Pennsylvania Tag & Title News
Road User Charge (RUC) for Electric and Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles
Acts 85 and 149 of 2024
Starting April 1, 2025, Pennsylvania will begin to charge electric vehicle (EV) and plug-
in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) owners a yearly Road User Charge (RUC) fee. This fee is
required by Act 85 of 2024 (later amended by Act 149 of 2024), which was passed by
the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Shapiro. Act 85 of 2024 set the
Commonwealth on a path to modernize how EV and PHEV owners support road and
bridge maintenance.
The new law creates a fair way for all drivers to help maintain Pennsylvania’s
transportation network, ensuring that EV and PHEV owners who pay no or very little gas
tax are also contributing to Pennsylvania’s Motor License Fund for highway and bridge
maintenance. Registrants driving a gas-powered car already contribute to the
maintenance of Pennsylvania’s road and bridge network through gas taxes.
Owners or registrants of EVs and PHEVs with a gross vehicle weight rating of not more
than 14,000 pounds will pay an annual electric vehicle RUC concurrent with paying the
vehicle registration fee.
Vehicle owners that had a new registration for an EV or PHEV issued on or after April 1,
2025, will be subject to the RUC. The Department of Transportation will send a RUC
coupon to the owner or registrant for the payment of the RUC for the initial registration.
The owner/registrant in return will mail the RUC coupon to the Department of
Transportation with a check or money order made payable to the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania.
Owners or registrants that renew their vehicle registration that expires after May 2025
for an EV or PHEV will also be subject to the RUC. The Department of Transportation
will send a RUC coupon to the owner or registrant for the payment of the RUC for their
recent vehicle registration renewal. The owner/registrant will return the RUC coupon by
mail with a check or money order made payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
RUC Amounts for EV and PHEV owners:
Year EVs PHEVs (25% of EV Fee)
2025 One year: $200
Two year: $400
One year: $50
Two year: $100
2026 One year: $250
Two year: $500
One year: $63
Two year: $126
Each Jan. 1
thereafter
Tied to consumer price index
(CPI)
25% of EV fee, rounded to the
nearest whole dollar
PA Drivers license check BEFORE Title & tag transfer.
Beginning November 30, 2022 all PA Vehicle title and tag transfers will require the BUYERS drivers license or ID to be validated prior to completing the transfer. If for some reason the DL cannot be validated the transaction cannot be completed. A letter will be issued to the buyer to contact PennDOT directly to correct the issue. The validation will be done by agents online. There will be an additional fee for the DL validation.
Basic requirements for buying/transferring a used vehicle.
Buyer and seller must come in. Seller must bring the original PA Title and valid PA Drivers license or ID card. The buyer must bring their valid PA Drivers license or PA ID card along with a valid insurance card listing the vehicle to be purchased. (You need to contact your current auto insurance agent and add the vehicle to your insurance and have them email you a new current Insurance card.)
If the buyer is going to use a current valid registration plate from another vehicle you need the registration card and current insurance card from that vehicle.
PA Sales tax will be due based on the price of the vehicle. If the price of the vehicle is less than 80% of the current market value, (PennDot checks the value in the online system), then and additional form is required explaining the reason to be signed by both the buyer and seller.
The buyers address on the drivers license MUST be current or have a change of address card issued by PennDOT.
An existing registration plate may be transferred between spouses or between parents including step-parents or parents in-law and their children including step children or children in-law.
Vehicle Transfer after Death of Owner
If an executor has been appointed then a SHORT FORM CERTIFICATE is required from the Register of Wills. If there is no will then an ORIGINAL death certificate is required. There may be additional requirements depending on the vehicle title.