Michigan Secretary of State - Tag Renewal Fee - WOW!!

[dpwmc93]

Wow, I received my Tag renewal form from the Secretary of State today and was shocked that the Total is $640...Which includes a $267 EV fee. Almost feels like I'm being punished for owning an EV, and doesn't really seem fair. Michigan's position is that EV drivers don't pay state gasoline taxes, which are a major source of road funding, so the annual EV fee is intended to replace those lost revenues.

With current gas prices and not having to get oil changes and very little maintenance, I guess I'm still ahead of the game.

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[RickLightning]

https://www.f150lightningforum.com/forum/threads/ev-supplemental-tax.33094/
https://www.f150lightningforum.com/...ft-legislation-in-the-house.37177/post-691552

 

[P-38]

Yeah it seems that way but when you consider that the state fuel tax is 52.4 cents per gallon it's like buying ~510 gallons of gas.

At 20mpg it gets you about 10,200 miles.

Since I put 28k on my truck last year I came out way ahead cost wise and under contributed to much needed road repairs...

Not a fan of mileage based taxing because I want the government to know as little as possible about my use... But taxing the gas more tends to hurt lower income because the vehicles that cost less also get poorer milage on the whole (with in a given class of vehicles).

Fairest would probably be axle weight and mileage based. Perhaps tax tires...I don't know the right answer for road funding in michigan but I'm ok paying the $267.

 

[WoodduckMN]

The tabs for my 22 Lariat is $605 and 23 Tesla MY is $789 In Minnesota this year. Minnesota upped the EV surcharge this year from a flat $75 to $150 plus depending on the original MSRP.

 

[jackdeaoux]

Well it’s 1000$ in CA. So that MI tax doesn't sound 1/2 bad.

 

[Buf_T]

Wow, I received my Tag renewal form from the Secretary of State today and was shocked that the Total is $640...Which includes a $267 EV fee. Almost feels like I'm being punished for owning an EV, and doesn't really seem fair. Michigan's position is that EV drivers don't pay state gasoline taxes, which are a major source of road funding, so the annual EV fee is intended to replace those lost revenues.

With current gas prices and not having to get oil changes and very little maintenance, I guess I'm still ahead of the game.

Feel your pain! Went thru the same on my first renewal in 2024. In January 2026 it jumped another $100/yr. At the time my quick search showed Michigan as one of the highest / least EV friendly considering registration fees for EVs. Such is the current political climate. For us earlier adopters of EVs, can’t complain that we got the benefit of standard vehicle registration fees before they hiked ‘em. Note - appreciate the linked thread that shared comparisons to ICE fuel taxes.
Note Michigan HB5765 is proposed to give EV owners a choice between miles based and flat. Write your reps if you want them to support this idea.
https://legislature.mi.gov/document.../pdf/2026-HIB-5765.pdf?utm_source=copilot.com

 

[RickLightning]

My registration renewal is in fall, so knowing this was coming, I paid for 2 years for both vehicles instead of 1 year. Since our next vehicle will also be an EV, we can transfer the registration to the new vehicle for the remainder of the term, which also results in lower valuation costs, since it's currently based on a Mach-E purchased in 2022, not a possible Rivian R2 purchased in 2027.

Many people complain about registration fees without understanding the composition of them. Most on this thread do understand that one of the components in many states is now an EV tax/fee instead of a gasoline tax each time you fill up, but they also include a vehicle portion that is non-EV specific and is often based on the value of the vehicle. People go from a 8 year old vehicle to a brand new $70,000 EV and complain about the high cost, and don't understand that $500 of that $767 is based on the $70,000 value, irrespective of it being an EV, as compared to the $22,142 value of the 8 year old thing they got rid of.

Knowledge is power.

 

[Mal106]

I just wish the state and federal governments were a bit more efficient. Without profit/loss incentive/penalty, they just aren't. The money I spent on Lightning that I earned was taxed, the purchase was taxed, the electricity is taxed, there is, here, a property tax, an EV road use tax, registration. Without getting political which tax goes to what and who is taxed for what is a tough nut to crack.

Efficiency and a nudge toward a better environment would be the best I could hope for.

 

[RickLightning]

I just wish the state and federal governments were a bit more efficient. Without profit/loss incentive/penalty, they just aren't. The money I spent on Lightning that I earned was taxed, the purchase was taxed, the electricity is taxed, there is, here, a property tax, an EV road use tax, registration. Without getting political which tax goes to what and who is taxed for what is a tough nut to crack.

Efficiency and a nudge toward a better environment would be the best I could hope for.

Agree. But who is at fault? The American voter. Total apathy by most. Lack of holding politicians accountable.

Just read an article in the WSJ saying what I've been saying for years - that taxing authorities put ballot questions for new taxes on the off-cycle elections when few vote. Then they push with their supporters, and get it passed. I just voted against the two on my ballot, both of which were renewing 10 year funding. My wife feels they are both good causes, so she votes yes. That means I cancel out her vote. They will both pass.

We cannot pay for everything. Looking at something in isolation, you say "that deserves money". But when you add it all up, it's too much. Something has to not get money, or not as much money.

If you don't like what government is doing - local, state, national - then speak up. And vote. And speak up some more.

 

[Jseis]

In Washington our current licensing electrification rate for the 3 year old Lightning is $225. At our new power rate of .069 (up from .0634 3 years ago) which means I’m paying for 3260 miles.

In our SW rural county area the capital expenses for replacing 1930’s era steel truss/timber trestle bridges has been extraordinary. Over 100 bridges from 100’ to 1,000‘ river crossings. all new deep steel & concrete pile concrete truss. What hasn’t been replaced are the deep fills and subgrades built in the 30’s. I recall a 40’ deep culvert failing and washing out half the subgrade.

Because SR 101 is the only major route alternative west of I-5 (and winter flooding on I-5 pointed this out years ago), federal funding became available for many of the bridges.

With the exception of several steep slope areas (like the pic shows) 90% of our state highway is good with the remaining 10% sucky. The Lightning‘s suspension eats up the rough slump areas that have years of repeat asphalt repairs. On my regular route I still drive over three 30’s era timber trestle bridges approaching 90 years old! They are in difficult to replace areas but are scheduled for replacement before their 100th birthday.

What worked for us is a combo of very state limited highways in our area, state & federal funding, & a few key politicians-regional DOT staff that gave a dam@.

I recall this fix was a $375,000 repair. The drop off is 1:1 slope down to tidewater.

 

[roddiaz1]

Michigan, Minnesota, California, Washington....Hmmm?!?
I'd make a political comment right about now, but alas I'm not allowed.

 

[chl]

Virginia has a rate based on an average miles driven per year (11,600) and the weight of the vehicle paid at registration or you can enroll in Virginia Drivers Choice, which I did, and pay based on actual miles driven capped at the max fee otherwise charged.

I'm on that mileage based plan for the 2023 Lightning, the 2012 Leaf and the 2015 Prius hybrid, the yearly max and per mile charges are as follows:

My 2012 Leaf is charged 1.136 of a cent per Mile up to a max of $131.89.
My Lightning is charged 1.136 of a cent per Mile up to a max of $131.89.
They also hit up Hybrids, so our Prius is charged 0.5980 of a cent per Mile up to a max of $69.37.

They just raised the numbers slightly this year for the Lightning and the Leaf for some reason, go figure.

This just covers the reduced tail-pipe emissions road repairing surcharge, there is also a registration fee every year of about $30 but discounts for doing a multiple year registration.

Compared to some of the other states, this is lower it seems...it being higher or lower probably isn't political, we are a "blue state" currently, probably based on road expenses in any particular state, at least one would hope so...

One of the things that is unfair about it is with no or lower tail pipe emissions or petroleum use, we are reducing the costs to the state we live in (and the world) associated with air pollution, water pollution and land pollution, among other things, but not given any $ credit for that...

My dad used to say: 'No good deed goes unpunished" and so it is.

 

[chl]

PlugIn America had a good piece about the unfairness of the fees recently:

https://pluginamerica.org/ev-taxes-and-highway-funding-setting-the-record-straight/

 

[dpwmc93]

Wow, I received my Tag renewal form from the Secretary of State today and was shocked that the Total is $640...Which includes a $267 EV fee. Almost feels like I'm being punished for owning an EV, and doesn't really seem fair. Michigan's position is that EV drivers don't pay state gasoline taxes, which are a major source of road funding, so the annual EV fee is intended to replace those lost revenues.

With current gas prices and not having to get oil changes and very little maintenance, I guess I'm still ahead of the game.

Also, I just read that if you're a veteran and have a 100% service connection rating, this fee is waived...I'm a Marine Corps Veteran and currently at 90%...Just 10% to go lol

 

[El Duderino]

I won't complain, Iowa is only $130 extra for a BEV...

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