The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has announced the launch of the Milage Choice Program – a pay-per-mile road usage charging (RUC) scheme operated by Emovis.
The programme is a voluntary option for drivers of electric, hybrid or fuel-efficient vehicles who pay the US state’s highway use fee.
According to Emovis, more than 2,000 eligible vehicle owners have applied to the scheme since its launch on 01 July.
The fee is assessed based on the number of miles the average Virginian drives in a year – 11,600 miles.
Instead of paying the fee up front at registration, customers who participate in the Mileage Choice Program will only pay for the actual number of miles they drive throughout the year.
Customers can enroll in the Mileage Choice Program when it is time to renew their vehicle registration and must sign up prior to renewing.
“We continue to not only provide options for Virginians at DMV, but look for innovative and efficient solutions to save our customers time and money,” said acting DMV commissioner Linda Ford.
“By choosing to participate in the Mileage Choice Program, customers may pay less, but will also spread out their highway use fee instead of paying one lump sum annually.”
The Virginia General Assembly instituted the highway use fee in 2020 to ensure drivers of fuel-efficient and electric vehicles contribute “their fair share” toward covering wear and tear on the state’s highway system.
The legislation also created the Mileage Choice Program as a mileage-based alternative that will never cost users more than the annual highway use fee.
The programme in Virginia is Emovis’ third mileage-based user (MBUF) fee RUC programme in the USA following two existing revenue-service schemes in Utah and Oregon.
What’s more, the Virgina scheme is reportedly the first MBUF RUC programme on the US East Coast and, over time, could have up to 1.9 million eligible vehicles.
It will be run by Emovis for three years with the potential for additional renewable years
