How California could track your miles and what drivers might pay
California drivers could eventually face a new kind of road tax that charges them for every mile behind the wheel — and they may not need to have their location tracked to pay up.The proposal got fresh attention this week after gubernatorial hopeful Xavier Becerra refused to rule out a mileage tax, saying “everything was on the table” during an interview.Becerra’s campaign later clarified that he had not actually proposed the tax, but his comments raised a big question for millions of California motorists: How would Sacramento know how far they’re driving — and would the state be tracking their every move? The biggest news, opinion and culture shaping California right now.Please provide a valid email.
By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Never miss a story A six-month California pilot program offers a glimpse of how it could work, including options ranging from GPS-equipped tracking devices to something as simple as snapping a picture of a car’s odometer.The experiment, conducted by Caltrans from August 2024 through January 2025, enrolled 800 participants who tested four different ways of reporting their mileage.Drivers could plug a GPS-enabled device into their vehicles, use a device without GPS, allow their car’s built-in technology to transmit mileage data or simply upload photographs of their odometers.California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedInCalifornia Post Sports Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, XCalifornia Post Opinion California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!California Post App: Download here!Home delivery: Sign up here!Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!Location sharing was optional, meaning drivers could participate without handing over a record of where they traveled.About 34% of participants chose GPS-equipped devices, while 30% opted to submit odometer photos.
The remaining drivers used onboard vehicle tech...