3,000 Yuan to the Treasury! Nationwide Traffic Regulation Takes Effect: 'Failure to Act by July 31 Results in Immediate Fines' – Latest Payment and Penalty Rules Explained

The 2025 Highway Use and Maintenance Safety Fee (formerly known as the Automobile Fuel Tax) for private cars and motorcycles began collection on July 1, with the payment deadline set for July 31. According to the Ministry of Transportation's Highway Bureau, as of July 27, approximately 61% of vehicle owners across Taiwan have completed their payments. However, around 7.2 million motor vehicles remain unpaid. The bureau urges the public to meet the final deadline, warning that failure to pay on time will result in penalties under the Highway Act, with fines of up to 3,000 yuan for cars and 600 yuan for motorcycles. In severe cases, delinquent accounts may be referred to administrative enforcement agencies.

Starting this year, the 'Automobile Fuel Tax' has been officially renamed the 'Highway Use, Maintenance, and Safety Management Fee' to better reflect the actual use of the collected funds. However, this change is only in name—the fee structure for each vehicle type remains unchanged, ensuring no additional financial burden on the public. Currently, the fee applies only to private cars and motorcycles. Electric vehicles are temporarily exempt from payment, and whether they will be included in the future is still under policy review.

Payment options are diverse. Vehicle owners can pay at financial institutions, post offices, and the four major convenience stores using the payment notice. Alternatively, online payments can be made via the Motor Vehicles Service e-Portal, the Motor Vehicles Service App, or through digital payment platforms such as iPASS MONEY, JKO Pay, EasyCard Pay, AllPay, Shopee, BiBiPay, and O'Pay. Except for credit card payments, which may incur fees depending on the issuing bank, all other methods are generally free of handling charges. Owners unsure of their payment status can check via the Motor Vehicles Service e-Portal or App. If unpaid, they can make immediate online payments or reprint the payment slip at convenience store kiosks before settling the fee.

According to Article 75 of the Highway Act, private car owners with accumulated arrears of 900 yuan or more may be fined between 300 and 3,000 yuan, while motorcycle owners may face fines of 300 to 600 yuan. Failure to pay after receiving a notice not only requires repayment of the arrears and fines but may also lead to legal referral for administrative enforcement.

To avoid annual forgetfulness and penalties, the Highway Bureau recommends vehicle owners register for automatic deduction from a checking account via the Motor Vehicles Service e-Portal or App. This ensures automatic annual payments, eliminating the hassle of manual payments and reducing the risk of late penalties.

Source: Ministry of Transportation's Highway Bureau Editor: Lin Li