Vehicle miles traveled tax

A vehicle miles traveled tax, also frequently referred to as a VMT tax, VMT fee, mileage-based fee, or road user charge, is a policy of charging motorists based on how many miles they have traveled.

It has been proposed in various states in the United States including Illinois who are currently following through with implementing this tax, and elsewhere as an infrastructure funding mechanism to replace, or supplement the fuel tax,[1] which has been generating billions less in revenue each year due to increasingly fuel efficient vehicles.[2]

In the United States, a VMT fee currently exists as part of a limited program for 5,000 volunteers in Oregon and for trucks in Illinois.[3][4] Internationally, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Belgium, Russia and Switzerland have implemented various forms of VMT fees, limited to trucks. New Zealand also has such a system applying to all heavy vehicles and diesel-powered cars, known locally as a Road User Charge. Bulgaria has a truck based system under development. With the UK government banning the sale of non-electric cars from 2030, VMT tax is being considered in place of fuel duty revenue.[5]

  1. ^ Paying Our Way: A New Framework for Transportation, National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission Final Report, 2009
  2. ^ Eco-Friendly Vehicles Draining State Road Repair Budgets – U.S. News & World Report
  3. ^ "Road Usage Charge Overview". Oregon Dept. of Transportation. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
  4. ^ "Illinois: Vehicle Services Fees". State of Illinois: Office of the Secretary of State. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
  5. ^ Treasury 'looking to road pricing' as sales of electric cars rise