Congress is eyeing a national fee for electric vehicles, following in the footsteps of states

As more Americans drive electric vehicles, states are adding EV registration fees to make up for lost gas tax revenue. A proposal in Congress could add a national fee, too.

Marketplace by Henry Epp

Jul 7, 2026

Electric vehicle drivers now face an added cost in most states: annual registration fees to keep their cars on the road. Most states now have an annual EV fee in place, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. A nationwide fee of $130 a year could be on the way, too, if a proposal in a bipartisan transportation funding bill makes its way through Congress.

The fees are aimed at addressing an issue lawmakers are grappling with as more Americans drive electric vehicles: Those drivers don’t pay gas taxes, which have traditionally made up the bulk of funding for road construction and repair.

Andy Purdy of Benson, Vermont, noticed the extra $89 he had to pay the state when he bought an electric Ford F-150 Lightning last year. That was on top of the registration fee, also $89, that all vehicles have to pay in Vermont. But Purdy didn’t really mind.

View the full article: Marketplace.org