Nevada Electric Hybrid Vehicle Owners BEWARE of the Odometer Pilot Oct. 1st.
Last week the DMV announced the implementation of a pilot program October 1, 2019, requiring all Nevada residents provide the odometer of their vehicle. This pilot may sound innocuous when a smog test, vehicle inspection or dealer report of sale already documents this information and reports to DMV electronically.
So why the need for a legislative initiative passed into law? MONEY!
In Legislative sessions 2017 and 2019 Assembly Bill 401,
| Requires the payment of an additional fee for registering or renewing the registration of a clean fuel vehicle or a hybrid fuel vehicle. (BDR 43-914) |
started as an effort to TAX Electric and Hybrid vehicle owners for their use of Nevada roads. Meanwhile, AB 483 (90th) pushed a “pilot” giving DMV more work and funding, to administer the program. While the DMV already knows how many miles Nevada gas vehicles drive year over year, since most hybrids and diesel vehicles do not require a smog to register or renew, the fuel tax index hawks have no clue how much road these cars are actually use. They do say the dollars are coming in $140 million short on the fuel tax collection.
Nevada to TAX Electric and Hybrid vehicles who get more MPG’s!
Cloaked under the title “ODOMETER PILOT”, the state wants to TAX the EV and hybrid owners of Nevada. Watch out Prius, Clarity, Pacifica, Insight, Volt, Bolt, Tesla, Leaf, i3, i8, eTron, and all the others owners. Figuring out how many miles each car drives a year sounds reasonable, but a more thorough investigation and discussion must include all stakeholders.
Nevada EV and hybrid owners need to pay attention to this activity or risk a tax bill they won’t like. Hybrid and EV car sales have slowed as gas prices remain low. Meanwhile, better fuel economy of fossil fuel cars also affects the amount of fuel tax collected, but it’s the EV’s in the bullseye.
- Today, EV and Hybrid owners are not not required to “SMOG”. Are they going to be required to pay a smog fee to get their odometer into the system to renew their registration online? Should the $30.00 fee be the same? Are the smog testers prepared and trained for this process?
- If the DMV provides a vehicle inspection for the EV – Hybrids owners, will this allow the owner to renew online or will they be required(and able) to make an appointment? Or will they stand in line for 5+ hours to get their tag? (Add to this traffic to the 2020 REAL ID requirement flooding DMV in the next year, was this the smart play?)
- How is the state going to differentiate between models that get 32+ mpg and ones that get 52 mpg combined? Here is a chart from the 2017 proposal…
- Today the system is based on gas consumption, the more gas you use, the more you pay. However, there are plenty of electric and hybrid vehicles that use our roads and pay nothing. What about all those California Teslas visiting each weekend? How are we taxing them for using our streets?
- Electric charging stations are popping up like mushrooms, now able to charge after a two year waiver of fees. Is there a “PILOT” analyzing the amount of charging watts and dollars Tesla is logging at Stateline and Town Square?
- How should a Electric or Hybrid car owner who has purchased an in-home charging station be taxed? Is taxing their electric bill and adding a Vehicle Mileage Tax double-dipping?
It is time to speak your mind, this Sept. 3rd. Head to the GRANT SAWYER building at 500 E. Washington, Las Vegas from 8:30am-12:30am. The meeting will be video conference from Carson City.
If you are not there but want to have you opinion entered into the public statement, feel free to send me an email to NVEVOWNERS@mycarlady.com
If you don’t speak up and get a seat at the table…you and your car will be on the NV TAX menu.
Stay tuned here for more info.