account works by giving all the vehicles registered under the account a common balance in which they can all deduct their toll fees. These can even be attached to a credit card for ease of use. However, this does come with an annual fee of P50 for the service. 

The second option is the regular or to go RFID account. This means that there is one RFID registered to just one account. If you have more than one vehicle then you will need to have separate accounts for each vehicle instead. The regular account will also have its own balance separate from the rest of your vehicle fleet. This is ideal for those who only have a few cars.

Car companies are already in talks with both AutoSweep and Easytrip in order to get RFIDs for newer vehicles that are being bought. Details as to how these talks are going are still sparse, however, we will update you once more information has come out. What we can tell you, however, is that car companies are already proactively working on this solution in order to help new-vehicle buyers. 

Easytrip has yet to announce if it will have more installation sites available, however, it does actively have roadshows and mall installation dates in which motorists can have their RFID stickers installed.

For AutoSweep, SMC has announced that it will be opening up 100 more installation sites to meet the huge demand for their RFIDs. In light of this SMC will be increasing its manpower and equipment to speed up the process. It will also be extending certain installation location sites operational hours to 24hours a day, seven days a week. The tag allocation for existing sites will also be increased. It has also made plans for increasing its own offsite installation at barangays and villages, however, it has not mentioned a list yet of when and where these will happen. SMC also states that it has updated its only appointment system to accommodate these offsite installation areas. Walk-ins at installation sites will also be allowed once again but with instruct implementation of health protocols. SMC has also stated that a new RFID mobile will also be available at future offsite installation areas.