IT’S 638 AND STARTING THIS MONTH, PENNSYLVANIA ELECTRIC VEHICLE DRIVERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY A NEW FEE, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SAYS THAT APPLIES TO ABOUT 70,000 DRIVERS AS OF SEPTEMBER. THIS IS ALL PART OF A LAW THAT JUST WENT INTO EFFECT LAST YEAR. MAYBE ONE OF THOSE 70,000 EVS IS YOURS. NEWS EIGHT’S GABRIELLE THOMAS IS LIVE IN DOWNTOWN YORK WITH WHAT THIS MEANS FOR EV OWNERS, HOW MUCH THEY’LL HAVE TO PAY GABRIELLE. GOOD MORNING, MATT AND CAITLIN. IF YOU OWN AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE, THIS CHARGING STATION HERE IN DOWNTOWN YORK PROBABLY LOOKS FAMILIAR. IN ADDITION TO PAYING HERE AT THE CHARGING STATION, YOU NOW HAVE TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL FEE. NOW, SOME PEOPLE SUPPORT THIS LAW, BUT OTHERS NOT SO MUCH. LET ME BREAK THIS DOWN FOR YOU. GOVERNOR JOSH SHAPIRO SIGNED A LAW BACK IN 2024, AND IT REQUIRES ALL ALL ELECTRIC VEHICLE OWNERS TO PAY THIS ADDITIONAL FEE. NOW, SINCE GAS POWERED VEHICLE OWNERS HELPED FUND THE ROADS THROUGH PAYING GAS TAXES, THE NEW LAW ENSURES THAT THOSE WHO PAY LITTLE TO NO GAS TAX SUPPORT THE STATE’S MOTOR LICENSE FUND. STARTING THIS MONTH, ELECTRIC VEHICLE OWNERS WILL PAY A ROAD USER CHARGE FEE OF $200. IF YOU HAVE A ONE YEAR REGISTRATION AND $400 FOR A TWO YEAR REGISTRATION. REMEMBER THAT THIS FEE WILL BE PAID SEPARATELY FROM YOUR VEHICLE REGISTRATION PAYMENT. WE SPOKE TO ANOTHER ELECTRIC VEHICLE OWNER WHO ALSO OWNS A GAS POWERED VEHICLE, AND HERE’S WHAT HE HAD TO SAY. I THINK IT’S FINE. MY OTHER VEHICLES A DIESEL TRUCK. I PAY TAXES ON THE FUEL I GET AND IT GOES TO THE ROADS. SO IF I’M PAYING A $200 A YEAR FOR SOMETHING THAT GOES TO THE ROADS THEMSELVES, THEN I’M FINE WITH THAT. KEEP IN MIND THAT GOLF CARTS, ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLES, VEHICLES FROM 1990 OR OLDER AND CERTAIN GOVERNMENT VEHICLES ARE EXEMPT FROM PAYING THE ROAD USER CHARGE FEE. WE SPOKE TO PENNDOT ABOUT THE NEW FEE AND THEY SAY IN PART, QUOTE, OVER THE LAST DECADE, AS VEHICLES HAVE GOTTEN MORE FUEL EFFICIENT AND MORE EVS AND HYBRID VEHICLES ARE PURCHASED, GAS TAX REVENUES HAVE DECREASED. THE NEW FEE HELPS ENSURE THAT EVERY DRIVER PAYS THEIR FAIR SHARE TO MAINTAIN OR HELP MAINTAIN PENNSYLVANIA’S ROADS AND BRIDGES. NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF CAR THEY DRIVE. NOW, PENNDOT SAYS A PAYMENT PLAN OPTION FOR EV OWNERS WILL BE AVAILABLE STARTING IN JULY, AND AN ONLINE SYSTEM WILL BE AVAILABLE AUGUST 2025. REPORTING LIVE HERE IN DOWNTOW
New fee goes into effect for EV owners; How much you’re expected to pay
If you’re a Pennsylvania driver who owns an EV or plug-in hybrid and your registration is about to expire, you’ll need to start paying a new fee. You’ll be getting a form from PennDOT with payment details.In 2024, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a new law into effect, creating a fee for electric and hybrid vehicle owners to contribute to road maintenance. Gas-powered vehicle owners help fund the roads through the gas tax.On April 1, 2025, Pennsylvania began to charge EV and PHEV owners a yearly Road User Charge (RUC). Road User Charge Fee amounts2025:EV drivers: $200Plug-in hybrid drivers: $502026:EV: $250PHEV: $63The state will also let you pay for these two years at a time. In 2025, a two-year tax payment for an electric vehicle owner will be $400, saving you $50. For a plug-in hybrid driver, a two-year payment will cost $100, saving you $13.Remember, this fee will be paid separately from your vehicle registration payment.EV, plug-in hybrid definitionsElectric Vehicle (EV): A motor vehicle that delivers power to its drive wheel or wheels solely by use of a battery-powered electric motor.Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV): A motor vehicle that can deliver power to the drive wheels solely by a battery-powered electric motor, but which also incorporates the use of another fuel to power a combustion engine. The battery of the vehicle must be capable of receiving energy from an external source, such as an outlet or charging station.Which vehicles are exempt?While most electric and plug-in hybrid cars will need to pay the RUC when registering, some electric vehicles are exempt: Golf carts. Electric motorcycles. Vehicles from 1990 or older. Certain government vehicles. If you have questions about the new fee, you can contact PennDOT here.
If you’re a Pennsylvania driver who owns an EV or plug-in hybrid and your registration is about to expire, you’ll need to start paying a new fee. You’ll be getting a form from PennDOT with payment details.
In 2024, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a new law into effect, creating a fee for electric and hybrid vehicle owners to contribute to road maintenance. Gas-powered vehicle owners help fund the roads through the gas tax.
On April 1, 2025, Pennsylvania began to charge EV and PHEV owners a yearly Road User Charge (RUC).
Road User Charge Fee amounts
2025:
- EV drivers: $200
- Plug-in hybrid drivers: $50
2026:
The state will also let you pay for these two years at a time. In 2025, a two-year tax payment for an electric vehicle owner will be $400, saving you $50. For a plug-in hybrid driver, a two-year payment will cost $100, saving you $13.
Remember, this fee will be paid separately from your vehicle registration payment.
EV, plug-in hybrid definitions
Electric Vehicle (EV): A motor vehicle that delivers power to its drive wheel or wheels solely by use of a battery-powered electric motor.
Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV): A motor vehicle that can deliver power to the drive wheels solely by a battery-powered electric motor, but which also incorporates the use of another fuel to power a combustion engine. The battery of the vehicle must be capable of receiving energy from an external source, such as an outlet or charging station.
Which vehicles are exempt?
While most electric and plug-in hybrid cars will need to pay the RUC when registering, some electric vehicles are exempt:
- Golf carts.
- Electric motorcycles.
- Vehicles from 1990 or older.
- Certain government vehicles.
If you have questions about the new fee, you can contact PennDOT here.
