Pennsylvania has begun charging owners of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles an annual Road User Charge (RUC) to help fund road and bridge maintenance. The new fee, effective April 1, aims to create a fairer system for funding the state’s transportation network, as gasoline-powered vehicle owners already contribute through fuel taxes.
For 2025, the annual fee is set at $200 for electric vehicles (EVs) and $50 for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Owners with registrations expiring after May 2025 will be subject to this charge. If opting for a two-year registration, the fees are $400 and $100, respectively. The fees will increase in 2026 to $250 for EVs and $63 for PHEVs for a one-year registration, and $500 and $126 for a two-year registration.
Starting in 2027, the fees will be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index. The PHEV fee will remain at 25% of the EV fee, rounded to the nearest dollar. Initially, PennDOT will mail payment notices to affected vehicle owners, who must submit a check or money order within 30 days. An online payment system is expected to be available by August 2025, with a monthly payment option starting in July 2026.
The RUC replaces the previous Alternative Fuels Tax for EV and PHEV owners of vehicles weighing 14,000 pounds or less. PennDOT states that the new system simplifies the process and eliminates the need for tracking electricity usage and complex calculations. Certain vehicles are exempt, including golf carts, electric motorcycles, vehicles from 1990 or older, and some government vehicles.
PennDOT emphasizes that the RUC is necessary because EVs don’t contribute to the state’s gasoline tax, the primary funding source for road and bridge projects. PHEVs, using less gasoline, also contribute less through fuel taxes. The agency states that ‘this is about fairness’ and that ‘every driver uses our roads and bridges and should contribute to their maintenance.’
