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What is the Highway Use Fee?

The highway use fee (HUF) helps make up for the fuel taxes that drivers with fuel-efficient and electric vehicles spend less on, because they’re not using as much fuel. This fee supports the Commonwealth Transportation Fund, which helps maintain our roads, highways, transit and airports.

Who pays the HUF?

You pay the HUF if you register a:

  • Fuel-efficient vehicle, which is a vehicle that has a combined fuel economy of 25 miles per gallon (MPG) or greater
  • Vehicle made in a year in which the average combined MPG rating for all vehicles produced in that year is 25 MPG or greater

Who is exempt?

The following vehicles are exempt from the HUF:

  • Vehicles with a combined MPG rating less than 25 MPG
  • Autocycles
  • Motorcycles
  • Mopeds
  • A vehicle with a gross weight greater than 10,000 pounds
  • A vehicle that is owned by a governmental entity
  • A vehicle registered under the International Registration Plan (IRP)

How is the HUF calculated?

The HUF’s calculation is based on:

  • The vehicle's fuel efficiency
  • The fuel tax rate at the time the vehicle was registered
  • The average number of miles driven

See Code of Virginia’s Highway Use Fee page for a full explanation.

How to Pay

There are two options to pay your HUF:

  1. You can pay in full in combination with your registration fee when you renew your vehicle.
  2. You can pay over time, as you drive, through the Mileage Choice Program.