By Tim Harris · December 2, 2025

California has done it again.

Just when you thought the state couldn’t possibly invent another way to make cars more expensive to own, drive, look at, dream about, or pronounce… here comes a brand-new “not a tax” tax.

Yes, the latest move out of Sacramento is something called a Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Fee, and while it sounds like something dreamt up during a 2 AM kombucha-on-tap planning session, it actually has very real consequences — especially if you care about cars and California real estate.

Which, let’s be honest, is half of our audience.

The state approved AB 130, which lets cities and counties slap VMT impact fees on new construction projects based on — wait for it — how much driving the future residents of that neighborhood will supposedly do.

You read that right.
They’re now charging builders based on hypothetical, theoretical, maybe-you’ll-drive-a-lot projections.

And of course, builders won’t eat the cost.
They’ll simply add it to the price of every new home.

But here’s the kicker:
This isn’t replacing the gas tax, transportation fees, registration fees, or any other California car tax.

It’s stacked on top of them.

Because of course it is.

Apparently not.

If you already enjoy:

…then good news!

Now we’re adding another layer — just not directly on drivers (yet).
For now, it’s tucked into new home prices.

Think of it as the “Car Guy Penalty Fee,” hidden inside the cost of a kitchen island.

Each city can set its own formula, which is exactly as chaotic as it sounds.

Early estimates show:

In other words:

If you want a house in the middle of nowhere with space for six cars, a lift, and a 4-post tire rack… yep, you’re paying more.

This isn’t just a real estate story.

This is a gearhead lifestyle story.

Bigger VMT fees mean:

✔ Fewer new homes get built where people actually want garages
✔ Builders avoid anything far from transit
✔ Master-planned communities with big lots become less viable
✔ Suburban sprawl takes a punch to the face
✔ Car storage, home workshops, and backyard lifts become harder to find
✔ More buyers fight over fewer “car-friendly” homes

Once again, California finds a creative way to punish people who love cars and space.

This isn’t technically a “per-mile tax on drivers.”

It’s a fee on builders — one that ends up inside the price of new homes.

The 6-cents-per-mile number came from planning models some cities used to calculate “impact,” but there’s no statewide 6¢ rule.
Just a bunch of bureaucratic math that all ends with the same result:

You’re paying more.

You’re going to see:

If you’re looking for a 4-car garage home in California… don’t wait.

These fees are going to squeeze that market even harder.

California’s new VMT fee authority:

Between emissions laws, EV mandates, specialty registration crackdowns, and now VMT fees, it’s getting harder — not easier — to live the enthusiast lifestyle in California.

So if you find a house with parking for your 911, your GT3, your future dream build, your project car, your “don’t tell my wife I bought this” car, and your daily… don’t sleep on it.

— Tim Harris

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COMPARE COVERAGE

By Tim Harris · December 2, 2025

If you’ve been following automotive headlines lately, you’ve probably noticed the rumor mill has gone full UFO-convention crazy: “Cadillac is launching a supercar!” “The Fiat 500 Abarth is coming back as a gas-powered hot hatch!”

…yeah, no.
Those are fun to talk about, but there’s zero confirmation behind them.

So instead of chasing vaporware, here’s what is real, what’s actually coming, and what every enthusiast should be watching over the next 12–24 months.

This is your definitive Full Throttle Talk 2025–2026 Performance Car Watchlist, featuring only confirmed ICE or hybrid performance machines — nothing electric, nothing imaginary.

Yes, it’s electrified. No, it’s not an EV. And no, it didn’t lose its soul.

The new Turbo S runs Porsche’s “T-Hybrid” system:

This is the most powerful production 911 ever built.
It’s a hybrid built for performance, not fuel savings — and the result is devastatingly fast.

Verdict: The Turbo S remains the king of daily-drivable supercars.

Porsche did something none of us expected:
They reversed course and confirmed the next-gen 718 is staying internal combustion, not going full electric.

This is massive news for enthusiasts.
The 718 stays pure — at least for one more generation.

A slam-dunk for analog lovers.

The new Vanquish continues with a twin-turbo V12, delivering real noise, real heat, and real attitude.
Expected:

Aston is doubling down on the romance of big engines, not running from it.

This one shocked people.

The next Supersports drops AWD and goes rear-wheel drive, making it the most driver-focused Bentley in decades.

Think of it as Bentley’s “I still lift, bro” moment.

The new M5 is not subtle.
It doesn’t want to be.

Specs:

It’s heavier.
It’s meaner.
And it’s going to sell out instantly.

Another hybrid — but again, done for violence, not fuel economy.

This thing is a guided missile with leather seats.

Toyota continues to be the most enthusiast-friendly brand on earth.

Confirmed:

This makes Toyota a hero brand right now.

America’s most outrageous Mustang ever.

This is Ford swinging for the fences.

It’s not a Hemi, but it’s legit.

Dodge found a clever way to keep the ICE flame burning.

The Z platform stays alive longer than anyone predicted.

Respect.

Audi is giving the RS6 a proper sendoff.

If you’ve ever wanted a supercar-fast family wagon, this is your moment.

Here’s the real trend:

The enthusiast world is not collapsing —
it’s refining.

The best stuff going forward will be:

✔ More limited
✔ More powerful
✔ More collectible
✔ More enthusiast-focused

And for all of us gearheads? That’s a damn good thing.

— Tim Harris

🏁 The Full Throttle Talk Team

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