Florida Electric Vehicle Owners Could Face New Registration Fee

Tallahassee, Florida– A new bill proposed in Florida would impose a yearly registration fee of $200 on electric vehicles, in an effort to make up for lost gas-tax dollars.

The bill, SB 28, was filed by Senate Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development Appropriations Chairman Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater. It would also impose an annual fee of $50 on plug-in hybrids.

The legislative session will begin January 9, 2024, and the bill would take effect July 1, 2024, if passed.

Florida uses gas tax revenues to pay for transportation projects. But a Senate staff analysis of the 2023 proposal said an increase in the use of electric vehicles could result in a 5.6 percent to 20 percent drop in “motor-fuel based revenue streams” by 2040.

The analysis said 31 states impose some form of registration fee on electric vehicles.

The proposed bill has been met with mixed reactions from electric vehicle owners and advocates. Some say it is unfair to charge electric vehicle owners more for registration, while others say it is a necessary way to make up for lost gas-tax revenue.

The bill is still in its early stages, and it is unclear whether it will be passed by the legislature.

In the meantime, electric vehicle owners in Florida should be aware of the proposed fee and how it could affect them.