Now that new 2026 Z06s are being delivered, something curious came to light about the Z06s mandatory Gas Guzzler tax. What was previously a $3,000 tax across the board for all 2025 Corvette Z06s suddenly reverted back to a two-tiered tax with the base Z06 gas guzzler fee being $2,600 while Z06s with the full carbon aero package remained at $3,000.
We reached out to our friends at Chevrolet for an explanation and according to them, you can thank all those buyers in 2025 who opted for the Coupe over the Convertible for the tax savings on the 2026 Corvette Z06.
One of the factors in determining the Corvette Z06s fuel economy ratings is the mix of Coupe versus Convertible body styles, of which the Convertible is the heavier model. Chevrolet’s Z06 had the same two tier gas guzzler tax in 2024, but because buyers in 2024 preferred the heavier Z06 Convertible over the Coupe models, the 2025 gas guzzler tax of $3,000 was based on the fuel economy ratings of the 2025 Corvette Z06 Convertible.
However, the sales data changed again during the 2025 model year with the Z06 Coupe outselling Convertibles. As the gas guzzler tax for the 2026s has been updated based on 2025 sales data, the result is a $400 reduction in the tax for those who purchase a non-aero Z06.
This marks the second tax adjustment in as many years for Corvette Z06, proving once again that what Corvette buyers actually purchase in the real world can move the needle on Washington DC’s fuel-economy ledger.