So I’ve been looking into the requirements for registering my car in Washington. If you’re unaware, I own a 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid, which gets an EPA estimated 40 mpg (city) / 45 mpg (highway).
According to Washington’s Department of Licensing website, only the Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight can be registered as a hybrid. Curious, I called the DoL to find out why. Know what she told me? “To qualify as a hybrid, a vehicle must get at least fifty miles per gallon in the city.” That is, as perfectly as I can remember, exactly what she said. There’s just one small problem with her statement. Neither of the cars they accept as hybrids get that mileage rating.
The Toyota Prius gets 48 mpg (city) / 51 mpg (highway), according to Toyota’s website. The Honda Insight gets 40 mpg (city) / 43 mpg (highway), according to Honda’s website. Some of you have noticed something odd about the Insight mileage ratings. They’re not as good as the Civic Hybrid!
Something is seriously wrong with Washington State’s Department of Licensing.