this post was submitted on 17 Aug 2025
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Stop the free ride: all motorists should pay their way, whatever vehicle they drive (theconversation.com)
submitted 1 day ago by HalfEarthMedic@slrpnk.net to c/australia@aussie.zone
27 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

A specific road use tax on EVs and hybrids makes no sense.

Given the harms caused by traditional vehicles, society should welcome the decline in fuel excise revenue caused by the transition to EVs – in the same way we should welcome declining revenue from cigarette taxes.

Vehicle registration fees make only a modest contribution to road costs. That’s why all motorists should pay a road-user charge. The payment should be based on a combination of vehicle mass and distance travelled

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[–] No1@aussie.zone 2 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago) (1 children)

It could be reported each time the car is serviced or at registration time. Seems to happen in the US like that sometimes.

If people misreport it, it would be caught when they try to sell the vehicle. Eg, if I report 5K per year, but actually do 20K, then if I try to sell it in 5 years time, and it shows 25K on the Registration info, but 100K on the odo, then I'm not buying that car lol

But, of course, they'll go for the "track your car at all times" option. An app that you must operate and sends real time GPS info would be their wet dream. Or they could just take the Maps data you send directly from Apple and Google lol

As an aside, insurance companies would love this too. You were speeding by 3km/h? Your insurance premium has just jumped by 20%.

[–] Geobloke@aussie.zone 2 points 19 hours ago

Good point, I hadn't thought of a car rego declaration. Servicing seems like not the best idea as it would make life harder for poor people, who might stretch out servicing and would probably do it more if there was an additional cost at that point.

I'm scared that continually tracking your car will be the default option though. Best argument against it is to argue that it would put victims of domestic violence at further risk