If you drive a Tesla, a hybrid, or even just a gas-sipper that gets better than 25 miles per gallon in Virginia, you've likely felt that sting at the DMV. You go to renew your tags, expecting the usual registration fee, and suddenly there’s this extra line item—the Highway Use Fee (HUF). It's basically a "sorry you're not buying enough gas" tax.
But there’s a way out. Sorta.
The Virginia Mileage Choice Program was launched as a way to make that fee a bit more fair. Instead of handing over a lump sum of roughly $130 (for EVs) or a scaled amount for hybrids every year, you pay only for what you actually use. It sounds like a no-brainer if you don’t drive much, but the program is surprisingly misunderstood. Honestly, most people sign up without realizing how the "cap" works or what Emovis—the company running the tech—is actually tracking.
The HUF Math: Why This Program Exists
Virginia’s roads aren't free. Historically, we paid for them through the gas tax. You buy a gallon, a few cents go to VDOT, and the potholes get (theoretically) filled.
But then cars got efficient.
When you drive a car that gets 50 MPG, or an EV that uses zero gas, you’re basically "skipping out" on your bill for road maintenance. To fix this, the General Assembly passed House Bill 1414 back in 2020. It created the Highway Use Fee. The DMV looks at the average Virginian—who drives about 11,600 miles a year—and calculates how much gas tax they would have paid. If your car is efficient, you pay a percentage of that difference upfront.
This is where the Virginia Mileage Choice Program steps in as the "pay-as-you-go" alternative. It’s a voluntary program. If you drive 5,000 miles a year, why should you pay for 11,600?
How It Actually Works (The Tech Side)
You don't just tell the DMV your mileage and hope they believe you. When you enroll through the official portal (vamileagechoice.com), you’re actually dealing with a private company called Emovis. They’re the "Commercial Account Manager" for the state.
They give you two main ways to track your miles:
- The OBD-II Device: A little dongle you plug into the port under your dashboard. It’s the same port mechanics use to read "check engine" codes.
- In-Vehicle Telematics: For newer cars, especially Teslas and certain Fords or Chevys, the car can just "talk" directly to the program via its built-in data connection. No extra hardware required.
There is a big concern about privacy here. People hate the idea of the government knowing where they go. Interestingly, you can actually choose a non-GPS device. It only counts the number of miles, not the coordinates of where those miles happened. However, keep in mind that Virginia does not currently discount miles driven out of state. If you drive to North Carolina, those miles still count toward your Virginia fee.
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The "No-Lose" Guarantee
One thing the DMV emphasizes—and they’re actually right about this—is the cap. Your total payments in the Virginia Mileage Choice Program will never exceed what you would have paid for the flat Highway Use Fee.
Let's say your annual HUF is $120.
- You drive 4,000 miles? You might only pay $45 for the year.
- You drive 20,000 miles? You pay $120. You stop paying once you hit that "cap."
Basically, if you drive less than 11,600 miles, you save money. If you drive more, you just end up paying the same amount you would have paid anyway, just spread out over the year instead of all at once. It’s a bit like an interest-free payment plan for your registration.
Is It Worth the Hassle?
I've talked to people who love it and people who think it’s a privacy nightmare. For a retiree in Alexandria who only drives to the grocery store, it’s a massive win. They might save $80 a year. For a commuter driving from Fredericksburg to D.C. every day? It’s probably just an extra app on their phone they don't need, since they'll hit the cap by March anyway.
The IRS recently bumped the business mileage rate to 72.5 cents per mile for 2026, which shows just how expensive driving is getting. While the Virginia program’s per-mile fee is a tiny fraction of that (usually around one cent per mile), every bit adds up.
Common Frustrations
It isn't all smooth sailing. The app can be a bit wonky. Users have complained that the "odometer photo" requirement during the annual "true-up" doesn't always upload correctly. Sometimes the OBD-II devices can trigger weird battery drain issues in older hybrids.
Also, you have to enroll before you renew your registration. If you've already paid your HUF at the DMV counter, you're locked in for the year. You have to wait until your next renewal cycle to jump into the mileage-based option.
Real-World Nuances Most People Miss
- The 85% Rule: The state doesn't actually charge you 100% of the gas tax difference. They charge 85%. It's a small "incentive" for driving a green vehicle, though many EV owners still feel like they're being penalized for doing the right thing for the environment.
- Weight Matters (Or It Should): One of the biggest criticisms of the program is that it doesn't account for vehicle weight. A heavy Ford Lightning does way more damage to the asphalt than a tiny Nissan Leaf, yet they might pay similar fees. There’s a lot of chatter in Richmond about eventually moving to a weight-and-mileage system, but for now, it's just mileage.
- New Car Purchases: For a long time, this was only for renewals. But the DMV is slowly expanding the system to allow dual enrollment at the time of purchase for new cars.
What You Should Do Next
If your registration is coming up in the next 60 days, don't just mindlessly click "renew" on the DMV website. Take a look at your odometer.
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Calculate your average annual mileage. If that number is under 11,600, go to the Virginia Mileage Choice website and set up an account. You'll need your VIN and a credit card for the "prepaid wallet" (they usually start you off with a small deposit, like $20, which they draw from as you drive).
If you’re a high-mileage driver, honestly, just pay the flat fee and save yourself the trouble of plugging a tracker into your car. There is no financial benefit to the program if you're crossing the 12,000-mile mark annually.
Check your car's compatibility. Most vehicles from 1996 or newer work with the plug-in device, but if you have a Tesla, the telematics option is much cleaner. Just be ready for the "true-up" at the end of the year where you have to take a picture of your dashboard to prove the device is being honest. It's a bit of a chore, but for the sake of fifty or sixty bucks, most Virginians find it worth the five minutes of effort.
Lastly, keep an eye on your "wallet" balance. If your credit card expires and the auto-refill fails, the DMV gets notified, and you could end up with a "stop" on your record, which is a massive headache to clear when you're just trying to get your stickers. Keep the tech updated, and the program works exactly as advertised.