Andrew R. Siegel is a resident of Dover. The following was also sent to the Delaware General Assembly.
I am writing to express my deep displeasure and frustration regarding the recently announced Delaware alternative fuel vehicle fee — more accurately described as a “penalty.”
On Sept. 5, I received a postcard notifying me of this fee, which is set to take effect Oct. 1. This was the first and only communication I received on the matter. The postcard itself is vague, offering minimal information. Upon searching the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles’ website, I found little more. This lack of transparency, combined with the extremely short notice — just 25 days before implementation — feels like a covert attempt to quietly impose a financial burden on Delawareans without meaningful public engagement or clear justification.
To be frank, this feels like nothing more than a blatant money grab by the state. It’s arbitrary, capricious and fundamentally unfair. From what I can tell, little thought or real data appears to have gone into the development of this policy.
Allow me to illustrate just how inequitable this fee truly is, using my own situation:
I drive a 2019 non-plug-in hybrid Honda Accord. Over the past six years, I’ve averaged approximately 40 miles per gallon. In contrast, a comparable nonhybrid model averages about 30 miles per gallon. Despite choosing a more fuel-efficient vehicle — without any tax incentives or rebates — I’m now being penalized for using less fuel.
Over 80,000 miles, or roughly 13,333 miles per year, my vehicle has consumed about 333 gallons of fuel annually. At Delaware’s gas tax rate of 23 cents per gallon, I pay roughly $76.67 per year in fuel taxes. A comparable nonhybrid vehicle would use 444.5 gallons a year, contributing $102.24 in taxes. That’s a difference of only $25.57 per year.
Yet, under this new policy, I’m being charged a flat fee of $60 annually — more than double the lost tax revenue. Where is the logic or fairness in that?
Worse still, owners of electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles — many of whom received federal and state tax incentives — are also being charged this fee, which effectively claws back those incentives. But, for owners like me, who received no such benefits, this fee is purely punitive. It’s an unfair financial penalty levied simply because I chose a more fuel-efficient option.
I urge you to reconsider this policy and to provide a clear, fact-based justification for how this fee structure was determined. The citizens of Delaware would appreciate a response explaining either:
Thank you for your attention. We look forward to your reply.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
