Frequently Asked Questions
Privacy
Will The Government Be Able To Track Where I Drive?
It’s not necessary to have the government or its partners monitor where you drive. There are several methods for mileage reporting that do not use GPS, such as a manual reporting method or odometer image capture or capturing odometer readings at annual inspections where that is used. Other ways to protect your privacy includes having third parties capture the information, requiring destruction of driving data at a frequent basis based on payments, and not letting other people get it without having some kind of court order.
Fairness
Aren’t Mileage Fees Unfair To Rural Drivers Who Have To Drive Longer Distances?
Several states and coalitions have looked into this. The bottom line is that most of the studies show that rural drivers may driver longer distances than urban drivers, but generally are using less efficient vehicles. So they are currently paying more for those miles than urban drivers who may actually drive the same number of miles, but who drive more efficient vehicles. For example, in some studies, the number of miles driven by both rural and urban drivers is about the same. This is because urban drivers have shorter trips but may make many of those trips or spend more time in stop and go traffic. So the only difference is how much they are paying for those miles through fuel tax payments.
Double Taxation
Aren’t Mileage Fees Another Way For The Government To Add Another Tax?
Every state that has looked at this has decided that people should pay either fuel taxes or the mileage fee. In a way, it is a return to the user pays principle where everyone is paying about the same amount for the miles they drive, and the damage they do to the roads.
Anti-Fuel Efficiency
Won’t Mileage Fees Punish Drivers Of Fuel-Efficient Vehicles And Discourage Drivers Adoption Of Hybrid And Electric Vehicles?
Our current user fee system is designed to charge road users for the cost of building and maintaining roads and bridges. It is not designed to encourage or discourage fuel efficiency. In fact, MBUF considers the potential increase in the volume of fuel-efficient vehicles to balance that likelihood with stable revenue collection for transportation infrastructure. For example, electric vehicles receive the same benefit from roads and bridges as conventionally fueled vehicles. To be fair, they should also contribute to the cost of use. Mileage based fees return to the principle of having users pay for what they use.
Interoperability
Won’t A Mileage-Based System Be More Inefficient Because Every State And Locality Will Have A Different System?
Not if there is standardization between programs. And states are working on making the programs interoperable between states and working on adapting existing standards to keep costs low and make it efficient.
Privacy
Will The Government Be Able To Track Where I Drive?
Privacy has to be guaranteed. That is why pilot trials are needed to evaluate different technologies and to develop privacy protocols. Many methods for mileage metering will be tested including some that do not use GPS type vehicle location technology. Identifying vehicles by location is one possible VMT technology but there are other methods that would be tested that simply measure miles driven and are not location based.
Fairness
Aren’t Mileage Fees Unfair To Rural Drivers Who Have To Drive Longer Distances?
Any alternative user charge system has to be fair. One goal for the trials would be to determine how to calibrate the mileage-based user fee system so that it would be fair to both rural and urban drivers. Rural drivers drive longer distances but often in less fuel-efficient vehicles. Urban drivers drive shorter distances but spend more time in traffic. Both already pay gas taxes on fuel consumed. The mileage-based user fee would replace the fee paid for gas taxes with a fee for road use.
Double Taxation
Aren’t Mileage Fees Another Way For The Government To Add Another Tax?
No, the MBUF would be an alternative to the gas tax. The intent is shore up the Highway Trust Fund and generate sufficient financial capability to meet the country’s transportation infrastructure needs.
Anti-Fuel Efficiency
Won’t Mileage Fees Punish Drivers Of Fuel-Efficient Vehicles And Discourage Drivers Adoption Of Hybrid And Electric Vehicles?
Our current user fee system is designed to charge road users for the cost of building and maintaining roads and bridges. It is not designed to encourage or discourage fuel efficiency. In fact, MBUF considers the potential increase in the volume of fuel-efficient vehicles to balance that likelihood with stable revenue collection for transportation infrastructure. For example, electric vehicles receive the same benefit from roads and bridges as conventionally fueled vehicles. To be fair, they should also contribute to the cost of use. Pilot studies can, however, look at impact on the roads being used caused by different size and weighted vehicles and calibrate fees accordingly.
Interoperability
Won’t A Mileage-Based System Be More Inefficient Because Every State And Locality Will Have A Different System?
The private sector and the academic community would be involved in the data collection, technology development and trial assessment. Funds from the federal government could help explore technology requirements like interoperability and standards.