Surovell, Ebbin Claim Victory in Repeal of Hybrid Tax

Gov. Terry McAuliffe signed legislation Wednesday to repeal the $64 Hybrid Tax. On Nov. 18, Del. Scott Surovell introduced House Bill 4 along with Sen. Adam Ebbin’s Senate Bill 1 on the same date.

“This sends the right message to Virginians who are trying to do the right thing by protecting the environment and signals to investors that Virginia does not place arbitrary taxes on specific technologies,” said Surovell. 

The bill also refunds money hybrid owners have already paid in taxes to the Commonwealth. The Department of Motor Vehicles has yet to announce their process and timeframe for refunds.

“I am pleased that the legislature listened to the over 7,700 Virginians that demanded we repeal the nonsensical tax on technology,” Surovell said.

Surovell and Ebbin began the fight to repeal the Hybrid Tax last year, and created a petition that over 7,700 Virginians across the commonwealth ultimately signed.

Surovell previously provided the legislature data showing that the mileage of hybrids and non-hybrids vary significantly, and hybrid vehicle mileage is often lower than those of popular gasoline vehicles—undermining the tax’s central argument: that hybrid owners do not pay their fair share of gas tax.