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Frequently
Asked Questions
Q
What is changing?
A
Utah employs a commercial account manager to operate the RUC program. UDOT is transitioning from one account manager to another. The current account manager (emovis) will no longer be supporting the RUC program as of June 6, and a new account manager (ETAN) is beginning operations in May.
Q
Why is the switch occurring?
A
To provide best value to the Utah taxpayer, UDOT periodically recompetes service contracts, and a new vendor (ETAN) won the latest contract.
Q
Do I have to switch to the new CAM?
A
Yes. The current account manager (emovis) will no longer be supporting the RUC program as of June 6, so all program participants will need to switch to the new account manager (ETAN).
Q
When is the switch occurring?
A
For new vehicles signing up for the RUC program, enrollment begins April 1. Existing program participants will remain with the current account manager (emovis) through April 30, and will transition during the month of May.
Q
What do I have to do to switch?
A
If you’re in the program, you will receive an email explaining exactly how to switch. You will simply follow a link in the email, create a new username and password, and provide your payment information. Your vehicle's information and prepaid wallet value will pre-populate in your account with the new account manager (ETAN). For each vehicle, you will choose a Mileage Reporting Option.
Q
Will the money I currently have in my prepaid wallet be moved to my prepaid wallet with the new account manager (ETAN)?
A
Yes.
Q
Will the payment method I use to replenish my wallet be transferred to the new account manager (ETAN)?
A
No. For security reasons, payment card information cannot be transferred between organizations. You will need to provide your payment method to the new account manager at the time you confirm your account information with them.
Q
What Mileage Reporting Options are available, and what are the requirements for each mileage reporting option?
A
The new account manager (ETAN) will provide two mileage reporting options:
- Telematics, using data provided directly by the vehicle. Nearly all new vehicles, and some vehicle models dating back to Model Year 2012, are equipped with automaker telematics systems, which can provide odometer reading data to be used for RUC calculation. In the outgoing program, only Tesla models 3 and Y were eligible to use telematics. In the new program, most electric vehicles equipped with telematics reporting capability will be eligible to enroll with that method,
- Odometer Photo, in which users take a picture of the vehicle odometer every 3 months using a mobile device (phone or tablet).
Q
What do I have to do for each of the mileage reporting options?
A
For telematics, you simply ensure your vehicle telematics coverage is active, and provide your telematics login credentials to the new account manager (ETAN) as part of your account setup with them. Many automakers require payment for an active subscription to their telematics services, while others do not. You may simply choose the odometer photo reporting method described below if your vehicle’s telematics services are not active.
For odometer photo, you receive requests for an odometer photo every 3 months and you then submit a picture of your odometer via mobile phone or tablet.
Q
I am already using telematics to report mileage. Do I need to do anything to enable telematics with the new account manager (ETAN)?
A
Yes, you will need to reauthorize use of your telematics system for RUC purposes with the new account manager. Your previous authorization was for the previous account manager only. For security purposes, you must authorize the new account manager to collect mileage information from your telematics system on your behalf.
Q
Is the rate structure changing?
A
No. All miles driven will still be charged at a flat rate of 1.06 cents per mile. The total amount charged for a given vehicle for a given registration year will still be capped at the alternative fuel vehicle fee charged for the given vehicle type for the given year.
Q
What if I don’t want to continue in the Road Usage Charge program with the new account manager (ETAN)?
A
You must contact customer support to initiate account closure with the current account manager (emovis) prior to May 1, 2024.
Q
What if I don’t leave the program prior to May 1, 2024 when the new account manager (ETAN) begins operations?
A
Your account will be migrated to ETAN on May 1, 2024. After that point you will need to request ETAN to close your account if you wish to leave the program. If you haven’t activated your account with ETAN before your vehicle registration renewal, you will be unable to renew your vehicle registration until doing so or closing your account with ETAN.
Q
How do I return my device?
A
The current CAM (emovis) will send you instructions about how to return your device. You will simply mail it back.
Q
What if I don’t return my device?
A
If you fail to return your device, your payment method on file will be charged $95.
Q
What is Utah’s Road Usage Charge?
A
Utah’s Road Usage Charge program is a pay-per-mile charge instead of a tax paid per gallon on fuel. Similar to utilities such as electricity, you pay for what you use. Road Usage Charge is being tested as a potential replacement for the gas tax. It is not an additional tax.
Utah’s initial Road Usage Charge is a voluntary program that owners of electric vehicles may opt into instead of paying the flat fee for alternative fuel vehicles during their annual registration.
For additional questions regarding the policy and administration of Utah’s Road Usage Charge, click here.
Q
Who operates Utah’s Road Usage Charge?
A
The Utah Department of Transportation in partnership with the Division of Motor Vehicles oversees the Road Usage Charge program. emovis is a third-party commercial account manager contracted to operate the program by collecting mileage reports and payments.
For additional questions regarding the policy and administration of Utah’s Road Usage Charge, click here.
Q
How does Utah’s Road Usage Charge program work?
A
EV drivers can choose to continue to pay the flat fee for alternative fuel vehicles or enroll in Utah’s Road Usage Charge program to pay for road usage based on the number of miles driven, up to the amount of the set flat fee.
- Enroll. To enroll, you will create an account with emovis, the third-party commercial account manager. You will need your vehicle information and a valid credit or debit card to set up a prepaid wallet. You will sign a user agreement with emovis and they will send you a device to place in the vehicle to report mileage.
- Install. When you receive the OBD mileage reporting device, install it in the OBD port of your vehicle to fully activate your account. You will also need to download a smartphone app to record an initial odometer reading. You will create an account in the app separate from the online portal with emovis.
- Drive. You will pay 1.06 cents per mile, deducted from the prepaid wallet, up to the amount of the flat fee. Enrolling in Utah’s Road Usage Charge program gives you access to DriveSync®, an app that makes your driving safer and more productive through trip tracking and driving reports.
For additional questions regarding the policy and administration of Utah’s Road Usage Charge, click here.
Q
Why is the State implementing a Road Usage Charge program?
A
Utah’s Road Usage Charge is a potential replacement for the fuel tax, helping to provide a sustainable funding mechanism to build and maintain Utah’s roads. The fuel tax helps pay for costs to maintain and build Utah highways. The number of vehicles and miles traveled on Utah roads continues to increase, putting more wear and tear on the roads and increasing roadway maintenance costs. However, the value of the fuel tax is eroding as vehicles become more fuel efficient and operate on alternative fuels, such as electric vehicles.
For additional questions regarding the policy and administration of Utah’s Road Usage Charge, click here.
Q
Why not increase the fuel tax?
A
While raising the fuel tax is a viable short-term option, it fails to create a long-term and sustainable solution to the erosion of transportation revenue due to fuel efficiency and alternative fuels. Utah’s Road Usage Charge program seeks to establish a sustainable solution that follows the principle of paying for what you use.
For additional questions regarding the policy and administration of Utah’s Road Usage Charge, click here.
Q
Why am I being penalized for buying a sustainable vehicle and for helping to clear Utah’s dirty air?
A
The State is committed to the environment, including our air. The state believes the future of our vehicle fleet is electric so we need funding options to continue to build and maintain the roads needed for our future vehicles when the fuel tax is no longer providing the funding it is today. Utah’s Road Usage Charge program allows us to better understand these potential revenue options and learn from this voluntary program.
For additional questions regarding the policy and administration of Utah’s Road Usage Charge, click here.
Q
Which vehicles are eligible to participate in Utah’s Road Usage Charge program?
A
Effective 1/1/23 Only fully electric vehicles are eligible to enroll. Gasoline Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid vehicles can no longer enroll in the program, although Gasoline Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid vehicles currently enrolled in the program may remain enrolled.
Q
I already pay an additional fee for my alternative fuel vehicle along with my registration fee. Will enrolling in Utah’s Road Usage Charge program mean that I’ll pay more?
A
No. Utah law requires owners of alternative fuel vehicles to pay an additional fee during annual vehicle registration intended to capture some of their impact to the road system since those owners contribute little or no gas tax revenue as compared to owners of conventional vehicles. Owners of electric and hybrid vehicles have two options: pay the additional alternative fuel flat fee during annual vehicle registration or enroll in the Road Usage Charge program and be charged 1.06 cents per mile up to the additional flat fee amount. Depending on the number of miles you drive, you may pay less by enrolling in Utah’s Road Usage Charge program.
| Annual Registration Flat Fee Schedule | ||
|---|---|---|
| Alternative Fuel Vehicle Type | 2023 | 2024 |
| Electric | $130.25 | $138.50 | Plug-in Hybrid | $56.50 | $60.25 | Gas Hybrid | $21.75 | $23.25 |
Q
What if the number of miles I drive, charged at the 1.06-cent per-mile rate, ends up exceeding the flat fee?
A
Utah’s Road Usage Charge program is set up so that participants will not pay more per year than what they would have paid up front if they had chosen to pay the flat fee for alternative fuel vehicles at the time of registration. Payment of the per-mile road usage charge fee stops for that registration cycle, once accumulated mileage for the year is equal to the applicable flat fee.
For example, the driver of an electric vehicle in the 2024 registration cycle would accrue road usage charge fees until they have paid $138.50, which is an amount equal to the flat fee.
Q
What are the reasons for enrolling in Utah’s Road Usage Charge program?
A
Enrollees may choose to enroll because:
- They drive fewer miles and want to save money
- They want to spread their road usage payments gradually throughout the year
- They want to test out a new program and technology
- They want access to the trip tracking and driving report that comes with the DriveSync® app
Q
What information do I need to provide to enroll?
A
Enrollees will need to provide the following:
- First and last name
- Email address
- Phone number
- Preferred contact method
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and License Plate Number (LPN)
- A valid credit or debit card for payment
- An iOS or Android smartphone to download the DriveSync® app (from the Apple or Google stores)
- Address where your vehicle is registered
Q
Where can I find my vehicle identification number (VIN)?
A
The vehicle identification number, or VIN, is a unique serial number for your vehicle. Your VIN can be found in a number of places, including printed inside the driver’s door (open the door and look at the edge), on the dashboard where the dash meets the windshield on the driver’s side, and in the engine bay or on the underside of the hood. The VIN should also be printed on your vehicle registration card and insurance policy.
Q
What can I do in my online account?
A
Through your online account, you can:
- View and print monthly statements
- Add a new vehicle to your account
- Request a replacement mileage reporting device
- Update your contact mailing address, telephone number, or email address
- Update your prepaid wallet
- View your current daily activity
- Contact customer service
Q
What if I need to reset or forgot my password?
A
If you have forgotten your password, go here and follow the instructions to reset your password.
Q
What if I need to exit the program early?
A
Participants who exit the program prior to completion of the full annual registration cycle are required to pay the applicable flat fee amount minus the value of Road Usage Charge fees accrued to date. They then will have paid the same amount they would have paid if the flat fee was paid up front. The purpose of this requirement is to prevent people from gaming the system by enrolling temporarily in Utah’s Road Usage Charge program to avoid the flat fee at the time of registration, then exiting the system before accruing the full year of mileage.
Q
Will I be charged for miles driven outside of the state of Utah or on private roads?
A
At this time, Utah’s Road Usage Charge does not exempt any types of mileage from fee accrual. In future years, out of state, private road, or other types of mileage may be exempted from the program as technology makes it more practical to do so.
Q
How does the prepaid wallet work?
A
Upon enrollment, an account with a prepaid wallet will be created using the payment method provided by the enrollee. The prepaid wallet uses three simple concepts: an initial charge, a standard top-up charge, and a minimum threshold balance. The initial charge is $15 and is charged upon enrollment. Mileage fees will be automatically deducted from the available balance as miles are driven following the registration of your vehicle. Once the balance drops below $5 (the minimum threshold balance), the prepaid wallet will be automatically replenished with $10 per vehicle. (the standard top-up charge).
Once the account reaches the amount of the annual flat fee applicable to your vehicle type, the mileage fee charges will stop for your current 12-month registration period. Any remaining balance from the last top-up charge will be carried forward to the next registration year. Both minimum threshold balance and top-up charge amounts are multiplied by the number of vehicles within the account.
For those enrolling before their annual registration month, mileage will be tracked but usage charges will not begin accruing until the start of the vehicle’s new registration year which starts the month after the vehicle’s registration renewal date. Early registrants will also be able to use the DriveSync app to track trips and driving performance. You are the sole owner of your driving statistics data which includes braking, cornering and speed. This data is for your use only, and will not be shared with anyone.
Q
How will my privacy be protected in the program?
A
Utah’s Road Usage Charge program complies with Utah statutes related to privacy found in Utah Code Sections 63G-2-305 and 77-23c-102. Participant data is collected and managed by a third-party account manager in accordance with data retention choices users make when enrolling in the program. Location data and personal information collected in the program is protected from public disclosure by the Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA).
Q
What if I don’t have a smartphone or other access to the internet
A
The current program is run entirely online and digitally. If someone does not have access to a computer, the internet, or a smartphone, they are not able to enroll and will pay the flat fee at the time of their vehicle registration. Even if we help them enroll online, all statements and charges to track are accessed electronically and the account cannot be activated without submitting an odometer reading using an app.
Q
Do I need to install a device in my vehicle?
A
You will need to install a device if your vehicle has On Board Diagnostic (OBD) technology. You will not need to install anything in your vehicle if you have no OBD and use embedded telematics technology.
Q
How do I connect the OBD device to my vehicle?
A
Plugging an OBD device into your vehicle is very simple. Ensure your vehicle ignition is OFF during installation. The OBD port is typically located under the dashboard beneath the steering wheel column, center console, or glove compartment. Align the device with the port and slide firmly into place without twisting or forcing. After seeing three lights (yellow, green, and red) turn on and off, wait 1 minute before turning the ignition ON.
Q
How does my device work with the smartphone app to track and report mileage?
A
The OBD device is equipped with GPS and mobile network (LTE) technology. Once connected to your vehicle, it will automatically track and report mileage to the commercial account manager while the vehicle is being driven. When enrolled using this technology, the DriveSync® app is used to capture and send the odometer pictures required at enrollment and annually thereafter. Through the app, the user is also able to access additional features such as a dashboard with most current trip data, trip log, and driving behavior scoring.
If enrolled using the embedded telematics option, your vehicle manufacturer will report mileage while the vehicle is being driven.
The commercial account manager will send the State a monthly report containing the number of miles your vehicle was driven. The commercial account manager will not disclose to the State any location data tied to your personal information unless compelled by a warrant that is part of a valid criminal proceeding.
Q
Why do I need to download a smartphone app and what are its benefits?
A
Enrollees are required to capture and submit odometer photos at the start of the program and once per year. The DriveSync® app is required to be able to do so.
The smartphone app also comes with a number of additional services. These include:
- Trip logbook with filtering capabilities
- Trip categorization (users can designate personal vs. work trips, for example)
- Trip details with map and satellite views
- Year-to-date driving statistics (such as braking, cornering, etc.)
If enrolled using the embedded telematics option, your vehicle manufacturer will report mileage while the vehicle is being driven. No app or photo is required.
Q
How do I know when my mileage reporting device is activated?
A
The OBD device is activated before shipment. Embedded telematics systems are already active in your vehicle before enrollment, so no specific activation is required once you agree to terms and conditions that give consent for your automaker to release data. You will be notified by email within 48 hours after driving at least one mile on two separate days with the OBD installed.