US EV Owners Face $130 Annual Federal Fee Under New Bill

Key Takeaways

• EV owners would pay $130 annually starting 2026, rising to $150 by 2029
• Plug-in hybrids face a $35 fee escalating to $50 per year
• States that refuse to collect the fee face 125% penalty on highway funding

Congress has a plan to make EV owners chip in for road maintenance. It's going to cost you $130 a year.

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee published its new surface transportation funding bill this week. Buried in the "Building Unrivaled Infrastructure and Long-term Development for America's 250th Act" (yes, BUILD America 250) is a federal registration fee targeting electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids.

The bill has bipartisan support. If it passes, EV owners will pay $130 annually starting in 2026. That fee increases by $5 each year from 2029 until it hits $150. Plug-in hybrid owners start at $35 per year, climbing to $50.

Why Congress Wants EV Drivers to Pay

Road funding in the US comes from a patchwork of sources: federal gas taxes, state gas taxes, vehicle registration fees, and local budgets. The federal gas tax is 18.4 cents per gallon. It hasn't changed since 1993.

As more drivers switch to EVs and fuel-efficient plug-in hybrids, gas tax revenue drops. Meanwhile, roads still need fixing. The logic is simple: if you use the roads, you should help pay for them.

“I'm extremely proud of the historic level of investment in America's bridges—at more than $50 billion, it's the largest such investment in our history. And the BUILD America 250 Act ensures that electric vehicle owners begin paying their fair share for the use of our roads.”

— Sam Graves (R-Mo.), Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairperson

The bill backs up its mandate with teeth. States that refuse to collect the federal EV fee will have their highway funding cut by 125% of the amount owed. That's not a typo. If your state owes $10 million in uncollected EV fees, the feds withhold $12.5 million in highway money.

The Timing Problem

The "fair share" argument has a few holes. EVs currently make up barely 3% of the total US vehicle fleet. That's not a typo either. Three percent.

EV adoption has slowed sharply since President Trump's election and the elimination of federal clean-vehicle incentives. New EV buyers already face higher purchase prices without those subsidies. Now they'd face an annual federal fee on top of whatever their state already charges.

Several states already impose their own EV registration fees to offset gas tax losses. This federal fee stacks on top of those.

What Gas Car Drivers Pay

Here's where the math gets interesting. The source article notes that drivers of gas-powered vehicles pay roughly $73 to $89 in federal gas tax each year. That's based on average driving and fuel consumption patterns.

The proposed $130 EV fee is 46% to 78% higher than what the average gas car owner pays. The justification? EVs tend to be heavier than comparable gas vehicles, and heavier vehicles cause more road wear.

But there's a scale issue. Passenger vehicle weight differences are minor compared to commercial trucks. As the source puts it, a passenger car's road impact is "a rounding error compared to a garbage truck, bus, or tractor-trailer."

The Frozen Gas Tax

The federal gas tax hasn't moved since 1993. If it had kept pace with inflation, drivers would pay 42.34 cents per gallon instead of 18.4 cents. That's more than double the current rate.

Congress has avoided raising the gas tax for 32 years. It's politically toxic. Voters notice immediately when gas prices rise. An EV fee, by contrast, affects 3% of the population. The political math is obvious.

This creates a situation where gas vehicle owners effectively get a subsidy (frozen tax rates while inflation erodes the real cost) while EV owners face a new fee structure designed for a future where EVs are common, not one where they're rare.

What Happens Next

The bill has bipartisan backing, which is notable for a Congress described as "one of the most dysfunctional and least productive legislative sessions in the 250-year history of the United States." Democrats and Republicans agreeing on anything is news in itself.

The bill covers surface transportation funding for the next five years. The EV fee is one provision among many, including the $50 billion bridge investment Graves mentioned.

If it passes as written, EV owners should budget accordingly: $130 in 2026, then $135 in 2029, $140 in 2030, $145 in 2031, and $150 from 2032 onward.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the federal EV registration fee start?

The fee would begin in 2026 at $130 per year if the BUILD America 250 Act passes.

Do plug-in hybrids have to pay the fee?

Yes. PHEVs would pay $35 annually starting in 2026, increasing by $5 per year until reaching $50.

Is this fee in addition to state EV fees?

Yes. The federal fee stacks on top of any existing state EV registration fees.

What happens if a state refuses to collect the fee?

The federal government would withhold 125% of the owed amount from the state's highway funding.

How much do gas car drivers pay in federal gas tax?

Approximately $73 to $89 per year on average, based on the current 18.4 cents per gallon federal gas tax.

Source: Ars Technica