victoria road user charge Page 449

Victoria’s road user charge was a per‑kilometre levy on electric and plug‑in hybrid cars, introduced in 2021 to cover road wear without a fuel excise.

In October 2023 the High Court ruled it invalid, so the scheme was scrapped, collection stopped, and drivers have been (or are being) refunded what they paid. You no longer need to lodge odometer readings for that charge; normal rego and Commonwealth taxes still apply. There’s talk of a national road‑user system one day, but as of now in Victoria there’s no replacement state EV distance charge. Translation: enjoy the electrons without the extra bill—while keeping your paperwork handy in case the goalposts move again.