Aussie motorists are facing calls to pay more in fees in their day-to-day lives if they choose to drive American-style pickup trucks. 

Monash University transport commentator Julian O'Shea argued Australia should follow France and make drivers 'pay their fair way'.

Heavyweight SUVs and utes, also known as 'truckzillas', have surged in popularity in recent years, not only in regional communities but also in metropolitan areas.

Sales almost tripled between 2020 and 2024.

Their size takes up multiple parking bays and turn suburban streets into obstacle courses for other motorists, dividing Aussies over whether the vehicles should be allowed in urban areas.

'If you've got something that's more dangerous, more polluting and takes up more space, then owners should pay their fair way,' Mr O'Shea told Yahoo.

'These vehicles may have a place when they're genuinely used as work equipment, but they shouldn't be the default for commuting or going to the shops.'

He urged cities to consider higher parking charges based on vehicle size or weight, and to avoid redesigning infrastructure to suit larger vehicles. 

Two years ago, Paris introduced triple parking fees for SUVs, where drivers now pay three times more than those with smaller vehicles.

'If a vehicle takes up two parking spaces, then operators should be paying more,' Mr O'Shea argued.

Despite many vehicles selling for six figures, these vehicles are currently exempt from the luxury car tax in Australia because they are designated as commercial vehicles for carrying goods rather than passengers. 

The Greens previously called on Labor to increase registration and parking fees on truckzillas.

'It's an undeniable fact that super-sized vehicles are dangerous,' one-time federal candidate Samantha Ratnam told the Victorian government in 2024.

'They have blind spots up to four metres in front of the vehicle. 

'And it is no coincidence that a child is eight times more likely to die being hit by a larger utility vehicle when compared to a lighter car.

'Not to mention the astonishing amount of pollution caused by these beasts.

'If we want to lower our transport emissions and reduce road fatalities, we need to see less of these monster cars on our streets.'

Caravan Industry of Australia's Luke Chippindale believes American-style utes do have their place. 

'We don't necessarily see them being used as much for recreational vehicles,' he told the ABC.

'They are predominantly used for commercial vehicles, and the number of them on the roads is still fairly low.'

Aussies drivers regularly complain about the large vehicles, with no shortage of photos exposing their domineering inconvenience. 

A GMC Sierra was snapped overlapping lanes, and the reaction from Aussies was blistering.

'Dude can't even stay within one lane and blows soot into any car behind him when taking off at the lights,' one said.

'Imagine also trying to park at a shopping centre car park,' another said.

'The way they mark out the parking spaces is challenging enough in the majority of centres, even with a family vehicle, without someone accidentally denting your car by opening their doors.'