2 weeks Ago By Anthony Blair
STUNNED drivers have received an unwelcome present in the mail along with their vehicle registration renewals - an added $250 charge. Drivers in New Jersey face having to pay an annual fee on top of the existing registration fee - but only certain vehicles will receive the extra bill. Under a new state law that came in this July, electric vehicle drivers must pay the annual EV fee, according to New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission.
Not only must they pay the $250 annual charge, but it will increase by $10 every year for four years after the initial payment. The fee applies to any vehicle certified as a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) under California Air Resources Board (ZEV) standards for the applicable model year. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed the bill into law on March 26 this year.
READ MORE ON DRIVING LAWS Money raised by the fee will go toward funding road and transit projects in the Garden State. March's legislation also renewed the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF), which is seen as a user fee for driving on the roads. EVs didn't previously pay into the TTF because they don't use gas and therefore didn't pay the gas tax.
This money is supposed to go to road and bridge repairs, expansions, and improvement projects. Most read in Motors Defending the legislation at the time, Gov. Murphy said: "America depends on the strength of New Jersey’s transportation system.
"If our infrastructure falls behind, our entire economy falls behind, and worst of all, our families would pay the highest price in the forms of costly delays and missed opportunities." But critics slammed the bill, saying it could prevent many drivers from opting for a "greener" EV going forward. Senator Bob Smith, a Democrat, said before the bill's passing: "To do anything to discourage EVs in the state is a serious policy mistake.
" The U.S. Sun has approached the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission for comment.
Drivers in New Jersey face having to pay $250 a year for an EV. From July 1, 2024, all zero-emission vehicles must pay $250 a year on top of existing registration fees. Officials say this is because EV owners pay no gas taxes Money will go to road and bridge repairs, expansions, and improvement projects.
New Jersey is the latest state to impose new fees on electric vehicle owners. Earlier this year, Vermont EV and hybrid drivers were hit with a $178 surcharge as part of a new transportation bill. The new charge will come in from January 1, 2025.
Owners of fully electric cars will face an added $89 charge when they register a car for one year, and $178 for two years. Hybrid drivers will have to pay $44.50 for a one-year registration and $89 for two years.
Read More on The US Sun Last year, Texas imposed a $200 surcharge on EV drivers to make up for the lack of money received from gas taxes. The Department of Transport in the Lone Star state explained at the time that taxes on gas were its "primary funding source," but due to the increased popularity of EVs, the money they could spend on vital infrastructure was going down..
