Michigan plans to charge drivers by the mile instead of at the gas pump, a shift that would change how Oakland County funds more than 2,700 miles of roads Farmington-area residents drive every day.

State lawmakers earmarked more than $7 million last year to study a mileage-based road tax, WXYZ 7 News Detroit reported. A six-month pilot with 1,000 participants is set to launch in February 2027. The program would test whether per-mile charges can replace gas tax revenue that is shrinking as more drivers switch to electric and fuel-efficient vehicles.

Gas taxes account for 49% of Michigan's road funding, according to the Road Commission for Oakland County's 2026 guide. Oakland County has the most congested freeways and local roads in the state, and the commission manages a $193 million budget covering those 2,700-plus miles.

Michigan has relied on its gas pump tax for roughly a century. The state is joining Oregon, California, Utah and Virginia in exploring per-mile alternatives. Oregon's OReGo program already charges 2 cents per mile and is moving toward making the fee mandatory for EV owners renewing their registrations, according to GovTech.

One open question is how drivers would report their mileage. Options under study include periodic odometer readings, a smartphone app and GPS devices installed in vehicles.

GPS tracking concerned several drivers WXYZ interviewed. "They need to find another way, especially not GPS tracking, I'm tracked enough already," Barry Brown, a Michigan driver, told the station.

Spencer Dickhudt, another driver interviewed by WXYZ, said he would prefer to enter his own mileage rather than have it tracked automatically. He called the per-mile concept fair but raised a separate concern about out-of-state visitors.

"We have a lot of tourists who come to Michigan, like from other Midwest states … how are we going to get the tax for them using the roads if their cars aren't registered here," Dickhudt said.

The shift could take years. Officials plan more public outreach in the months ahead, and an advisory committee on the pilot meets monthly.

The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 28.