Cars and large trucks could end up costing California drivers more in vehicle registration fees if a new bill introduced in the state Legislature passes.
Vehicle registration fees in California are based on the value of the car, but a bill introduced by Assemblyman Christopher M. Ward (D-San Diego) would look at what the impact could be if there were a weight-based fee.
Assembly Bill 251 would also initiate a study on the connection between vehicle weight and pedestrian and bicyclist injuries and deaths.
“We know there are studies that suggest fatality rates may be higher in accidents involving heavier vehicles, especially models weighing several thousand pounds,” Ward said in a statement. “AB 251 will further analyze the relationship between vehicle weight and injuries to help inform policy in the future.”
According to a 2020 study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, an insurance industry trade group, larger cars, such as SUVs, are “disproportionately likely” to injure or kill pedestrians.
The study looked at 82 pedestrian crashes and found that while low- and high-speed crashes tended to cause similar injuries with different types of vehicles, “intermediate speed” crashes caused more serious injuries when they involved an SUV.
If Gov. Gavin Newsom signs the bill, it wouldn't necessarily mean SUV and truck owners would immediately start paying higher vehicle registration fees.
Ward's bill, which was introduced Jan. 18, would ask the California Transportation Commission to create a task force to examine the possible connection between vehicle weight and injuries. He would also study whether higher fees would affect driver behavior and how revenue from fees could be used to improve safety features on roads for pedestrians and cyclists.
The report should be submitted by January 1, 2026.
If California changes the way it assesses vehicle registration fees, it won't be the first country in the United States to base them on vehicle weight.
Several states do that, including New York, New Jersey, Florida, New Mexico, Virginia, North Dakota and South Dakota, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
