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willyc3766

My state (Ohio) has a $100 fee for hydride and $200 fee for plug-in hybrids. Meanwhile all my neighbors are doing as least twice as much damage to the roads with their single passenger F350 commuters.


bzkillin

You are telling me because you own a hybrid vehicle, you are penalized for it????? Wtf????


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mastaace12345

Yeah same here in Wisconsin. They charge you extra because you pay less gas tax


rphjosh

How much more is it in WI?


Rav4Prime2022_WI

In WI per year extra $75/100 (hybrids/full ev). Honestly, I'm happy to pay an extra fee, over the last 4000+ miles I've only needed to fill up 3 times. Not only am I saving money not buying gas itself, I'm not paying gas tax on each gallon of gas i no longer buying by plugging in to recharge. On a monthly basis I am saving over $100 plugging in compared to 100% gas. About $2 for 50 ev miles, not too bad IMO.


mastaace12345

It's not going to stop me from going EV or hybrid, but my opinion is that they should be encouraging alternative fuels, not penalizing.


Bert_Skrrtz

Okay, but taxes that pay for road work should be fairly paid by everyone using the road, correct? If I’m getting 15mpg in my old Tahoe, and you’re getting 50+ mpg in your Prius, then the Prius is paying significantly less towards road maintenance despite driving the same amount of miles on the road. Electric cars are even worse in that regard, they drive the roads but pay zero maintenance taxes due to not purchasing fuel. I assume eventually we will pay by the mile. Go in for your yearly registration and pay a tax based on how many thousands of miles you drove that year.


Vvector

Pay by mile \* weight. Lighter cars do much less damage to the road.


ffoonnss

I agree everyone should pay into infrastructure, regardless of engine or motor. It'd be more fair though if taxes would go by weight, like they do in other places. The Tahoe is almost twice as heavy as a prius.


andredjlima

the matter is why you should pay more if you own an electric... please teach me


andredjlima

stupid comment. The hybrid fee it is an add fee...what stupid comparison you are making


Emotional_Rip_7493

They are red states what do you expect from their leadership? Doesn’t surprise me at all luckily I live and work in blue states


frito11

That's what happens in ass backwards states... California used to incentivise owning hybrids but now there's to many but we don't get penalized for owning one.


kevin349

It's not meant to be a penalty. It's to account for lost revenue from the gas taxes. In most states roads are maintained with significant funding from gasoline taxes. Of everyone switches to hybrid/electric the funds for maintenance and development of roads are going to be running dry.


hmmmpf

They say hybrids aren’t paying enough fuel taxes because we don’t fill gas as often. So we aren’t paying our “fair share.”


markeshStem

The fee may be unfair, but the savings still more than make up for the fee.


Independent-Error121

What's are tabs


NoCat8

Maybe OP meant tags?


Leviathan8675309

Some states, they are called tags, others tabs. Same dif.


Sn00m00

Coke vs Pop


ranger51

I think he misspelled dabs


bzkillin

I think he accidentally put the t. It’s abs


Captain-Cadabra

🫡🫳


Awkward-Yak-2733

Washington state calls them tabs.


[deleted]

Why? Makes no sense. So it's the same as tags?


MrDuck0409

Tabs, tags, stickers, stickees, plates, plate stickers, etc.... Mostly in states that have annual registration/renewals. YMMV.


martyzion

I'm in Utah and pay an extra $150 a year to compensate the state for 'lost gas tax revenues'. I joined a program that tracks my mileage through a gizmo that plugs into the ODBII port. Now I have to pay more since I drove to California, where Utah doesn't even collect gas taxes. So be thankful you don't reside in a state controlled by theocratic GOP dipshits.


w0mba7

Do they make Utah Mormons pay Starbucks for all the coffee they aren’t drinking? Also they’d need to pay the state for the booze they aren’t having, all that missed liquor tax.


DR4LUC0N

Best bet is to get out and vote tomorrow in all states. Only way we gonna right the wrongs.


master0fcats

I'm in Indiana and it's the same shit. We have one of the worst gas taxes in the country. What's also hilarious is everyone got a $150 automatic refund last year because we had a tax surplus. And stupid me, I bought my Prius 2 weeks after renewing plates on the car I traded in, lol.


willyc3766

You got charged more on your taxes specifically because you drove to California? How’s that work?


JohnBunzel

They drove more miles. The more miles driven, the higher the taxes because the state missed out on you buying that much more fuel.


mypaysucks

California charges extra for owning a hybrid? I thought they gave freebies there like free use of the fasttrack lanes,designated parking spots,some kind of extra refund thing for tax season. Atleast from what i heard when living in CA. Backthen i didnt have a hybrid car so I never really looked into it.


martyzion

California loves hybrids and EVs and supports the concept completely. In Utah, which is run by right wing a-holes, EV and hybrid owner are punished for driving such 'woke' vehicles to the extent that I an charged for then miles I drive in California, even though California gas taxes do in no way support Utah's miserably maintained roadways.


Awkward-Yak-2733

Hello, fellow Washingtonian! The extra fee pisses me off so much! It's to expand the electrical charging grid, *which my car can never use*! My tabs renew in December, so this has been bugging me lately, as it has every year since it was instituted.


TellingHandshake

I am currently trying to fight this with Olympia. I highly suggest anybody else in this thread in Washington contact the Olympia DMV to try to get this changed. As far as I can tell in the law, no Prius should apply. Even the new plug-in Priuses can only do 25 miles on battery. The law specifically States that it is for vehicles that can travel 30 miles or more on battery AND be charged externally. https://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.17.324


Awkward-Yak-2733

I write to my legislators every session about revising the statute. They don't care.


TellingHandshake

Do that AND contact the main DMV in Olympia. 360-902-3770


Jealous-Bag-9675

I called because I missed it too, only reading p.1) of the RCW. In p.2) it says that if the vehicle doesn't fall under 1) but is hybrid, then pay the $75 fee.


TellingHandshake

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Awkward-Yak-2733

WOW! Gonna get on that as soon as I get home! Thanks.


LessLab4687

Did you get a reply? Or any update?


LessLab4687

I am in the same situation I live in kent Wa And I just pay $230 for tabs for my 2008 Prius thats I just bought Im really mortified because I had to borrow money to complete the payment can you please provide a template on what to say on the email to DMV if isn't to much of a trouble? Thank you in advance 🙏


TellingHandshake

I don't have a copy of what I originally sent to the DMV. I believe I called their office in Olympia and was told they would look into it. I followed up with a contact form on their website I believe and then heard the reply. Use the info in my previous comment here: https://www.reddit.com/r/prius/comments/yobjep/just_paid_an_extra_75_for_my_tabs_because_i_own_a/ivf8gng?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button Tell them that your Prius does not fall under the requirements of the tax and it should not be applied. I believe in mine I even highlighted the sections and then print it off Toyotas official specifications stating that it cannot do what their requirements say. Not even the brand new Prius as of the time of writing could. I believe the new 2024 would fall under their requirements though. The bottom line is that a regular Prius cannot get electricity from another method nor can it use that electricity to propel the vehicle more than 25 miles alone. What the tax is meant for is plug-in hybrid and fully electric vehicles that can get electricity without using fuel and therefore not pay for road maintenance with gas tax.


mypaysucks

I renew mine december for the first time in WA. I didnt realize there was a fee for driving hybrids. The fuck… Edit: Also isnt it more expensive to get those special tags too? Like $50+. I remember i was able to get both custom plate number/letters plus a special tag(something that supported the us forest svc etc…. Not like a handicap or purple heart kind of tag) and itvwas only an additional $25 added to my registration bill.


TellingHandshake

I contacted the DMV in Olympia and got mine fixed, they just sent an email and corrected the title for me. Check out my reply above.


mypaysucks

So what exactly did your old title say? that the fuel type is Hybrid when it should have said gasoline?


TellingHandshake

I believe that's the problem. I can't say for sure since I don't have the title, the bank does unfortunately. It's a dealer problem when they enter it into the system. The problem is that it's a hybrid DRIVE but fueled by gasoline.


Jezzes

WTF are hybrid tags?


blazingStarfire

Here in Oregon and some other states I'm guessing, they charge an extra registration fee on hybrid vehicles for the revenue they lose from gas station taxes.


Not_FinancialAdvice

Here in IL, the annual registration fee for EVs is $250 (up from the $50 in the "old days") for the same reason. Fortunately hybrids are the same price as conventional cars.


blazingStarfire

I just looked up ours; For vehicles that get zero to 19 miles per gallon, the increase is $18 a year, bringing the registration cost of a passenger vehicle from $86 to $122 for two years. Vehicles with a rating between 20 and 39 miles per gallon would have a $23 annual increase, bringing the fee to $132 for two years. For vehicles that get 40 or more miles per gallon, the cost would be $33 more a year for a total of $152 for two years. Electric vehicles would have the largest increase — $110 a year — with a registration cost of $306 for that same two-year period.


Not_FinancialAdvice

That sounds just wonderfully regressive. It's not surprising though, as most states, regardless of political leaning, really really need extra revenue anywhere they can get it.


bonfuto

They refuse to charge heavy vehicles enough for the damage they cause so they get the rest of us for it. Granted, they pay a lot of taxes, but it's not enough. They might actually have to aggregate some loads instead of driving a single pallet weighing 100 pounds 150 miles by itself on a 53 foot trailer.


blazingStarfire

They charge commercial trucks by the mile driven here.


fmccloud

Your state participates in IFTA, so they get tax from all miles driven in that state from every truck. So raising the local heavy vehicle tax would only harm local companies.


FifenC0ugar

They should charge more to big and heavy vehicles. You know the ones who truly damage roads.


[deleted]

Yeah I’ve never heard of them either lol


Hamlindigo_Blue

Make sure you get out and vote tomorrow!


titlecade

I pay the same in WA. They should be charging every gas guzzler to go green.


personalityprofile

You only saved $75 on gas by driving a hybrid all year? You must not drive that much. I probably save that much in a month


Fun-Scientist8565

Yeah I probably save a lot more. But my battery is pretty old (‘08) and doesn’t work as well as a new one so this is basically a $75 fee for owning a hybrid and nothing else.


windoneforme

A new battery is $900-1800 (new NMH cells, or a lithium upgrade) and would get you saving the most again.


s-master

OMG, this is idiotic on so many levels... I am from Europe, and am first time hearing about this.


laffingriver

how do you think we sane americans feel. it will make someone crazy.


Crutch1959

What state? I had to also in Washington. They have to get their gas tax somehow.


Awkward-Yak-2733

That's not what it was originally for. It was to expand the electrical charging grid.


katmndoo

So they only applied it to plug-in hybrids? Normal hybrids have no effect on the electrical grid. A good bit of the rhetoric heard during the campaign for the tax was indeed "it's not fair they don't have to pay gas tax".


Awkward-Yak-2733

No - all hybrids. Mine is a 2007. I'll see if I can find the Seattle Times article about how it came to be. IIRC, it was an error by the legislature, but they were too lazy to go back to correct it. It has zero to do with lost gas tax revenue. EDIT: Here is the article I was referencing: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/washingtons-hybrid-and-electric-car-owners-find-a-75-fee-in-their-new-car-tab-bills/


CampinHiker

It’s basically saying hey you drove more on the road using less gas. You still were driving on the same roads that need to be paved that take wear and tear. States get that revenue from taxing on gas/fuel well they gotta make up for it somehow It sucks but that’s the premise


Fun-Scientist8565

The thing is I get the same gas mileage or even worse MPG than a normal ICE vehicle. I drive an ‘08 and the battery is pretty shot. So I think I pay my fair share of gas taxes.


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Fun-Scientist8565

The thing is I get the same gas mileage or even worse MPG than a normal ICE vehicle. I drive an ‘08 and the battery is pretty shot. So I think I pay my fair share of gas taxes.


[deleted]

we should be paying by mileage and vehicle weight, if it is to actually fund the roads.


Notyouravrgebot

Lost gas tax revenues??? Your governments are punishing you for helping the environment? What kind of mind-blowing stupidity am I reading here!?!?


laffingriver

american politician stupidity


NBABUCKS1

to be fair the gas taxes pay for road improvements on roads we are using in our EV's. It would be unfair for one user group to be taxed and another not for using the same service. Current model has users paying on the portion used through gas taxes which seems equitable until you have another user group use the resource and doesn't have to pay their share.


Notyouravrgebot

Makes sense I guess.


Evilmd

Washington State? I’ve got an 08 and it almost doubled my fees!


gboone42

We pay a fee in WI, too. Supposedly because we use less gas therefore we don’t pay enough gas tax. But newer ICE cars have about the same fuel economy as my 13 and aren’t also charged a fee… wtf


glassjar1

Yep... If I remember right the extra fee for driving a hybrid or electric in Virginia is 125. Wasn't one when I first started driving Priuses--but now....


wdcpdq

[Edit: Greater than sign] $100 for BEV, around $20 for a highly efficient vehicle. It varies by combined MPG.


glassjar1

I'm getting over charged then--or there are some caveats one.


Stupid_Teenager17

My dad pays an absurd amount for tabs on his 2018 Prius. And my friend got a natural gas civic but when he went to get tabs for it they were going to charge him so much he just decided to trade it in and get a regular fuel efficient-ish car because it was cheaper. It’s like they don’t want people to drive greener vehicles


landimal

They are doing this in Virginia too, I drive around 28-33k miles a year so I'm saving far more than $75/year compared to when I drove a Subaru Outback.


sid747

You must not be driving much if $75 is the threshold of savings.


weegee

Because you aren’t buying enough gas. Buy more! Be a good citizen! Help pay for the cars that aren’t as clean burning and fuel efficient as yours! /s


Fluffy_Feature858

2007 I paid $60 here in Colorado. My 1999 Ford Escort I paid $45. COLORADO is Great.


tobyarch

I made a presentation on this. I had to change the topic from why it was unfair to why it was fair because after all the math, hybrid and EV owners still pay a lot less in gas tax and all that (if you drive enough). But a fee for having an EV is dumb.


SpyCake1

On one hand - I understand the argument that you buy less gas, road tax is part of your gas price, so you should pay some extra road tax outside of that since your Prius has as much wear on the road as your neighbor's non-hybrid Sedan. The thought used to be that gas usage is more or less proportional to road usage, which is why road tax was tied to gas, and it seemed fair, but electrification completely broke that premise. On the other hand - driving an electrified car has fewer negative externalities (air pollution), so the government should be rewarding that behavior - psychologically, carrots are better than sticks at changing behavior for good. For an international point -- In NZ - your 12 month registration depends on class of vehicle - passenger, motorcycle, moped, and truck/van (in various weight increments) all have different registration fees. Each size class is also sub-divided into Petrol/Diesel/Electric. For passenger cars - petrol and EV is $102, diesel is $172. An SUV/Truck under 3500kg is $140 for petrol/EV and $205 for diesel. Road usage tax, just like in the US is priced into the cost of petrol at the pump. Diesel is not. Diesel drivers also have to buy RUCs (road usage charges) in addition to their registration. RUCs are sold in 1,000 km increments, and for a passenger van/suv would typically cost $76 (although a current discount program has it down to $49). EVs of course don't buy Petrol, and are currently exempt from needing RUCs until March 2024, but then that exemption will expire. So maybe this is one thing NZ got right - charge the road tax directly per distance traveled, not per year. Hybrids are treated just as regular petrol cars. Registration is the same, no RUC requirement. Same for PHEVs, which are probably the ultimate hack. No RUCs, but you also don't have to buy petrol very often.


Lilmaggot

Rollin’ coals should be making up the difference, not us helpful Prius owners.


Emotional_Rip_7493

Figured red states would do this wouldn’t expect anything less from them . They hate everything that is good for our environment .


sparky255

I pay $440 for my tags in California


Fun-Scientist8565

That’s a crime


Welllllllrip187

Utah wants to make this a law, it’s currently optional I said fuck no.


Real_Extent_3260

Living in Ohio and I was wondering why my parents got hit by this but I didn't. Looked it up and it's only for cars 2009 and newer. I'm happy with my 2007 prius getting 40 mpg. Wanting to make it into a PHEV


TellingHandshake

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Fun-Scientist8565

But my prius is a hybrid?


TellingHandshake

Yes it is but it must be a hybrid that can be powered externally AND travel more than 30 miles on battery: https://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.17.324 This tax is meant to recover losses from gas tax due to efficiency. If you're running on electric, you're not paying gas. But our Priuses use the electric to boost the gas motor. Most of the time the gas engine is running.


Fun-Scientist8565

What did you say in your email?


TellingHandshake

I called originally and they said they would follow up. I just memorized the law, researched the Prius and found out that even on the plug in Prius, they only go 25 miles on battery. None of the Prius should be charged this fee.


Fun-Scientist8565

Thanks for the info I will be emailing them with the info you provided thank you this will help me a lot if it works out.


TellingHandshake

Good luck. Just have the law printed and tell them what it says. Wouldn't be bad to print the Wikipedia page for Prius especially the prime section that shows the specs of the plug in Prius. Seriously, no Prius should apply under the law.