Learn about the 2024 Road Charge Collection Pilot
Participants will join a six-month pilot to test and report issues with road charge collection billings and payments.
Road Charge Collection PilotReplacing California's gas tax
Road Charge is an alternative funding mechanism that allows drivers to support road and highway maintenance based on how many miles they drive, instead of how many gallons of gas they use. Just like you pay your gas and electric bills based on how much of these utilities you use, a road charge - also called a mileage-based user fee - is a fair and sustainable way to fund road maintenance, preservation, and improvements for all Californians. Instead of paying the state’s gas tax, which disproportionately impacts those who cannot afford more fuel-efficient vehicles, everyone would pay a per-mile fee for how much they use the road, regardless of what kind of car they drive.
Learn more about road chargeA funding system first approved in 1923
On average, Californians pay about $300 a year in state gas taxes that are charged at the pump when a driver buys gas. This money helps keep both local roads and state highways in good repair. Other state fees also fund transportation, and some counties also charge a local sales tax to further invest in road and transit needs.
Learn more about transportation fundingA more sustainable way to fund our roads
As Californians switch to more fuel-efficient vehicles, they buy less gas and pay less gas tax. This means less and less funding to maintain our transportation system. California is leading the way on developing new and innovative ways to move around the state; we need a modern transportation funding system to replace the gas tax that can adapt to and keep up with our state’s changing needs.
Learn more about California's projectsCalifornia needs a modern transportation funding system
California leads the nation when it comes to driving more fuel-efficient and zero-emission cars. That’s a good thing! However, because these cars consume less or no gas at all, funding highway and road repairs based on a gas tax no longer works. Even if we keep increasing the gas tax, with fewer Californians buying gas the funding will eventually disappear. California needs to replace the gas tax with a funding system that supports our state’s transportation future.
Learn more about California’s gas tax historyParticipants will join a six-month pilot to test and report issues with road charge collection billings and payments.
Road Charge Collection PilotTry the Road Charge Calculator
SB1534 creates a mileage-based road usage charge to replace state motor fuel taxes beginning on July 1, 2025, for electric vehicles. All vehicles would be enrolled by 2033.
Read moreThe law includes a Road User Fee National Pilot: Road user fees might replace gas tax in a decade after a five-year tech pilot.
Read moreA large body of research has been done on various mileage-based user fees across the U.S. and around the world. Explore the database of research on this topic at the Mineta Transportation Institute.
Read moreCalifornia completed the largest road charge research project in the nation, piloting more than 5,000 vehicles that reported in excess of 37 million miles.
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