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
  • Low Speed Vehicles, pay an annual $25 HUF

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)

HUF Calculation

The HUF’s calculation is based on:

  • The vehicle's fuel efficiency (combined miles per gallon (MPG) rating)
  • The fuel tax rate at the time the vehicle was registered (updated annually July 1)
  • The average number of miles driven by all Virginians
  • HUF is 85% of the difference between taxes paid by a vehicle with a 23.7 rating and taxes paid by a vehicle using the manufacturer's combined MPG rating based on the average miles driven by all Virginians

HUF= [((11,600 average miles traveled * fuels tax rate) / 23.7) - ((11,600 average miles traveled * fuels tax rate) / vehicle's MPG rating)] * .85

Refer to the HUF chart below for the current fuels tax rate.

View HUF Chart

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

HUF Review

If you believe the incorrect MPG rating was used to calculate your HUF, you may request a review below. This process may only be used once per vehicle. An email notification will be sent following completion of the review process.

Request Review

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.