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Hawaii Road Usage Charge Program

 

The Hawaii Road Usage Charge (HiRUC) Program begins for electric vehicles (EVs) on July 1, 2025.

On their first registration renewal notice sent after July 1, 2025, eligible EV drivers may see the choice to pay either the state per-mile road usage charge (RUC) ($8 per 1,000 miles driven, capped at $50) or the state flat annual RUC of $50.

How does it work?

EVs are currently the only vehicles eligible for the HiRUC Program. EV drivers will select and pay for their RUC at the time of their vehicle registration renewal. Vehicle registration, renewal, and payment processes remain unchanged, except for the following, beginning July 1, 2025:

  • Mileage data for HiRUC will be read and recorded as part of their annual vehicle safety inspection. That odometer reading will inform how many miles were driven, and the RUC amount owed.
  • Beginning July 1, 2025, owners of EVs eligible for the HiRUC Program will see a choice of the state per-mile RUC or the flat annual RUC on their vehicle registration renewal notice.
  • During their vehicle registration renewal process, owners will be prompted to choose between the state per-mile RUC of $8 per 1,000 miles, capped at $50, or the state flat annual RUC of $50.
  • Vehicle owners will be able to choose their RUC option through any existing registration renewal method (online, DMV Now Kiosk, in-person, or mail). The most convenient renewal options are online and at a DMV Now Kiosk.
  • The RUC amount owed will be due at the time of vehicle registration renewal, and payments can be processed by any existing registration renewal method.

Non-EVs, including hybrids and plug-in hybrids, are not eligible for the HiRUC Program at this time.

Learn more!

To learn more about the HiRUC Program, visit www.hiruc.org. Try the HiRUC Estimator Tool to determine whether a per-mile RUC or flat annual RUC is best for you!

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Frequently Asked Questions
About the Road Usage Charge (RUC)

A road usage charge, or RUC, is a new way to pay for Hawaii roads. It is a per-mile fee that drivers pay instead of fuel taxes. Most gasoline and diesel-fueled vehicles pay fuel taxes that are built into the cost of gas at the pump. As more cars on Hawaii roads are electric, hybrid or increasingly fuel efficient, gas tax revenues to fund roads, bridges, and infrastructure are declining. In Hawaii, the HiRUC Program will begin on July 1, 2025, for EV drivers only, to help maintain funding for our transportation system.

Hawaii’s fuel tax currently provides a significant portion of revenue to fund the maintenance of the state’s roads and bridges. While gasoline-powered vehicles pay the state fuel tax and electric vehicles pay the state annual EV registration surcharge, these taxes and surcharges do not necessarily correlate with the usage of Hawaii’s roads. 

As our state’s vehicles become more fuel-efficient, hybrid, or all-electric, the fuel tax revenues needed to maintain our roads will continue to decline. A transition to a RUC will help to ensure fair, long-term, sustainable funding for Hawaii’s roads.

The HiRUC Program began as a demonstration and research project to evaluate the feasibility of road usage charging (RUC) in Hawaii. The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) led a three-year research effort that allowed Hawaii drivers to experience the mechanism of paying for Hawaii’s roads through a per-mile road usage charge, without owing real money. Based on public feedback and recommendations, the HDOT sought legislation to enact a RUC program. 

In July 2023, the Hawaii State Legislature enacted legislation to implement a state RUC program starting with EVs beginning July 1, 2025. 

About Hawaiʻi’s Road Usage Charge Program

Hawaii’s Road Usage Charge (HiRUC) Program begins on July 1, 2025, for eligible EV drivers. On their first registration renewal notice sent after July 1, 2025, eligible EV drivers may see the choice between the state per-mile RUC ($8 per 1,000 miles driven, capped at $50) or the state flat annual RUC of $50.

If a driver chooses the state per-mile RUC, they will continue to pay the state per-mile RUC in future renewals. If a driver chooses the state flat annual RUC, they will continue to have the option to choose the state per-mile RUC in future renewals.

Beginning July 1, 2028, all EV drivers will automatically be enrolled in the state per-mile RUC. EV drivers can explore their RUC rate via the HiRUC Program’s RUC Estimator.

Eligible vehicles subject to the HiRUC Program beginning July 1, 2025, meet the following criteria:

  • Are registered in Hawaiʻi
  • Are electric vehicles (not plug-in hybrid or hybrid)
  • Have three or more wheels
  • Can operate at or above 35 miles per hour 
  • Have a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less

Electric vehicles (EVs) that have missed two consecutive odometer readings, have late safety inspections from the previous registration year, or have registrations more than 13 months late, default to the state flat annual RUC of $50. 

The HiRUC Program and the RUC amount owed replaces the current state $50 EV registration surcharge for RUC-eligible EVs. 

Newly purchased EVs will not owe RUC upon purchase. At the first registration renewal, the vehicle will default to the state flat annual RUC of $50. This is because a safety check is not required after the first year of a newly purchased EV, so the state per-mile RUC amount owed cannot be calculated. However, for EVs purchased on or after July 1, 2025, the $50 paid will be credited toward their state RUC on their second registration renewal, per statute.

To determine the state per-mile RUC in future years, mileage is calculated as the difference between the two most recent odometer readings available at the time of registration renewal notice printing (about 60 days before the registration expires). EV drivers who schedule their next safety inspection within this window should see the per-mile RUC option on their registration renewal notice.

About the HiRUC Choice, Safety Inspection, and Mileage Data

Electric vehicles (EVs) are currently the only vehicles eligible for the HiRUC Program. Eligible EV drivers will make their RUC choice (if applicable) and pay for their RUC at the time of vehicle registration renewal. Vehicle registration, renewal, and payment processes remain unchanged, except for the following, beginning July 1, 2025:

  • Most vehicles will have their odometers read and recorded as part of their annual vehicle inspection, also known as a “safety check.” That odometer reading will inform how many miles were driven, and the RUC amount owed.
  • As of July 1, 2025, owners of EVs eligible for the HiRUC Program may see a choice of the state per-mile RUC or the flat annual RUC on their annual registration renewal notice.
  • During their registration renewal process, eligible EV owners may be prompted to choose between the state per-mile RUC of $8 per 1,000 miles, capped at $50, or the state flat annual RUC of $50.
  • To choose the per-mile RUC, EV drivers must complete their safety inspection at least 60 days before their registration expires. If there is incorrect, inaccurate, or missing mileage data, the RUC amount due will default to the state flat annual RUC of $50.
  • Eligible EV owners will be able to make their RUC choice (if applicable) through any existing registration renewal method (kiosk, online, in-person, or mail/drop box). The most convenient renewal options are at the Hawaiʻi NOW Self-Service Kiosks (visit hawaiidmvnowkiosk.com) and online through your county DMV we
  • The RUC amount owed will be due at the time of vehicle registration renewal, and payments can be processed by any existing registration renewal method.

Non-EVs, including hybrids and plug-in hybrids, are not eligible for the HiRUC Program at this time.

Any registration renewal notice mailed after July 1, 2025, will list the RUC amount owed. Eligible EV drivers may have the choice between the state per-mile RUC ($8 per 1,000 miles driven, capped at $50), or the state flat annual RUC of $50.

If there is incorrect, inaccurate, or missing mileage data, the RUC amount due will default to the state flat annual RUC of $50. See the FAQ “How can EV drivers get the HiRUC choice?” to learn more about qualifying for the HiRUC choice.

EV drivers must have two valid odometer readings to be eligible for the per-mile RUC choice. This requires EV drivers to complete their safety check prior to their registration renewal notice being printed, which is about 60 days prior to expiration.

If EV drivers do not have two valid odometer readings before the registration renewal is printed, they will default to the state flat annual RUC of $50.

You may not have seen the per-mile RUC option because:

  • Your vehicle is new and doesn’t yet have two valid odometer readings, or
  • Mileage data is missing due to a lack of two valid odometer readings.

To determine the state per-mile RUC, the mileage is calculated as the difference between the previous two odometer readings available at the time of registration renewal notice printing (about 60 days before the registration expires). If there is incorrect, inaccurate, or missing mileage data, the RUC amount due will default to the state flat annual RUC of $50.

It is recommended that you complete your safety check about 60 days before your registration expires. This helps ensure that the odometer reading is captured before the renewal notice is printed, allowing the per-mile RUC option to be calculated and offered.

  • The HiRUC Program uses the odometer readings captured at the time of annual vehicle inspection, also known as a “safety check.”
  • At the time of registration renewal notice, the “current registration period” mileage used to calculate the per-mile RUC is the difference between the vehicle’s most recent odometer reading and the second most recent odometer reading.
  • If an annual vehicle inspection is conducted after the registration renewal notice is generated (about 60 days before registration expiration), the odometer reading at that annual vehicle inspection will be used in the next registration renewal period.
  • If there is incorrect, inaccurate, or missing mileage data, the RUC amount due will default to the state flat annual RUC of $50.

To determine a state per-mile RUC, the mileage difference between the previous two odometer readings is used at the time of registration renewal notice printing (about 60 days before registration expires). Unfortunately, there is not a way for the DMV to recalculate your HiRUC for this year. The reason renewal notice printing is used as the calculation cutoff date is to avoid mismatched information in the DMV system and what drivers see on their notice.

Once you align your safety inspection with this timeframe (about 60 days before your registration expires), you shouldn’t experience this issue again and should see the per-mile option on your registration renewal notice.

Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)

Hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are not eligible for the HiRUC Program when it launches on July 1, 2025. The HiRUC Program is only applicable to eligible EVs (as described in the FAQ “Which EVs are eligible for the HiRUC Program?”).

The Hawaii Department of Transportation is researching future road usage charge options for the expansion of the HiRUC Program. Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) are one of the vehicle types under consideration for future HiRUC Program eligibility. PHEVs purchase and use some gasoline, so it will be important to determine how drivers of PHEVs would be credited for those fuel taxes paid at the pump. 

In some instances, hybrids and plug-in electric hybrid vehicles have been registered as electric vehicles (EVs) and have paid the state EV registration surcharge of $50. These vehicles are not eligible for the HiRUC Program.

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