Pennsylvania has begun charging electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle owners a yearly Road User Charge (RUC) to help fund road and bridge maintenance.

The new fee, which went into effect April 1, aims to create a more equitable system for funding the state’s transportation network, as owners of gasoline-powered vehicles already contribute through fuel taxes.

“This new law ensures that all drivers, regardless of the type of vehicle they own, contribute to the upkeep of Pennsylvania’s vital infrastructure,” PennDOT said in a statement.

Owners of electric vehicles (EVs) with registrations expiring after May 2025 will be subject to the charge. For 2025, the annual fee is $200 for EVs and $50 for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). If opting for a two-year registration, the fees are $400 and $100, respectively.

In 2026, the one-year fees will increase to $250 for EVs and $63 for PHEVs (two-year fees: $500 and $126). Starting in 2027, the fees will be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index. The PHEV fee will remain at 25% of the EV fee, rounded to the nearest dollar.

Initially, PennDOT will mail a payment notice to affected vehicle owners, who will need to submit a check or money order within 30 days. Payment of the RUC will be required to renew vehicle registration in subsequent cycles.

PennDOT is developing an online payment system expected to be available by August 2025. A monthly payment option is slated to begin in July 2026.

The RUC replaces the previous Alternative Fuels Tax for EV and PHEV owners of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 14,000 pounds or less. PennDOT said the new system simplifies the process and eliminates the need for tracking electricity usage and complex calculations.

Certain electric vehicles are exempt from the RUC, including golf carts, electric motorcycles, vehicles from 1990 or older, and some government vehicles.

PennDOT emphasized that the RUC is necessary because EVs do not contribute to the state’s gasoline tax, the primary funding source for road and bridge projects. PHEVs, which use less gasoline, also contribute less through fuel taxes.

“This is about fairness,” the agency stated. “Every driver uses our roads and bridges and should contribute to their maintenance.”