Gas Tax Longdesc

This detailed graph shows the difference in cost that drivers would pay between the existing gas tax and the potential road usage charge, using five different vehicle types as examples. In a potential road usage charge at a rate of 2.4 cents per mile, less fuel efficient vehicles would see a decrease in the amount of taxes paid, while more fuel efficient vehicles would see an increase in the amount of taxes paid compared to state’s existing gas tax at 49.4 cents per gallon.

The average vehicle in Washington averages 20.5 miles per gallon. The taxes paid per month with a road usage charge would be roughly equivalent to the taxes paid using the state’s gas tax. Vehicles with fuel efficiency lower than the state average, such as the 2007 Ford F 150 with an average of 15 miles per gallon, would pay approximately nine dollars less per month with a road usage charge compared to the gas tax. A more fuel efficient vehicle, such as the 2016 Toyota Prius C with an average of 50 miles per gallon, would pay approximately 14 dollars more per month with a road usage charge.

The total effect is that under a road usage charge, all drivers would pay the same per mile rate to use the roads regardless of their vehicle’s fuel efficiency.