Saskatchewan Doubles Electric Vehicle Registration Fee
The Saskatchewan government is set to double the registration fee for electric vehicles, prompting concern from industry stakeholders. The fee will increase to $300 per vehicle, up from the current $150, with the funds earmarked for provincial road repairs.
The province initially introduced the fee in October 2021. The new rate takes effect on June 1.
David Adams, CEO of the Global Automakers of Canada, which represents the Canadian interests of all automakers other than the Detroit Three, expressed his organization’s opposition. “We expressed our displeasure at the time when Saskatchewan introduced this tax and it is unfortunate that Saskatchewan is increasing this fee on electric vehicles at this time,” he said in a statement to Automotive News Canada. “The transition to electric vehicles is already facing unprecedented challenges and adding more cost into the mix is not helpful to spur adoption. There may be a time in the future when EVs are more ubiquitous and infrastructure and cost hurdles to ownership have been overcome to consider such a measure, but that time is not now or anytime soon.”
Automotive News Canada reports that the government aims to have EV owners contribute comparably to those driving gasoline-powered vehicles, who pay for road maintenance through the provincial gas tax.
Cara Clairman, CEO of Plug’n Drive, a non-profit dedicated to accelerating electric vehicle adoption, suggests the fee increase is unlikely to significantly deter EV purchases. “At that amount, I don’t think it will deter folks from buying an EV, but it is unusual given other provinces are providing incentives to purchase,” Clairman said.
Manitoba is the most recent province to offer EV purchase incentives. However, Quebec is dialing its program back on an annual basis, and B.C. recently trimmed the number of vehicles that qualify for rebates there. Clairman added, “Even with this fee, EVs provide significant savings over time, as electricity is so much cheaper than gas.”
According to Statistics Canada, Saskatchewan had 1,394 EVs registered in 2024.
The EV fee is just one of many fee changes coming in 2025 in the province.
In addition to the EV fee, Saskatchewan is also increasing park administrative fees, including lease applications and renewals, and building permits. The province is reducing wholesale liquor mark-ups for wine with alcohol content between 14.5 and 16 percent, expecting to save retailers $226,000. Additionally, Saskatchewan is introducing a new $1,000 flat fee for construction permits for hazardous goods facilities.
