In spite of steadily-climbing inflation and sky-high gas prices, Americans still love to drive big cars. Unfortunately, the sheer size of many cars on U.S. roads could be to blame in part for rising automotive fatalities
. Car accident fatalities aren’t just on the rise in cities, either. In some states, deaths from car accidents increased by an alarming 30%
. The cause behind these rising fatalities is a complicated one, and experts cite multiple concurrent factors including a boom in urban cycling, and an increase in risky driving behavior following the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to all this data, Washing D.C. is imposing a new fee to deter people from driving large vehicles. Car ownership super app
Jerry
is here to help break down the new fee structure, why it’s being proposed, and what it means for future car-owners in D.C. Details of the new registration fee for heavy cars
The provision would require owners of vehicles weighing over 6,000 lbs to pay an annual $500 vehicle registration fee. A few models that would be impacted by this provision include the Audi Q7 SUV, a Chevy Suburban or Silverado, and the Chrysler Pacifica minivan.
The current fee structure only charges $155 per year for vehicles weighing 5,000 lbs or more. Electric vehicles and hybrid cars pay just $36 per year for the first two years, after which they follow the regular fee structure.
Why restrict heavy vehicles?
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
(IIHS), while a larger, heavier vehicle does provide better crash protection than a smaller one, they, unfortunately, pose a greater risk to pedestrians, cyclists, and people in smaller cars in the event of a crash. Heavier vehicles also generally require more fuel to operate and contribute more to greenhouse gas emissions than lighter cars.
Chair of the transportation committee Mary Cheh told Bloomberg that “the heavier the car, the worse the accident will be.” Heavier cars can also cause more damage to roads.
The new rule would add approximately $40 million to the city’s general fund over a period of five years.
How this could impact electric car sales
A letter to council chair Phil Mendelson from the Alliance for Automotive Innovation argued that the new fee structure would hurt electric vehicle sales.
Due to the size and weight of battery packs, even electric and hybrid models of compact cars and sedans tend to outweigh their gas-powered counterparts. The curb weight of a Long Range Tesla Model 3 for example is 4,250 lbs. A gas-powered Honda Civic, on the other hand, only weighs 2,877 to 3,126 lbs.
While the two-year discount would remain under the new proposal, it would rule out hybrids and only apply to electric vehicles. EV owners would also be allowed to subtract 1,000 lbs, which could allow cars like the Tesla Model X to avoid the new fee.
Saving money on a new car with Jerry
MORE: Why You Really Need to Know Your Car's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
The last thing any new car owner wants is to be nickel and dimed with added fees after your purchase.
If you want to save money on car insurance
, the Jerry app is a good place to start. A licensed broker, Jerry does all the hard work of finding cheap quotes from the top name-brand insurance companies and buying new car insurance. Jerry will even help you cancel your old policy. And to ensure you always have the lowest rate, Jerry
will send you new quotes every time your policy comes up for renewal, so you’re always getting the coverage you want at the best price. 
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