Montana Can Charge You Extra for Driving Certain Vehicles in 2024

We have all heard the saying, "Death and taxes are two things you will never avoid." As we near the end of the year, we begin to think about what the next year will bring. Your taxes will likely go up. Much like they do every year. But, new taxes also will emerge.

We have seen a big push for people to "Think Green." Governments all over the world are incentivizing people who take a more environmentally friendly approach to lowering their carbon footprint. There are incentives for people to put in more efficient windows in their homes. There are rebates for people who install solar panels on their houses. However, other than a Federal tax credit, there are not as many incentives for those who choose to drive EVs or Hybrids. In fact, Montana passed a bill that will charge EV and plug-in hybrid drivers MORE!

According to KTVH

Since July 1, an additional yearly fee is now in effect on electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids in Montana. House Bill 60 established a fee of $130 for EVs under 6,000 pounds – the most common in the state so far – and $70 for hybrids of that size. Larger vehicles will have higher fees. The money will go toward highway and road maintenance, like the gas tax that drivers of combustion-engine vehicles pay.

To be honest, I do not know many Montanans that drive EVs. It is a trend that is slow to start in Montana. Especially with us being such a large state with so much distance between major cities.

I do know one person who has a pretty cool EV. Our General Manager, Scott. Scott has a new Ford Mustang Mach-E. I asked him if HB 60 had affected him. He said that he recently licensed his vehicle since the bill became law on July 1st. He said he wondered why it cost nearly $700 to license his EV. That could explain it.

We can only hope that Montana uses revenue generated by the new tax to build more infrastructure that can sustain more EVs on Montana's roads.